Should You Wait for New Hampshire’s HEAR Heat Pump Rebate?

Energy Saver NH, New Hampshire's HEAR program, is still targeting a launch in Q4 2026 (October through December), with no guaranteed opening date. Rebates are not available yet. See our Energy Saver NH rebates, launch updates and income limits for the new details.

An $8,000 heat pump rebate sounds like a good reason to put an installation on hold. But before you delay a needed heating or cooling replacement, there is a more important question: Will your household and your project actually qualify?

Our advice is simple: don’t postpone a needed upgrade based only on a rebate headline. Check your eligibility, compare the incentives available for your project today, and weigh the cost of keeping your current equipment running.

The program commonly called HEAR now uses the federal name High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates, or HEEHR. It is not an automatic $8,000 discount for every homeowner. For a broader overview, read our guide to New Hampshire’s income-based heat pump rebate.

First, check the income limit

HEAR is income-based. Households above 150% of area median income do not qualify. The applicable dollar threshold depends on your location and household size, not one statewide salary limit.

New Hampshire’s published guidance describes two eligible income groups:

• Below 80% of area median income: up to 100% of eligible project costs, within program caps.
• From 80% through 150%: up to 50% of eligible project costs, within program caps.

The heat pump maximum is $8,000, not a guaranteed payment. For example, 50% of a $10,000 eligible project is $5,000. A $16,000 eligible heat pump project could reach the full $8,000 cap for a qualifying household in the moderate-income tier. The 50% limit applies to eligible costs, not half of the cap. Final eligibility and approved costs determine the actual rebate. Check New Hampshire income requirements.

If your household exceeds the income limit, waiting for this particular rebate will not make your project eligible.

Replacing oil, propane or natural gas? Don’t assume HEAR applies

DOE’s May 2026 guidance excludes replacing non-electric equipment with electric equipment. It allows eligible electric-to-electric upgrades and new construction, and permits existing fossil-fuel HVAC to remain when a heat pump is added.

That does not make every home with an oil or gas system ineligible. The specific upgrade and New Hampshire’s implementation rules matter. Insulation and air sealing requirements also apply. Check federal project requirements.

Before putting your plans on hold, identify exactly which equipment you would replace. “I want a heat pump” is not enough to establish rebate eligibility.

Don’t plan around an unconfirmed start date

Energy Saver NH is targeting Q4 2026 (October through December), but a launch during that window is not guaranteed. Before you plan an installation around HEAR, check the NH Department of Energy’s program page for current application availability, launch updates and instructions.

A projected launch window is not an approved rebate for your installation. If receiving HEAR is essential to your budget, confirm the required application, approval and installation sequence with the program administrator before committing to work. Do not assume a project completed now can be reimbursed later.

How HEAR and the Accelerator can apply in the same home

The New England Heat Pump Accelerator, or NEHPA, is federally funded. HEAR cannot be combined with another federal grant or rebate for the same qualified project. For a heat pump, compare the two federal incentive paths rather than adding both to the same equipment. HEAR and Accelerator incentives may support different equipment in the same home, subject to separate eligibility and program approval. The federal same-qualified-project restriction still applies.

Customers and projects that qualify for both HEAR and NHSaves can combine those incentives. NHSaves is a separate, ratepayer-funded program. The estimated NHSaves rebate must be included in the HEAR project scope, and the customer applies for the eligible NHSaves rebate after installation. Check the requirements for your utility and equipment. Check NHSaves heat pump eligibility.

Compare what is available now

Not qualifying for HEAR does not necessarily mean missing out on all heat pump incentives.

For eligible Eversource, Liberty and Unitil electric customers, NHSaves currently lists a $250-per-ton heat pump rebate that can include qualifying oil, propane or natural-gas replacements. Qualifying replacements of working, permanent primary electric-resistance heat have an enhanced incentive, with pre-verification required. Equipment, funding and other requirements apply; New Hampshire Electric Cooperative has separate terms. Check current NHSaves requirements.

Ask for an estimate that separates equipment and installation costs from each eligible incentive. A possible future rebate should not be presented as an approved discount.

When does waiting make sense?

Waiting may be reasonable when your system is reliable, your household appears income-eligible, the proposed work fits the program, and your schedule is flexible.

Waiting is harder to justify when you are above the income limit, your planned replacement is excluded, or you are spending money to keep failing equipment operating. Compare repair costs and ongoing operating costs with the potential additional benefit, not just the advertised rebate maximum. A larger rebate does not automatically mean the better overall decision.

If your equipment works well and you have no immediate comfort problem, there is no need to rush into a replacement either. The right timing depends on your home, not a deadline invented to sell equipment.

Get a plan for your home, not just a rebate promise

A.J. LeBlanc Heating can review your existing equipment, discuss heat pump installation options, and help you compare current rebates with your project needs. Income eligibility and final rebate approval belong to the program administrator.

Call 603-623-0412 to discuss your options. You do not need to wait for a future program to find out what your home needs and what an installation would cost today.