Colorado Home Energy Rebate Program (HEAR/HER)
Colorado Energy Office rebates for income-qualified home electrification and energy upgrades; the current HEAR single-family cycle is limited to Region 2 and closes August 1, 2026 unless funds are reserved earlier.
This captured cycle appears closed. Use this page for historical guidance unless the official source has reopened the program.
Captured cycle: This page is retained for historical guidance. Confirm whether the program has reopened before planning an application.
Overview
Colorado’s Home Energy Rebate Program is administered by the Colorado Energy Office with federal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate funding. The program helps eligible households reduce the upfront cost of energy upgrades, including electric heating and appliances, insulation, air sealing, electrical panels, and wiring. The headline figure is up to $14,000 per qualified household, but that is a maximum across the program rather than an automatic payment. The amount depends on the household’s verified eligibility and the work approved for the property.
The current status is more specific than the old “rolling” description suggested. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate, or HEAR, single-family program has two geographic regions for this cycle. The Colorado Energy Office says funding moved quickly in Region 1, the Front Range, and that region is closed. Region 2 covers all other Colorado counties. The state’s current update says Region 2 applications will be accepted through August 1, 2026, unless the remaining funds are fully reserved sooner. That means an application submitted before the stated date is not a promise of funding. It still has to pass the program’s review and approval process, and available money can disappear first.
This page therefore describes the active Region 2 HEAR opportunity, not a statewide open-ended rebate. If your property is in the Front Range region, do not read the deadline below as permission to submit a new HEAR single-family proposal there. If your property is elsewhere in Colorado, act quickly and confirm the current funding position with a registered contractor or the program’s help center before signing a construction contract.
At a glance
| Item | Current information |
|---|---|
| Program administrator | Colorado Energy Office |
| Current path | HEAR single-family program |
| Current geography | Region 2, meaning all other Colorado counties outside Region 1 |
| Deadline | August 1, 2026, unless funds are fully reserved earlier |
| Maximum household benefit | Up to $14,000 for a qualified household |
| Eligible property focus | Single-family and manufactured/mobile homes |
| Income rule | Household income must be verified through the program process |
| Contractor rule | Work with a registered Colorado Energy Office program contractor |
| Rebate delivery | The approved amount is deducted from the project cost by the contractor |
| HER status on this page | No current HER deadline or amount is stated because the verified current update concerns HEAR single-family applications |
What HEAR can help pay for
HEAR is intended for upgrades that improve household energy use and move homes toward efficient electric equipment. The Colorado Energy Office’s launch announcement identifies electric heating and appliances, insulation, air sealing, electrical panels, and wiring among the upgrade categories. A contractor must translate your idea into a project scope that follows the program’s rules. “I want a more efficient house” is not enough for an application; the proposal needs to identify the work and show why the work belongs in an eligible category.
Possible projects can include replacing or adding electric heating equipment, installing eligible electric appliances, improving insulation or air leakage, or making electrical changes needed for an approved upgrade. The program is not a general home-repair fund. Painting, cosmetic remodeling, unrelated repairs, and equipment that does not match the approved category should not be assumed to qualify just because the work happens at the same address.
The $14,000 figure is a household maximum, not a flat award. A smaller project may receive a smaller approved amount. The program may also limit the amount to the eligible cost or to the amount allowed for the particular measure. Ask for a written scope and an estimate of the rebate before work begins, and treat that estimate as conditional until the state-approved process is complete.
Who can apply
The current consumer-facing launch is for income-qualified Coloradans in single-family and manufactured/mobile homes. Both owners and renters can participate in eligible situations. A renter needs the property owner to complete the state’s Landlord Authorization for Participation Form in the online application. That requirement matters because a tenant normally cannot authorize permanent equipment or wiring work on the building alone.
Household income is part of the eligibility review. The state announcement does not describe the rebate as open to every Colorado household, and the application is used to verify income level before the contractor proceeds. Gather the information needed to identify the household and document income, but follow the live state checklist rather than relying on a list copied from another rebate or an older application round.
The property and project also have to fit the program. A Colorado address by itself is not sufficient. The current cycle is organized by region, home type, household eligibility, contractor participation, and approved work. If you own multiple properties, review each address separately. If a property has multiple units or is part of a larger building, do not assume the single-family pathway applies.
The program’s other track, Home Efficiency Rebates or HER, is related but should not be treated as interchangeable with the active HEAR single-family cycle. The state’s launch announcement described future small-multifamily and companion HER offerings, while the current Colorado Energy Office update specifically gives a closing date for HEAR single-family Region 2 applications. This page does not invent a HER opening date, deadline, or payment amount. Owners of larger multifamily or other properties should use the official program page to determine which path is actually available.
How the application works
The practical order is important. Use this sequence while the Region 2 window remains available:
- Check the property’s region. Confirm that the home is in Region 2 rather than the closed Front Range Region 1. “Colorado” is too broad a location check for this cycle.
- Find a registered program contractor. The Colorado Energy Office requires eligible households to work with a registered contractor. Ask whether the contractor is currently registered and whether the contractor serves your county.
- Discuss the project before buying equipment. Explain the upgrade you need and ask the contractor to identify the measures that may fit HEAR. Do not purchase a replacement appliance or begin demolition based only on a verbal promise of a rebate.
- Submit the online household application. The state launch announcement directs households to an online application for eligibility and income-level verification. Renters should coordinate the landlord authorization at this stage.
