Income-Qualified Energy Rebate Tiers in New England
Most New England rebates pay more to lower-income households, but there is no shared definition. Each program sets its own test, and the gap between tiers can be large.
How each program defines income
- Maine (Efficiency Maine): Low income: household member enrolled in HEAP, SNAP, TANF or MaineCare; moderate income: AGI up to $70,000 single or $100,000 joint (Efficiency Maine definitions).
- New Hampshire (NHSaves, Eversource weatherization): Income-eligible limit (Eversource): $156,133 for a household of four; the offer covers households at or below 100% of state median income.
- Vermont (Green Mountain Power): Gross household income at or below 80% AMI (four people: $99,750 in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties; $89,200 elsewhere).
- Connecticut (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.
- Massachusetts (Mass Save): income-based enhanced heat pump incentives ("Up to $16,000, or up to no cost through Turnkey Services") and no-cost insulation for income-eligible residents.
What the tier is worth: worked examples
Same home, same equipment, three income tiers. Heat pump: 3 tons replacing oil; insulation: 2 zones or 1,000 sq ft on a $5,000 project.
| State and upgrade | Not qualified | Moderate | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME heat pump | $3,500 | $6,500 | $9,500 |
| ME insulation | $4,150 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| CT hpwh | $900 | $1,900 | $1,900 |
| CT insulation | $2,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| VT heat pump | $2,200 | $2,200 | $6,200 |
| MA insulation | $3,750 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Amounts shown as the program rule applied to the example; where a program states only "up to", the maximum is used. Maine's whole-home ducted rebate triples from the any-income to the low-income tier, and Massachusetts and Connecticut can cover all of an insulation job for qualifying households.
The IRA tiers that are not open yetThe federal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates were written around income bands, as the New Hampshire Department of Energy page describes them: Households up to 150% of area median income; Under 80% AMI: up to 100% of project cost; 80–150% AMI: up to 50%. In New England these are not open to most households: see each state page for the status, and how rebates stack for how tiers combine.
Sources
- Efficiency Maine: Whole-home heat pump rebates and Efficiency Maine: Insulation rebates (income tier definitions)
- NHSaves: Weatherization
- Green Mountain Power: Heat pump rebate
- Energize CT: Residential Energy Optimization incentive
- Mass Save: Air Source Heat Pumps
Checked October 21, 2026. Income definitions are the programs'; check yours with the program before you apply.
Questions
Is there one income limit for all New England rebates?
No. Each program uses its own test: enrollment in HEAP, SNAP, TANF or MaineCare in Maine, 80% of area median income for Green Mountain Power, state median income bands in New Hampshire and Connecticut.
Do I have to prove income before installing?
Usually yes. Energize CT and Efficiency Maine verify income, and Rhode Island's HEAR program requires approval before you buy.