Loading NuWatt Energy...
We use your location to provide localized solar offers and incentives.
We serve MA, NH, CT, RI, ME, VT, NJ, PA, and TX
Loading NuWatt Energy...
NuWatt designs, installs, and manages solar, battery, heat pump, and EV charger systems across 9 states. One company, one warranty, one point of contact.
Get a Free Quote
Everything you need to know about Mass Save heat pump rebates in 2026. Up to $10,000 standard, $16,000 income-eligible, plus 0% HEAT loan financing. Step-by-step process, qualified models, common mistakes, and utility-specific differences.
Enter your zip to see exactly which rebates you qualify for.
Mass Save offers up to $10,000 for whole-home and $8,500 for partial-home heat pump installations in 2026. Income-eligible households get up to $16,000. Add the $500 sizing bonus for a Manual J calculation. The HEAT loan provides 0% financing up to $25,000 for 7 years. To qualify: (1) get a free Mass Save energy assessment, (2) choose a cold-climate, QPL-listed heat pump, (3) submit pre-approval BEFORE installation, (4) use an HPC network contractor. The total process takes 8-16 weeks.
Complete displacement of fossil fuel heating. Heat pump serves as primary heating for entire home.
Heat pump covers portion of home. Existing system remains as primary for rest of home.
Replacement of electric or gas water heater with heat pump water heater.
Smart controls that integrate heat pump with existing heating system for optimal switchover.
If your household income is at or below 60% of the state median income, you qualify for significantly higher rebates — up to $16,000 for whole-home heat pump installation. This can cover the majority (or all) of a typical heat pump system cost.
Income-eligible households may also receive free weatherization (insulation and air sealing) as part of the energy assessment, plus enhanced HEAT loan terms. Contact Mass Save at 866-527-7283 to check your eligibility — the process is confidential.
Thresholds are approximate and based on 60% of state median income. Some utilities extend to 80%. Contact Mass Save for exact figures.
| Incentive | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Save Whole-Home Rebate | Up to $10,000 | Available 2026 |
| Mass Save Sizing Bonus | $500 | Available 2026 |
| HEAT Loan (0% APR) | Up to $25,000 | Available 2026 |
| MA State Tax Credit | $1,000 | Available 2026 |
| Heat Pump Winter Electric Rate | $200-$600/yr savings | Available 2026 |
| Federal 48E (via TPO only) | Varies | Consult installer |
Follow these six steps in order to maximize your rebate and avoid common pitfalls. The total timeline is 8-16 weeks from scheduling your energy assessment to receiving your rebate check.
This FREE home energy assessment is required before applying for heat pump rebates. An auditor evaluates your home's insulation, air sealing, windows, and heating system. They recommend improvements and may provide free weatherization services (air sealing, insulation). Schedule at masssave.com or call 866-527-7283.
Get quotes from at least 2-3 contractors in the Mass Save Heating and Cooling (HPC) network. These contractors are trained on Mass Save requirements and can handle the rebate paperwork. Using a non-HPC contractor may disqualify your rebate or require additional verification steps.
Your contractor (or you) submits the rebate application BEFORE installation begins. The application includes: energy assessment completion ID, proposed heat pump model and size, Manual J calculation (for sizing bonus), and estimated project cost. Pre-approval ensures your rebate is reserved before you invest in the installation.
Once pre-approved, your HPC contractor installs the heat pump system. Installation includes: outdoor unit placement, indoor unit mounting (wall-mount, ceiling cassette, or ducted), refrigerant line running, electrical connections, and thermostat/controls setup. The contractor ensures the system meets Mass Save specifications.
Mass Save may schedule a post-installation inspection to verify the system matches the approved application. Not every installation is inspected, but it's common for whole-home conversions and income-eligible projects. The inspector checks: correct model installed, proper sizing, quality of installation, and functioning controls.
After approval (or after waiving inspection), Mass Save processes your rebate. Payment is typically issued as a check mailed to your address, or in some cases as a credit on your utility bill. The timeline is 4-8 weeks from final approval to receiving the rebate check. Income-eligible rebates may follow a slightly different timeline.
May lose entire rebate. Always get pre-approval FIRST.
critical riskRebate denied. Verify model on Mass Save QPL before purchasing.
critical riskCannot submit rebate application. Assessment is a prerequisite.
critical riskMay require additional verification, delays, or rebate reduction.
high riskMiss the $500 sizing bonus. Ensure contractor performs load calculation.
medium riskCould miss $6,000-$8,000 in additional rebates. Check income thresholds.
high riskLonger processing times (12-16 weeks vs 8-12 weeks).
low riskYour heat pump must be on the Mass Save Qualified Products List (QPL) to receive rebates. Here are the most commonly installed qualifying brands and models in Massachusetts.
Always verify on the QPL before purchasing. The Mass Save QPL is updated periodically. A model that qualified last year may have been removed, or a newer version may be required. Check the current list at masssave.com/en/saving/residential-rebates/heating-and-cooling or ask your contractor to confirm QPL eligibility.
While the rebate amounts are consistent across utilities, the application process, timeline, and additional benefits vary. Here's what to expect from each utility.
