Power Ahead Colorado Rebates
Power Ahead Colorado is a $1,500 heat pump rebate for cold-climate certified systems in the Denver metro - the same $1,500 for ducted or ductless, with no income limits. Applications open June 29, 2026. It stacks with Xcel Energy and the Colorado state tax credit, for existing-home retrofits.
Updated June 23, 2026•By Editorial Staff
Program Overview
Power Ahead Colorado is a $273M energy efficiency program run by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). It pays a $1,500 rebate for heat pump installations - the same $1,500whether the system is ducted or ductless - as long as the unit meets the program's efficiency requirements (the Energy Star cold-climate list).
No income limits. The only real qualification is the equipment certification and the property type: Power Ahead covers existing-building retrofits, not new construction. UniColorado handles the paperwork.
Opens June 29, 2026. DRCOG begins accepting rebate applications on June 29, and projects have to be completed on or after that date to qualify. For an install happening on or after the open date, we include the $1,500 on your estimate and file the pre-approval before work starts.
Funding source: $199.7M EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant plus a $73.3 million local government match.
Service area: the Denver metro, covering DRCOG-participating municipalities and counties (58 member governments).
Program details: poweraheadcolorado.org. Applications are submitted through the program's online portal at rebates.poweraheadcolorado.org.
Who and What Qualifies
The $1,500 rebate is open to single-family, multifamily (common areas excluded), and commercial property owners. The core eligibility rules:
- The property is in a DRCOG-participating municipality or county (most of the Denver metro).
- It is an existing building. New construction does not qualify.
- The system is a cold-climate certified ducted heat pump or ductless mini-split, meeting the program's efficiency requirements.
- The project is completed on or after June 29, 2026.
Standard (non-cold-climate) heat pumps do not qualify. Every system UniColorado installs for Colorado homes is cold-climate rated, so the equipment side is rarely a question for our customers.
What Power Ahead Stacks With
Power Ahead stacks with utility and municipal rebates and with the state tax credit, as long as your total incentives don't exceed 100% of the project cost:
- Xcel Energy rebates (up to $11,250 for a 5-ton cold-climate system)
- Colorado state heat pump tax credit ($1,000)
- United Power, Longmont / Efficiency Works, and EnergySmart, depending on your utility
It does not stack with the Colorado Home Energy Rebate programs (HEARand HER), which draw on the same federal funding. For Denver metro homeowners that distinction is now academic: HEAR's Front Range funding was fully reserved on April 28, 2026, so Power Ahead is the heat pump rebate going forward.
A typical 3-ton cold-climate heat pump for an Xcel customer:
- Program
- Power Ahead Colorado
- Amount
- $1,500
- Program
- Xcel Energy (3 ton cold climate)
- Amount
- $6,750
- Program
- Colorado state tax credit
- Amount
- $1,000
- Program
- Total
- Amount
- $9,250
How to Apply
Get a Quote
Contact UniColorado for a cold climate heat pump quote
Pre-Approval
You approve the rebate application before installation begins
Installation
We install your cold climate certified heat pump (on or after June 29, 2026)
Verification & Payment
A quality-installation check, then the rebate is paid within 60 days
Power Ahead is a pre-approval program. The rebate application goes in before installation, and the rebate is processed after the work is finished and verified. Approved applications are paid within 60 days, and the rebate can be directed to either the contractor or the customer. UniColorado handles the filing.
Four Programs Under One Umbrella
The heat pump rebate is the part most homeowners interact with, but Power Ahead Colorado is actually four programs:
1. Rebates and Incentives ($43.1 million)
For all Denver metro homeowners and businesses. $1,500 for a cold-climate certified heat pump, no income limits. DRCOG plans to issue 40,000+ rebates through 2030.
2. Low-Income Program ($48.1M)
For low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDACs). Details still being finalized.
3. Free Energy Advising ($17.5 million)
For all residential, multifamily, and commercial building owners. Data-driven advising to help plan upgrades, at no cost.
4. Policy Collaborative ($39.2 million)
For local governments working on building policy and Colorado's greenhouse gas reduction requirements.
Which Counties Are Covered?
Power Ahead Colorado serves the DRCOG region, which includes 58 member governments across these counties:
- Adams County
- Arapahoe County
- Boulder County
- Broomfield
- Clear Creek County
- Denver County
- Douglas County
- Gilpin County
- Jefferson County
The rebate is tied to DRCOG-participating municipalities and counties, so eligibility comes down to your specific address. If you're in the Denver metro, you're likely covered. Check poweraheadcolorado.org to confirm your address qualifies.
UniColorado and Power Ahead Colorado
UniColorado installs cold climate heat pumps across the Denver metro area. Every ducted and ductless system we install for Colorado homes is cold-climate certified, which is the Power Ahead requirement. We file the rebate paperwork for Xcel, Power Ahead Colorado, and the Colorado state tax credit, and apply the savings to your invoice rather than leaving you to chase reimbursements.
See all available rebates or get a free estimate to see your total savings.
Program Goals (2025-2030)
- DRCOG Budget
- $48.1M
- Impact
- 1,600 homes fully retrofitted
- DRCOG Budget
- $17.5M
- Impact
- 50,000+ clients advised
- DRCOG Budget
- $43.1M
- Impact
- 40,000+ rebates issued
- DRCOG Budget
- $19.4M
- Impact
- 4,800+ workers trained
The program aims to cut building emissions by 70% by 2050 and remove 148 million metric tons of CO2.
Frequently Asked Questions
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