Definition
Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates — federal/state program layer for income-qualified efficient equipment upgrades in Washington.
How is HEAR different from a utility rebate?
HEAR is federal Inflation Reduction Act money administered by Washington's Department of Commerce, and it is income-qualified — households under the program's area-median-income thresholds qualify for point-of-sale discounts rather than mail-in rebates. It covers electrification equipment: heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and the panel and wiring work that enables them, with caps up to $8,000 for a heat pump, $1,750 for a heat pump water heater, and $4,000 for a supporting panel upgrade.
Can HEAR stack with utility rebates?
Generally yes — HEAR discounts and utility rebates (PSE, Seattle City Light, Snohomish PUD, Tacoma Power) apply to the same project through different channels, and a participating contractor confirms eligibility and files both. Because funding rounds and rules evolve, eligibility is worth re-checking at quote time rather than relying on last year's article.
How do you find out if you qualify?
Eligibility keys on household income relative to your county's area median income (AMI), with the biggest discounts under 80% AMI and partial support up to 150%. A participating contractor can pre-check eligibility at quote time and handle the point-of-sale paperwork — bring a recent tax return or income documentation and the answer takes minutes, not weeks.
In the Puget Sound
For income-qualified Puget Sound households, HEAR is frequently the single largest line on an electrification quote — it is the first thing worth checking before assuming a heat pump is out of reach.
Related terms
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