Heat Pump Rebates Per Ton: How the Math Works
Four New England programs pay heat pump rebates by the ton. The rule is the same everywhere: tons = AHRI cooling capacity ÷ 12,000 Btu, then rate × tons, then the program's cap. The caps are what make the math differ.
The rates and caps
| Program | Offer | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Save heat pumps | Whole-Home | $2,650 per ton, up to $8,500 |
| Mass Save heat pumps | Partial-Home | $1,125 per ton, up to $8,500 |
| Mass Save heat pumps | Basic | $250 per ton, up to $2,500 |
| NHSaves heat pumps | Air-source heat pump | $250 per ton (limit 5 tons per account) |
| NHSaves heat pumps | Replacing electric resistance heat | $2,000 per ton for installs from March 23, 2026 ($250 plus a $1,750 enhancement); pre-verification required |
| Energize CT heat pumps | Energy Optimization (displacing fossil or resistance heat) | $1,500 per ton, up to $10,000 per home, for installs from September 1, 2026 |
| Energize CT heat pumps | Standard (replacing a heat pump, new space, cooling only) | $250 per ton, up to $2,500 per home |
| RI Energy heat pumps | Standard | Up to $625 per ton, switching from gas, electric, oil or propane heat |
| RI Energy heat pumps | Enhanced (electric baseboard) | $1,500 per ton for electric baseboard customers, through a participating contractor |
Worked examples at three sizes
Replacing oil heat, not income-qualified; New Hampshire also shown replacing baseboard.
| Tons | MA Whole-Home | CT Energy Optimization | NH standard | NH replacing baseboard | RI standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $5,300 | $3,000 | $500 | $4,000 | $1,250 |
| 3 | $7,950 | $4,500 | $750 | $6,000 | $1,875 |
| 4 | $8,500 | $6,000 | $1,000 | $8,000 | $2,500 |
| 6 | $8,500 | $9,000 | $1,250 | $10,000 | $3,750 |
Massachusetts reaches its $8,500 Whole-Home cap at 3.2 tons, so larger whole-home systems get the same rebate. New Hampshire stops counting at 5 tons per account. Connecticut's Energy Optimization rate reaches its $10,000 cap at 6.7 tons. Rhode Island's page states no cap for the per-ton offer.
What changes next
Mass Save has already published its 2027 rates: Installed on or after January 1, 2027: Whole-Home $2,350 per ton up to $7,500; Partial-Home $1,000 per ton up to $7,500. Energize CT: Installs January 1 to August 31, 2026 were paid $1,000 per ton, with enhanced $1,500 per ton for some income-qualified and electric-resistance projects from April 1. Rates move, so check the date on any number you plan around.
Not per-ton: Maine and Vermont
Efficiency Maine pays by system: a flat amount for a ducted whole-home system or a per-outdoor-unit amount for other whole-home systems, with income tiers. Efficiency Vermont gives an instant discount at the distributor: ducted heat pump $1,200–$2,200 instant discount through a contractor at a participating distributor; ductless heat pump $375–$475 instant discount on qualifying models. See Maine heat pump rebates and Vermont heat pump rebates, or compare all six on heat pump rebates by state.
Sources
- Mass Save: Air Source Heat Pumps
- NHSaves: Electric heating & cooling equipment
- Energize CT: Residential Energy Optimization incentive
- Rhode Island Energy: Heat pumps
Checked October 21, 2026.
Questions
How is a ton measured for a rebate?
Mass Save, NHSaves and Energize CT all use the AHRI-rated cooling capacity divided by 12,000 Btu.
Is there a limit on tons?
NHSaves limits rebates to a set number of tons per account; Mass Save and Energize CT cap the dollar amount instead. The table on this page gives each program's figure.