On April 30, 2024, Maine applied to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for nearly $72 million to support home energy rebates for income-eligible households in the state. These funds are not yet available to Maine residents. Maine expects to hear back from DOE in the coming months and funds are anticipated to become available to Maine residents by late summer 2024. More details about Maine’s application to DOE are included in the 2-page summary below.
Download the 2-page PDF summary of the application by clicking here.
To stay up to date on this program, please sign up for the GEO newsletter and opt-in to Maine Home Energy Rebate Program Updates. If you have specific questions about Maine’s application, please contact Ross Anthony, Buildings and Energy Efficiency Analyst, at ross.anthony@maine.gov.
What happens next?
Over the next several months, Maine will work with DOE to ensure that application materials meet all federal requirements. If Maine’s plan is accepted, Efficiency Maine will administer the IRA-funded rebates alongside its existing incentives. More information will be available on Efficiency Maine’s website.
Questions about eligibility?
If you have questions about rebate eligibility or other details, please contact Efficiency Maine at (866) 376-2463.
Maine's Application
Maine’s application to DOE for home energy rebate funding is the product of extensive public engagement facilitated by GEO, Efficiency Maine, and MaineHousing, and reflects input received through this process as well as the goals outlined in Maine Won’t Wait. In January 2024, GEO, Efficiency Maine, and MaineHousing hosted a public meeting in person and via Zoom to present a draft proposal and solicit stakeholder feedback. Meeting slides are available to view and download here.
Program Background
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. The law includes $391 billion to support clean energy and address climate change, including $8.8 billion in rebates nationally for home energy efficiency and electrification projects.
The Home Energy Rebates program will help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment, improve energy efficiency in their homes and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that in total, these rebates will save American households up to $1 billion on energy bills annually and support over 50,000 jobs.
The Home Energy Rebates program is made up of two distinct programs: Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR). Of the $8.8B in total funding, the Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) will receive at least $71.7 million in formula funds for HER ($35.9 million) and HEAR ($35.7 million). Both programs will be limited to funding energy upgrades on residential buildings.
The HER program will focus on qualifying energy efficiency upgrades that achieve minimum energy savings thresholds set by the federal government. The HEAR program will promote qualifying electrification measures. Consistent with DOE program guidance, at least 40 percent of program benefits will be directed to disadvantaged communities.
Separate provisions of the IRA expanded federal tax credits to support home efficiency upgrades and the adoption of certain efficient appliances and vehicles. Those updates to tax credits have already taken effect. For more information on eligibility and procedures for accessing all state and federal residential incentives, including the HER and HEAR funding once available in Maine, please visit the Efficiency Maine website.