The home energy rebate guide I wish every owner got
Heat pumps, insulation, new appliances, lower bills — even free upgrades if you qualify. In plain English, with a calculator that adds up what you can get back and tells you how to qualify.
I’m Genaro, a local real estate broker. Most Whatcom homeowners leave real money on the table here — sometimes thousands of it — simply because nobody put the programs in one place.
There’s no single place that lists what a Whatcom homeowner can actually get. So here it is — and an estimator that does the math for you. Check the upgrades you’re considering: it adds up your rebates from PSE, Cascade Natural Gas, and local programs, and shows you exactly how to qualify for each one.
What can you get back?
Set your situation, then tap an upgrade to see its rebate, what you need to qualify, and whether it needs a pro. The total updates as you go.
Your home
Income-qualified status increases most rebates and unlocks free programs (HEAR, weatherization) plus the monthly bill discount.
- Income under ~80% area median (≈$60,700 for 1, ≈$86,700 for 4) for the boosted rebates
- Under ~60% state median (≈$44k for 1, ≈$84k for 4) for the free programs
- SNAP, TANF, SSI, or LIHEAP usually qualifies you automatically
- The Opportunity Council verifies — call 360-255-2192; often self-attested to start
Upgrades you’re planning
PSE pays you to replace electric baseboard or forced-air electric heat with an efficient air-source heat pump.
- Be a PSE electric customer, currently on electric resistance heat
- Use a PSE-approved installer (required after Apr 2, 2026)
- Apply within 60 days of installation
- Finish by Dec 31, 2026 — the rebate ends then
A heat pump water heater (PSE) or a condensing gas tankless (Cascade) — both rebate $1,000.
- Heat pump model: high-efficiency tier; or buy at Lowe’s/Home Depot for an instant discount
- Gas tankless: condensing, UEF 0.95 or higher
- Installed by a licensed contractor
- Apply within 30 days (PSE) or 90 days (Cascade)
Adds insulation to an under-insulated attic. The rate depends on which utility heats your home.
- Existing attic insulation R-11 or less for the top rate
- Heat with that utility (gas for Cascade, electric for PSE)
- Installed by an approved Trade Ally contractor
- Apply within 90 days of the work
Insulates uninsulated or barely insulated exterior walls — the highest per-square-foot rebate.
- Existing wall insulation R-4 or less
- Approved Trade Ally contractor
- Heat with the utility paying the rebate
- Do attic + wall together with air sealing for a $2,000 Cascade bundle bonus
Replaces old windows in an existing site-built single-family home.
- PSE electric or gas heat
- U-factor 0.30 or lower ($100), or 0.22 or lower for the higher amount
- Limit of 15 windows over the home’s lifetime
- Finish by Dec 31, 2026
An ENERGY STAR Wi-Fi smart thermostat — no contractor required.
- ENERGY STAR certified Wi-Fi (or programmable) model
- Have PSE electric/gas heat, or Cascade gas heat
- Self-install is fine — just keep your receipt
- Claim instantly at the PSE Marketplace, or by mail-in
A high-efficiency natural gas furnace rebate from Cascade.
- Natural gas primary heat (Cascade customer)
- 95% AFUE ($1,600) or 98% AFUE ($2,400)
- Installed by a WA-licensed contractor
- Not eligible if installed alongside a heat pump
An efficient exterior entry door rebate from Cascade.
- U-factor 0.21 or lower, with an NFRC sticker; non-sliding
- Cascade gas customer
- Self-install is allowed — keep the receipt and a photo
- Apply within 90 days
A Level 2 home EV charger rebate from PSE.
- PSE residential electric customer
- Own, lease, or have ordered an EV
- ENERGY STAR Wi-Fi Level 2 charger; one per home every 5 years
- Income-qualified: up to $600 charger + up to $2,000 toward installation/panel
PSE hauls away an old, working fridge or freezer — and pays you for it.
- PSE electric customer
- Working unit, 1992 or older, 10–30 cubic feet
- Schedule the free pickup: 1-877-577-0510
- Up to 3 units per household
- Tap the upgrades you’re considering to see your estimated rebates.
Free energy-saving gear you can grab now
Remember PSE’s free light bulbs? The mailed kit is gone, but the free gear didn’t disappear — it just moved to your gas utility and the free water audit.
- Cascade
Free Energy Savings Kit
Showerheads + faucet aerators, mailed free to gas customers who heat water with gas.
- City / water
Free home water audit
Installs free low-flow showerheads and aerators — and unlocks the toilet & washer rebates.
Heat pumps, insulation & water heaters
This is where the real money is — and both your utilities pay for the same work. Check these in the estimator above to see your numbers and how to qualify.
- PSE
Heat pump — $1,500 ($2,400 income-qualified)
Heat pump water heater $1,000; gas tankless $1,000 from Cascade.
- Cascade
Insulation — $2.50/sq ft attic, $5/sq ft wall
Do two insulation jobs + air sealing for a $2,000 bundle bonus on top.
Time-sensitive: PSE heat-pump rebates end Dec 31, 2026, and after Apr 2, 2026 you must use a PSE-approved installer.
Whole upgrades, covered start to finish
Switch on income-qualified in the estimator to flag these. Under ~60% of state median income (about $44k for one person, $84k for a family of four), these programs pay for the work — not just discount it.
- HEAR
Free heat pumps & appliances
Heat pump, water heater, induction stove, dryer, plus panel and wiring upgrades.
- Income-qualified
Free weatherization
Insulation, air sealing, heating repair — at no cost. One gateway: the Opportunity Council.
Help paying what you already owe
- PSE
Bill Discount Rate — 5% to 45% off
Every month, scaled to income. PSE HELP adds a $250–$1,000 grant and auto-enrolls the discount.
- City of Bellingham
25%–75% off water/sewer
New in 2026: open to all households up to 80% of area median income.
Money for what you already own
- PSE Flex
Flex Rewards & Flex Smart
$25 + $1/kWh to shift usage; or $50 + up to $40/yr to enroll a thermostat you already own.
- PSE
Recycle an old fridge — $25 + free pickup
Working unit, 1992-or-older, 10–30 cu ft.
- Solar
Skip ~9% sales tax + 1:1 net metering
Lock net metering in during 2026 — the federal 30% credit ended Dec 31, 2025.
Three things that trip people up
The 30% federal tax credits for insulation, heat pumps, windows, and solar ended Dec 31, 2025. Don’t count on them for 2026.
Heat-pump rebates end Dec 31, 2026, and after Apr 2, 2026 you must use a PSE-approved installer.
Confirm the model qualifies before you buy, and file within the deadline (Cascade: 90 days from install).
Common questions
Do I have to be low-income to get anything?
Which upgrades can I install myself?
Can I stack rebates from more than one program?
Do I need natural gas to get rebates?
What’s the single best first step?
Bring me your numbers
Tell me which upgrades you’re weighing and I’ll tell you, honestly, which rebates are worth chasing for your home — and connect you with installers who handle the paperwork.