- Complete the home assessment. The registered contractor conducts an assessment to help identify appropriate improvements. This is the point where a broad wish list should become a defined, technically suitable project.
- Wait for the project approval. The contractor submits the project information through the program process. Ask what has been approved, what amount is reserved or authorized, and what conditions still have to be met before installation.
- Install the approved upgrades. Keep the installed equipment and work aligned with the approved proposal. A model change, different scope, or added measure can affect eligibility and should be cleared before the work changes.
- Review the final invoice and records. The state describes the rebate as reducing the upfront project cost. Make sure the invoice shows the approved discount and keep the application, approval, scope, equipment information, and completion records for your files.
The most important timing rule is to avoid starting the work too early. A contractor’s initial estimate is not the same thing as state approval. If the program requires review before installation, an installation that begins first may not be accepted later. Ask the contractor to identify the exact point at which the project is authorized and to explain what happens if the Region 2 allocation becomes fully reserved while your application is being reviewed.
What to prepare
Before contacting a contractor, collect the property’s address, the names of the household members involved, and the information needed for income verification. If you rent, identify the owner or authorized property manager who can sign the landlord form. If the property is manufactured or mobile, tell the contractor at the beginning so the correct home category is considered.
Write down the problem you want to solve: high heating bills, an aging heating system, poor insulation, an electrical service limitation, or another energy-related need. Bring recent equipment information or photographs if available. The more clearly the contractor understands the existing condition, the easier it is to separate eligible work from unrelated repairs.
Ask for a proposal that identifies the equipment or measures, the expected project cost, the contractor’s registration status, and the estimated approved rebate. Also ask what happens if the assessment finds that the original idea is not eligible. Do not let a large headline maximum substitute for a project-specific answer.
Keep copies of every document and message. At minimum, save the household application confirmation, income-verification result, assessment notes, project proposal, approval notice, final invoice, and any completion evidence. If the contractor submits documents for you, request a copy of what was submitted. These records are useful if the scope changes or the final discount does not match the initial estimate.
Deadline and funding reality
The current field deadline is 2026-08-01 because the Colorado Energy Office says Region 2 HEAR single-family applications will be accepted through August 1, 2026 unless the program is fully reserved earlier. This is a funding deadline, not a guaranteed award date. The official update also advises residents to submit applications quickly and asks contractors to submit project proposals well before the deadline to allow time for processing and approvals.
Do not wait until the last day to choose equipment, find a contractor, complete income verification, and submit a proposal. A contractor may need time to perform the assessment and prepare the project. A proposal may need corrections. Funding may be reserved before the calendar deadline. If you are in Region 2 and want to pursue HEAR, start with the state-listed contractor and ask for a realistic review timeline immediately.
If you are in Region 1, the current HEAR single-family allocation is closed. The page should not direct you to submit a new application there. Check the official Colorado Energy Office page for any replacement or separate local incentive that may apply to your county, because a local utility or regional program is not the same thing as this state HEAR opportunity.
Common mistakes
The most expensive mistakes are usually timing and scope mistakes. Starting construction before the required approval can leave a household with a finished project but no eligible rebate. Choosing a contractor who is not registered can create the same problem. A contractor may be skilled at heating or electrical work and still not be authorized to submit this program’s paperwork.
Another mistake is treating the $14,000 maximum as a guaranteed check. The approved amount depends on the household and project. Ask for the result of the actual eligibility review, not a generic advertisement. Do not assume every energy-related item can be combined into one award, and do not assume an old estimate remains valid after the program reaches its funding limit.
Renters should not skip the owner authorization. Multifamily owners should not force a single-family application into a building that does not fit that path. Households outside Region 2 should not use the current deadline as if it applied to every county. Finally, keep the official program link bookmarked and verify the current status before paying a deposit, because the funding condition can change before the stated date.
Frequently asked questions
Is this still a rolling opportunity?
No. The current HEAR single-family cycle is region-specific and has a stated Region 2 closing date. Applications may end earlier if the funds are fully reserved. The old rolling description has been removed because it could make the program look permanently open.
Can I receive the full $14,000?
Up to $14,000 is the maximum advertised for a qualified household. Your approved amount depends on verified eligibility and the eligible project scope. The contractor and state application process must establish the actual amount.
Do I have to pay first and wait for a check?
The Colorado Energy Office describes the approved rebate as being subtracted from the upfront project cost by the registered contractor. Confirm the discount and its amount on the final proposal and invoice.
Can a renter apply?
Yes, eligible renters may participate, but the property owner must complete the Landlord Authorization for Participation Form in the online application. Coordinate that approval before the contractor submits the project.
What if I want the HER program instead?
HER is a related program with different project and property rules. The current official status reviewed for this page gives a deadline for HEAR single-family Region 2 applications, not a confirmed HER deadline or amount. Use the official Colorado Energy Office page for the latest HER availability rather than relying on an assumed launch date.
Official links
- Colorado Home Energy Rebate Program
- Colorado Energy Office current program update
- Colorado governor’s launch announcement
What to do next
If your home is in Region 2, contact a registered Colorado Energy Office contractor now, confirm that the contractor serves your county, and ask for the household application and assessment steps. Keep the project proposal aligned with the approved scope and ask how much time remains for review before the Region 2 funding deadline. If your home is in the closed Front Range Region 1, do not submit a new HEAR single-family application based on this page; check the official state page for any separate option that applies to your location.