Did you assume HEEHRA works the same in every state, or that you can walk into a Concord showroom today and leave with $8,000 off a heat pump? The dollar caps are written into federal law, but the program is run state by state — and New Hampshire's cold-climate winters change which equipment actually qualifies.
You probably think of HEEHRA as a single national rebate you can claim the moment you buy a heat pump. In reality, it is a federal pool of money that each state energy office distributes on its own timeline, with its own application and its own launch date.
That distinction matters more in New Hampshire than in most places. The caps are generous, yet the state's winter design temperatures are unforgiving — and a heat pump that qualifies on paper still has to hold a Berlin or Lancaster home at well below zero.
HEEHRA in New Hampshire offers income-eligible households up to $8,000 toward a qualifying heat pump, within a $14,000 household cap. Low-income homes can be covered at 100% of cost and moderate-income homes at 50%, both up to those caps.
What Is HEEHRA, and How Does It Work in New Hampshire?
HEEHRA — the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate program, sometimes labeled HEAR — is the point-of-sale rebate created by the Inflation Reduction Act to electrify homes. Unlike a tax credit you claim months later, it is designed to come off the price at the time of purchase.
The catch is administration. Congress funded the program federally, but the New Hampshire Department of Energy is the body that designs the application, sets the contractor rules, and decides when rebates actually go live in the state.
Point-of-sale design is the program's biggest advantage for cash-tight households. Because the discount lands at purchase, an income-eligible family does not have to front the full cost and wait for a refund the way a tax credit requires.
That is why two neighbors in different states can see different timelines for the identical federal benefit. For a current snapshot across the country, our HEEHRA state-by-state status tracker is the place to start.
How Much Can New Hampshire Households Get?
The rebate is a menu of caps, not a single number. Each qualifying upgrade has its own ceiling, and the whole project is bounded by a $14,000 household maximum.
HEEHRA assigns a separate rebate cap to each upgrade: $8,000 for a heat pump, $1,750 for a heat pump water heater, and $4,000 for a panel. Every upgrade is bounded by a $14,000 per-household maximum.
Here is the federal cap structure that New Hampshire's program distributes, the same schedule every state works from:
| Upgrade | Rebate cap |
|---|---|
| Heat pump (space heating and cooling) | $8,000 |
| Heat pump water heater | $1,750 |
| Electric stove, cooktop, range, or heat pump dryer | $840 |
| Electrical panel / load center upgrade | $4,000 |
| Electrical wiring | $2,500 |
| Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation | $1,600 |
| Household maximum (all upgrades) | $14,000 |
Keep in mind that these are ceilings, not guaranteed payouts. What you actually receive depends on your income tier and the real cost of the work, whichever is lower.
A heat pump water heater is often the most overlooked line on this list. If you are already opening walls for a panel upgrade, pairing it with a heat pump water heater can capture a second rebate in the same visit.
Who Qualifies? New Hampshire's Income Tiers
HEEHRA is income-targeted, and eligibility hinges on Area Median Income (AMI) — a figure HUD publishes by county and household size. New Hampshire's wealthier southern counties carry higher AMI thresholds than the North Country, so the same salary can land in different tiers depending on where you live.
HEEHRA eligibility uses Area Median Income. Households below 80% of AMI qualify for 100% of project costs up to the caps; those between 80% and 150% of AMI qualify for 50%. Homes above 150% of AMI are not eligible.
| Income tier | Share of project cost covered |
|---|---|
| Below 80% of Area Median Income | Up to 100% (subject to caps) |
| 80% to 150% of Area Median Income | Up to 50% (subject to caps) |
| Above 150% of Area Median Income | Not eligible for HEEHRA |
That top row is the headline. A qualifying low-income household can, in principle, have a heat pump installed at no out-of-pocket cost, up to the $8,000 cap.
If you are above 150% of AMI, HEEHRA is not your path — but the federal 25C credit and utility programs may be. We break the tiers down in detail in our HEEHRA income tiers explained guide.
Before you assume a tier, look up your county's AMI for your household size on HUD's published tables. A four-person household in Rockingham County and the same household in Coös County can sit in different tiers for the identical income.
Which Heat-Pump Equipment Qualifies in a Cold Climate?
This is where New Hampshire diverges from a Sun Belt rebate. HEEHRA requires Energy Star-qualified equipment, but a unit that satisfies the federal checkbox is not automatically the right unit for a home that sees −10°F.
HEEHRA requires Energy Star-qualified heat pumps. For New Hampshire's sub-zero design temperatures, a NEEP cold-climate-listed model with strong HSPF2 and rated low-temperature output is the practical baseline for whole-home heating.
The specifications that matter for a cold-climate home go beyond the rebate's minimum. Look for these when you compare models:
- NEEP cold-climate listing. The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships list verifies that a model holds meaningful capacity and efficiency at 5°F and below, which is the data point a Concord winter actually tests.
- HSPF2 and SEER2 ratings. These are the current efficiency metrics that replaced HSPF and SEER, and they appear on the AHRI certificate that documents a matched system.
