InstaBidsMini split rebate: which program rules apply?
In some states. mini split rebate — PSE: “$1,500 rebate” for PSE electric-resistance replacements. Federal credit ended: “The credit will not be allowed for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.” Heat-pump cap: “$2,000 per year for qualified heat pumps” PSE, read 2026-11-04; IRS, read October 17, 2026.
InstaBids is an AI-run marketplace for homeowners and property managers: describe a home job once, by chat or through your own AI assistant, add photos, and get multiple written quotes on the same scope, compared apples to apples, with no phone calls or home visits before you pick.
Post your mini-split installation project on InstaBids to compare written bids for the work.
- Describe it onceBy chat, or through your own AI assistant, and add photos.
- Post it and send itContractors bid in writing on that scope.
- Compare line by lineEvery quote is written against the same scope.
- You chooseContact details stay hidden until you pick and they confirm.
At a glance
- 2025Federal credit final installation yearInternal Revenue Service (IRS), read October 17, 2026
- 5695IRS residential energy credit formInternal Revenue Service (IRS), read October 17, 2026
- 200%DOE weatherization poverty-income guideline; state rules varyU.S. Department of Energy (DOE), read October 17, 2026
For your AI assistant
MCP connector · REST API · plain HTMLHand any of these to your assistant and it can help you write this job's request; you send the request yourself. What you type in the job box above goes into the prompt these buttons carry. The connector asks you to sign in to your InstaBids account the first time.
- MCP connector URL
https://instabids.ai/api/agent/mcp - Agent API (OpenAPI)
https://instabids.ai/openapi.json - Start-request link
https://instabids.ai/intake?trade=hvac&from=rebates-mini-split-rebate&utm_source=us&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=rebates&page_type=rebates&job=mini+split - Prompt for any AI, with your job
- ChatGPTOpens with the prompt
- ClaudeOpens with the prompt
- GrokOpens with the prompt
- GeminiCopies the prompt, then opens
Every page is plain HTML. Steps for every assistant: add to your assistant.
Programs, amounts and status
| Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) | Amount not stated by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through state weatherization administrators (read 2026-10-17) Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). “To apply for WAP assistance, first identify your state weatherization administrator and reach out to them.” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “One of the primary factors affecting eligibility is income. Households at or below 200% of the poverty income guidelines or that receive Supplemental Security Income are considered under DOE guidelines as eligible for weatherization services. In addition, each state or territory may elect to use the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) eligibility criteria of 60% of state-median income.” How to apply: energy.govU.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through state weatherization administrators, read 17 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) Rebate Program | “up to $8,000*” Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). “Home Energy Rebates are now available in select states.” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “The HOMES Rebate Program provides rebates for eligible whole-home energy upgrade projects for households at all income levels. American households can save up to $8,000* on home upgrades based on modeled energy savings levels with a minimum savings of 20%. HOMES offers several possible pathways to affordable upgrades including insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling equipment, water heaters, duct sealing, appliances, and lighting. HOMES rebates provide Americans with household upgrades that can lower monthly energy bills while improving comfort and quality of the home.” How to apply: naseo.org (individuals do not apply to this agency directly)U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), read 17 October 2026 |
| High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) Program | “up to $14,000” Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). Who it is for, in the agency's words: “The HEEHR Program provides rebates for the purchase and installation of appliances and building envelopes materials to reduce American homeowner energy bills. American households can save up to $14,000 on efficient upgrades that can lower energy bills and improve comfort and safety of the home. HEEHR offers rebates at point of sale either at retail outlets or through contractors. HEEHR can be utilized for insulation, air sealing, ventilation, electric wiring and load service center upgrades, electric heating and cooling upgrades, and efficient electric appliances. The HEEHR program is designed to ensure homeowner savings, emphasizing the importance of insulating and sealing the home prior to upgrading heating and cooling to maximize savings.” How to apply: naseo.org (individuals do not apply to this agency directly)U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), read 17 October 2026 |
| PSE electric resistance to air-source heat pump conversion rebate | “$1,500 rebate” Status: open (source read 4 November 2026). “Ready to get started? This rebate is only available through the contractor working on your project. Find a trusted and reliable contractor through PSE’s Trade Ally Network.*” Pays for: “Ductless heat pump systems, sometimes called mini-splits, are a great option for homes without ducting or with incompatible ducting.”. Who it is for, in the agency's words: “You must be a current, PSE single-family residential electric customer. Single-family new construction, multifamily (five or more attached units) and commercial accounts are not eligible.” How to apply: pse.comPuget Sound Energy (PSE), utility’s own words, read 4 November 2026 |
| Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit | “$2,000 per year for qualified heat pumps, water heaters, biomass stoves or biomass boilers” Status: ended (source read 17 October 2026). Who it is for, in the agency's words: “You may claim the energy efficient home improvement credit for improvements to your main home. Your main home is generally where you live most of the time. For the energy efficiency home improvement credit, the home must be: Located in the United States An existing home that you improve or add onto, not a new home In most cases, the home must be your primary residence (where you live the majority of the year). You can't claim the credit if you're a landlord or other property owner who doesn't live in the home.” How to apply: irs.govInternal Revenue Service (IRS), read 17 October 2026 |
Federal tax credit status, in the IRS's words
The federal credit deadline concerns the installation year; the utility rebate follows its separate equipment and customer rules.
