Weatherization Rebates
Insulation Requirements:
- Post-Installation form required to be completed by installer and submitted with application. (Click here for the post-installation form).
- If a gas meter is located inside at the address where the work is being performed, customer must complete any required upgrades to gas service as determined by HG&E before insulation is installed.
- Note: If customer is self-installing insulation, only the cost of the material will be covered (at 50% up to $2,000). If the insulation is installed by a licensed contractor, HG&E will provide 50% of the cost of installation and materials up to $2,000).
- If customer is self-installing insulation, before and after pictures must be submitted with the post-installation form that clearly show the work that was performed (ex. where the new insulation was added).
- Recommended Final R-Values:
- Attic Insulation: R49 (Should be between R49-R60)
- Wall Insulation: R18-R20
- Floor Insulation: R30
- Basement Insulation: R15-R19
- Heating and Hot Water Pipe Insulation: R3
- Free home energy audit is recommended but not required.
Air Sealing, Duct Sealing, and Blower Door Test Requirements:
- Work must be performed by licensed contractor.
- Free home energy audit recommended but not required.
- Post-Installation form required to be completed by installer and submitted with application. (Click here for the post-installation form)
- Customer must have active gas or electric account with HG&E on the residential service rate. The address where the work has been performed must be a residential building and must have an active electric account or use natural gas supplied by HG&E for space heating. (Landlords are eligible as long as work is performed within a residential building that has 4 units or less).
- Maximum weatherization rebate available for any home is $2,000 (including multifamily home with a single owner) per year (i.e. per each 12-month period).
- Maximum weatherization rebate for condos is $1,000/unit.
- An itemized copy of the invoice must be submitted. (This can be submitted via the installer post-installation form). Address and name listed on invoice must match HG&E customer account, if applicable. Invoice must be billed to the HG&E customer who is applying for the rebate.
- Please note: New construction and gut-rehabs are not eligible for weatherization rebates.
- Qualified services must be completed within the given program year and applications must be submitted by March 31st of the following year.
- Payment will only be issued to the primary account holder/holders listed on the HG&E account for the application being submitted. If customer has outstanding balance on HG&E account, any rebate over $100 will be applied to outstanding balance, and any remaining amount will be applied as an on-bill credit.
- Payment Information: All rebates of $500 or less will automatically be applied as an on-bill credit.
- HG&E reserves the right to modify or end these rebates at any time.
additional WEATHERIZATION incentives available:
HG&E Residential Energy Conservation Program
Financial assistance at 0% interest for qualifying projects. Apply before you begin your project to secure the funds!
Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program
This program is offered through Springfield Partners for Community Action, and provides an average of $4,500 in funds for full-scale home energy efficiency services including insulation and air sealing for qualifying low-income homeowners and tenants.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022, is designed to provide increased rebates and tax credits for various home energy efficiency projects including weatherization. Rebates are anticipated to become available staring in the fall of 2024. Per this Rewiring America calculator, tax credits are available now.
Tax Credits (Available Now):
• The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (aka the insulation tax credit) is a federal tax credit worth 30% of your insulation and air sealing costs (excluding on-site labor), with an annual limit of $1,200.
Rebates (Coming Soon):
• The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has submitted an application to the federal Department of Energy with a proposal on how they plan to use Inflation Reduction Act funds to offer rebates. As part of their proposal, customers of municipal light plants would be eligible for rebates of $2,000 - $8,000+ (depending on the amount of energy savings and income) for showing home energy savings due to home efficiency projects such as weatherization.
The application process and eligibility requirements are still unclear and it is recommended that you review this whitehouse.gov webpage for more information, and to sign up for updates. You can also click here for a calculator available on rewiringamerica.org to see how much you can get back in rebates and incentives based on your zip code and household income.