- Rated capacity at low temperature. A heat pump's nameplate tonnage is measured at 47°F; what counts in New Hampshire is its output at 5°F or 0°F, which can be a fraction of the rated figure.
- A documented backup heat strategy. Most cold-climate installs pair the heat pump with electric resistance or an existing fuel system for the coldest hours.
Sizing is the step most homeowners get wrong, and oversizing is as harmful as undersizing in a cold climate. Our cold-climate heat pump sizing walkthrough explains how a Manual J load calculation, not a rule of thumb, sets the target.
The backup-heat question deserves its own attention before you sign a proposal. We cover how to size and stage it in our guide to heat pump backup heat for New England winters.
Cold-climate performance also depends on how a unit manages defrost. In humid New Hampshire shoulder seasons, frost builds on the outdoor coil and the unit must periodically reverse to clear it, briefly drawing on backup heat — a dynamic we cover in defrost cycle sizing.
You will also choose between a ducted central system and ductless mini-splits, and the answer shapes both comfort and cost. The trade-offs are laid out in mini-split vs central heat pump.
Mapping the Tiers to a Real New Hampshire Home
Consider a moderate-income household in Manchester landing between 80% and 150% of AMI. On a $12,000 cold-climate ducted heat pump, the 50% tier would cover up to $6,000, still under the $8,000 heat-pump cap.
Now take a low-income household in the North Country on the same install. At the 100% tier, the full $8,000 cap could apply, potentially zeroing out the heat-pump portion of the bill.
Add a $2,000 heat pump water heater to either project, and the separate $1,750 cap comes into play on top of the heat-pump rebate. The two rebates do not compete; they stack within the $14,000 household ceiling.
These figures are illustrative, not quotes. Your tier, your county AMI, your contractor's price, and New Hampshire's final program rules all determine the real number — treat the caps as the upper bound, never the guarantee.
Can You Stack HEEHRA With 25C and Utility Rebates?
Stacking is where New Hampshire homeowners leave the most money on the table — or accidentally double-dip in a way the rules forbid. The general principle is that HEEHRA and the federal 25C tax credit are separate programs, but you usually cannot claim both against the same dollar of cost.
HEEHRA and the federal 25C tax credit are separate, but you generally cannot apply both to the same dollar of project cost. Utility rebates often stack on top. Confirm current 25C availability before you plan around it.
The 25C credit has its own rules and its own current status under federal law, which has shifted recently. Rather than restate a figure that may have changed, check our federal tax credit status hub for the live position before you build it into a budget.
The order in which you apply these programs changes the math, sometimes by thousands of dollars. Our HEEHRA and 25C stacking guide shows how to sequence them.
Then there are the utilities. Eversource serves a large share of New Hampshire and runs efficiency rebates through the NHSaves partnership, which can sit on top of federal money — see our Eversource rebates breakdown for what the utility side adds.
What Is the Rollout Status in New Hampshire?
Here is the honest part. HEEHRA's federal framework is fixed, but the date New Hampshire opens point-of-sale rebates to the public depends on the state's agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy and the New Hampshire Department of Energy's own program build.
That status can change between the time this is written and the time you read it. Do not assume the rebate is live at your local distributor until the New Hampshire Department of Energy confirms it.
We maintain a running view of which states have launched in the same state-by-state tracker linked above. Check it alongside the department's own page before you schedule work around the rebate.
A Decision Rule for Where You Are Right Now
The right next step depends on your phase, not just your income. Match yourself to one of these.
- Pre-purchase, unsure of your tier. Pull your county AMI for your household size first; your tier decides whether HEEHRA, 25C, or both is your lane.
- Tier confirmed, choosing equipment. Shortlist only NEEP cold-climate-listed models and get a Manual J load calculation before accepting any proposal.
- Equipment chosen, program not yet live. Watch the New Hampshire Department of Energy status and avoid prepaying for an install on the assumption the rebate will apply retroactively.
- Ready to stack. Sequence HEEHRA, any current 25C credit, and NHSaves utility rebates in the order that preserves the most benefit.
That sequence keeps the largest rebate intact while you wait on the program's New Hampshire launch. Patience here is worth real money.
Common Questions
Does HEEHRA cover the cost of removing my old furnace or oil tank?
HEEHRA targets qualifying electric upgrades and supporting work like wiring and panel capacity. Removal and disposal of old equipment is generally a contractor line item, not a separately capped rebate — confirm how your installer itemizes it.
Can renters benefit from HEEHRA in New Hampshire?
The rebates attach to the home and the equipment, so participation usually runs through the property owner. Renters in income-eligible buildings may benefit indirectly, but the application and tier qualification typically involve the owner.
Will a mini-split system qualify the same as a ducted heat pump?
Both can qualify if they meet the Energy Star requirement, and both draw from the same $8,000 cap. The choice between them is about whole-home comfort and cost, not rebate eligibility.
This article is for informational purposes and is not financial, tax, legal, or medical advice. Confirm rebate amounts, eligibility, and program status with the New Hampshire Department of Energy, and consult a licensed HVAC contractor or tax professional before acting.