Eastern MA, Greater Boston, Cape Cod, South Shore
Online portal for application submission. Generally fastest processing times. Most HPC contractors in their territory.
Offers additional weatherization incentives that stack with heat pump rebates. Strong income-eligible program outreach.
Central MA, Western MA, parts of Greater Boston
Similar online portal. Slightly longer processing times in peak season. Good contractor network in Worcester and Springfield areas.
Offers the heat pump winter electric rate discount in addition to installation rebates. Strong rural outreach.
North-central MA (Fitchburg, Lunenburg area)
Smaller territory means fewer contractors but also faster processing. May require phone/mail applications for some rebate types.
More personalized service due to smaller customer base. May offer additional local incentives.
The HEAT loan (Home Energy Assessment and Treatment) is arguably the best home improvement financing in the country: 0% interest for up to $25,000 over 7 years. No origination fees. No prepayment penalties. Available through participating Mass Save lenders.
The HEAT loan can cover the net cost of your heat pump system after rebates. Example: a $20,000 whole-home heat pump system with a $10,000 Mass Save rebate leaves $10,000 — financed at 0% over 7 years, that's just $119/month. Compare that to a typical home improvement loan at 7-9% APR where the same $10,000 would cost $155-$165/month with $3,000+ in total interest.
To qualify: Complete a Mass Save energy assessment, have the work performed by a Mass Save participating contractor, and apply through a participating lender. Credit requirements are generally more flexible than standard home improvement loans. Ask your contractor which lenders they work with.
Mass Save offers up to $10,000 for whole-home heat pump installations and $1,250 per ton (up to $8,500) for partial-home installations in 2026. Income-eligible households receive enhanced rebates up to $16,000 for whole-home and $12,000 for partial-home. There is also a $500 sizing bonus if your contractor performs a Manual J load calculation to right-size the system. Heat pump water heaters qualify for $750 ($1,500 income-eligible).
Income-eligible households receive significantly higher rebates — up to $16,000 for whole-home heat pump installation (vs $10,000 standard). You qualify if your household income is at or below 60% of the state median income (approximately $58,000 for a family of four in 2026, though thresholds vary by household size). Some utilities extend eligibility to 80% of median income for certain programs. Contact Mass Save at 866-527-7283 to check your eligibility — they can verify without requiring extensive documentation.
The HEAT loan (Home Energy Assessment and Treatment) provides 0% interest financing up to $25,000 for 7 years for qualifying energy improvements, including heat pumps. This means a $15,000 heat pump system (after rebates) costs just $179/month with zero interest. The HEAT loan can cover the net cost after rebates — so if your system costs $18,000 and you receive a $10,000 rebate, you can finance the remaining $8,000 at 0%. Apply through your Mass Save participating lender after rebate pre-approval.
Yes, a Mass Save home energy assessment is required before you can apply for heat pump rebates. The assessment is FREE and takes 2-3 hours. An auditor evaluates your home's insulation, air sealing, and heating systems. They may provide free air sealing and insulation during the visit. The assessment also identifies any weatherization improvements that should be done before or alongside heat pump installation for optimal performance. Schedule at masssave.com or call 866-527-7283.
This is the #1 mistake homeowners make. While some retroactive applications are processed, you risk losing your entire rebate if you install before pre-approval. Mass Save explicitly recommends getting pre-approval BEFORE installation begins. The pre-approval process takes 1-2 weeks and reserves your rebate amount. Once pre-approved, you have a window (typically 6-12 months) to complete the installation. Always get pre-approval first.
The heat pump must be ENERGY STAR certified, cold-climate rated (efficient at 5 degrees F), and listed on the Mass Save Qualified Products List (QPL). The most commonly installed qualifying brands in MA are: Mitsubishi (Hyper-Heat series — most popular), Fujitsu (XLTH series), Daikin (Aurora/Fit series), Carrier/Bryant (Greenspeed series), Bosch (IDS 2.0), and LG (Red series). Check the current QPL at masssave.com before purchasing — the list is updated periodically.
The total timeline from first contact to receiving your rebate check is typically 8-16 weeks: Schedule energy assessment (1-4 weeks wait), assessment visit (2-3 hours), get contractor quotes (1-3 weeks), submit pre-approval application (1-2 weeks processing), installation (1-3 days), post-installation inspection if required (1-3 weeks), and rebate payment (4-8 weeks). To minimize the timeline, schedule your energy assessment and get contractor quotes simultaneously, apply during off-peak months (spring/early summer), and have all documentation ready.
The 2026 Mass Save heat pump rebate structure is largely consistent with 2025, with a few updates: (1) Whole-home rebate maximums remain at $10,000 standard and $16,000 income-eligible, (2) The QPL has been updated with newer models, particularly from Daikin and Bosch, (3) Income-eligible thresholds have been adjusted slightly for inflation, (4) The HEAT loan maximum remains at $25,000 at 0% for 7 years, (5) Processing times have improved with digital application systems. The biggest change is expanded integration with the heat pump winter electric rate program, making the combined rebate + discounted rate stack more valuable.
NuWatt is a Mass Save participating contractor. We handle the entire rebate process — energy assessment coordination, pre-approval, installation, and rebate filing.