“The credit will not be allowed for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.”
IRS directs earlier-installation filers to its residential energy credit form and the year the equipment was installed.
Programs by state
| Maine | Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR), heat pumps in new affordable multifamily housing and manufactured homes (open, as of 17 October 2026) “is offering rebates for efficient heat pump systems in two categories of buildings occupied by income-eligible households”Maine Department of Energy Resources, run by Efficiency Maine Trust — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
|---|
Mini split rebate?
PSE links its ductless offer to replacing electric-resistance heating. This is a utility equipment rebate with conditions for the existing system and customer account; the word mini-split alone does not establish eligibility.
“Get a $1,500 rebate when you replace your electric resistance heating system with a qualifying air-source heat pump (ducted or ductless).”
Source: Puget Sound Energy (PSE), read .
Describe your ductless replacement project on InstaBids to compare written installation bids.
Do I qualify?
PSE begins with the electricity account and building type. Its single-family customer restriction matters before selecting a mini-split: a product that meets the equipment rule still needs a qualifying property and existing heating arrangement.
“You must be a current, PSE single-family residential electric customer. Single-family new construction, multifamily (five or more attached units) and commercial accounts are not eligible.”
Source: Puget Sound Energy (PSE), read .
Include your existing heating system in the mini-split job description you post on InstaBids.
Zonal electric resistance to ductless heat pump additional requirements
For a mini-split replacing zonal resistance heat, PSE specifies the unit technology and heating capacity as well as the existing heat source. Ask for the proposed equipment pairing in writing so the product requirement can be reviewed against the utility document.
“Your new ductless system must be AHRI Certified® as a variable speed mini-split or multi-split heat pump, use inverter technology, and be a minimum of ¾ ton in heating mode.”
Source: Puget Sound Energy (PSE), read .
Use InstaBids to request written bids that identify the proposed ductless equipment pairing.
Electric forced-air furnace to ductless heat pump additional requirements
PSE also sets an indoor-unit placement rule for a ductless replacement of an electric forced-air furnace. A bedroom-only proposal does not satisfy that stated condition; the written layout should identify which indoor unit serves the main living space.
“At least one indoor head must be installed in the main living area of the home; bedroom-only installations do not qualify.”
Source: Puget Sound Energy (PSE), read .
Ask bidders on InstaBids to describe indoor head placement for your mini-split installation.
General qualifications
PSE distinguishes fully ductless mini-splits from equipment that distributes conditioned air through any ductwork. A concealed indoor unit with a short duct run therefore needs attention when comparing proposals against the ductless rebate conditions.
“Only fully ductless systems qualify. Systems that use any ducting, of any length or size, for delivering conditioned air, including short duct runs from concealed indoor units, do not qualify.”
Source: Puget Sound Energy (PSE), read .
Compare the ductless layout described in each written bid through your InstaBids request.
Getting started with an installer
PSE routes this mini-split rebate through the installation contractor. Its network requirement remains a separate program condition when reviewing a bid. Ask the utility about the proposed installer before treating an installation proposal as a rebate application.
“Ready to get started? This rebate is only available through the contractor working on your project. Find a trusted and reliable contractor through PSE’s Trade Ally Network.*”
Source: Puget Sound Energy (PSE), read .
Post the installation scope on InstaBids and compare what each written bid includes.
Mini split tax credit?
The IRS status concerns when the equipment was installed. A current utility rebate and an earlier federal credit are different benefits; the credit deadline does not extend because a contractor or utility has a separate ductless offer.
“The credit will not be allowed for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.”
Source: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), read .
Keep the mini-split installation scope in your InstaBids request separate from tax-return paperwork.
Before you apply
- Record whether the current primary heat is electric resistance and whether PSE supplies that electricity.
- Ask the installer to identify the mini-split pairing, inverter technology and heating capacity in the proposal.
- Request a layout showing the main-living-area indoor head and whether the system uses any distribution ducting.
- Confirm the utility application route and its installer network condition before relying on the rebate.
- For the broader weatherization route, review the state provider’s income criteria and application process separately from a utility mini-split rebate.
Find the IRS rule for your home improvement
| Question to review | Project record | Agency document | Sources read: | Official rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump and water heater limit | Equipment and installation | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Read the IRS credit page | |
| Claim form and installation year | Return instructions | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Read the IRS credit page |
Sources read:
- Puget Sound Energy (PSE): https://www.pse.com/en/rebates/heating/electric-resistance-to-air-source-heat-pump-conversion-rebate, read 4 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/home-energy-rebates-program, read 17 October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/wap/how-apply-weatherization-assistance, read 17 October 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb, read 17 October 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/energy-efficient-home-improvement-credit, read 17 October 2026.
- Maine Department of Energy Resources: https://www.maine.gov/energy/initiatives/infrastructure/home-energy-rebates, read 17 October 2026.