Every home energy rebate in the Upper Valley, 2026
NHSaves on the New Hampshire side, Efficiency Vermont on the Vermont side, and the federal credits that no longer exist. What each one pays, who qualifies, and what has to happen first.
Two states, two completely different programs
The Connecticut River is a rebate boundary. If your house is in Hanover, Lebanon, Enfield, Claremont or Newport, your money comes from NHSaves — a joint program funded by Eversource, Liberty Utilities, Unitil and the New Hampshire Electric Co-op. If your house is in Norwich, Hartford, Woodstock, Hartland or Bradford, it comes from Efficiency Vermont, the statewide energy efficiency utility, often paired with a bonus from Green Mountain Power.
They are not variations on a theme. They pay different amounts, for different measures, on different schedules, and they require contractors to hold different credentials. A Lebanon insulation crew that is excellent at NHSaves paperwork may not be an Efficiency Excellence Network member, which means a Norwich homeowner who hires them can lose the entire 90% rebate on a technicality.
The 2026 comparison, side by side
| Upgrade | New Hampshire (NHSaves) | Vermont (Efficiency Vermont) |
|---|---|---|
| Air sealing & insulation | 75% of installed cost, capped $6,000–$8,000 depending on utility and measure | Up to 90% cash back; Home Performance with ENERGY STAR up to $7,000 (was $9,500 before July 1, 2026) |
| Ducted / central heat pump | $250/ton from fossil fuel (max $1,250); $1,250/ton from electric resistance (max $6,250) | Up to $2,200, plus $200–$2,200 income bonus |
| Ductless mini split | Same per-ton schedule as ducted | $475 per indoor head |
| Geothermal / ground source | Qualifies under the per-ton heat pump rebate | Up to $3,000 |
| Heat pump water heater | Utility rebate available; amount varies by measure | $600, plus up to $400 more if income-eligible |
| Central air conditioning | $70/ton on ENERGY STAR certified equipment | Not rebated; window and portable units up to $150 |
| Smart / Wi-Fi thermostat | $85 when installed with a qualifying heat pump | Bundled into heating system offers |
| Home energy audit | $100 copay against $400–$600 value, plus $150–$400 of free direct-install items | Required first step for Home Performance rebates |
| Income-qualified households | 100% covered through the Home Energy Assistance program, via your Community Action Agency | 100% covered through the Home Weatherization Assistance Program |
Amounts are the published maximums and are subject to equipment requirements, pre-approval, and available funding. Several programs require the work to be done by a participating contractor.
Where the biggest money is
For nearly every house in this valley, the answer is the building envelope, not the equipment. The Upper Valley’s housing stock skews old — capes, colonials, farmhouses and their attached ells, many built before anyone thought about insulation as a system. Those houses lose heat through the attic plane, the rim joist and the fieldstone foundation faster than any boiler can replace it.
Both states have priced their programs accordingly. Vermont’s 90% and New Hampshire’s 75% are, by a wide margin, the largest percentage subsidies on offer. A $9,000 dense-pack and air sealing job in Hartland can come back to roughly $900 out of pocket. The same job in Enfield lands closer to $2,250. Nothing on the equipment side comes near that ratio.
Air seal and insulate before you size a heat pump. A tightened, insulated house needs a smaller and cheaper system, and an oversized heat pump short-cycles, runs less efficiently and costs more to buy. Contractors who do both will tell you this; contractors who only sell equipment sometimes will not.
What happened to the federal credits
Through 2025, most of these projects also earned a 30% federal tax credit — up to $1,200 a year for insulation and air sealing under section 25C, up to $2,000 for heat pumps, and an uncapped 30% for geothermal under section 25D. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, terminated both for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
If your work was completed and in service by that date, you can still claim it on that year’s return with IRS Form 5695. For work being done now, the state and utility programs are the whole picture. Read the full breakdown of what ended and what survived.
If money is tight
Two things worth knowing. First, the income-qualified weatherization programs in both states cover 100% of the work, delivered through regional Community Action Agencies, and the income ceilings are higher than most people assume — roughly 60% of state median income in Vermont and 200% of the federal poverty level in New Hampshire, with automatic eligibility if you receive fuel assistance, SSI or Reach Up. Second, both states have low-interest heat loan programs that cover the balance a rebate does not. Financing options are here.
Figures checked July 2026. Rebate programs change their amounts, caps and equipment requirements during the year, and several are capped by available funding. Confirm the current offer with the program or your contractor before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
Which state’s program applies to me?
The one your house sits in, not the one you work in — which matters a great deal around here, where thousands of people live in Norwich and commute to Lebanon. A Vermont address goes through Efficiency Vermont and its partner utility. A New Hampshire address goes through NHSaves, whichever of the four sponsoring utilities serves you. The programs do not stack across the state line.
Can I claim a rebate on a rental or a second home?
Sometimes, but the rules tighten. Both states run separate landlord and multifamily tracks with their own paperwork, and income-qualified free weatherization has provisions for renters where the landlord agrees. Seasonal camps and second homes are frequently excluded from the income-based programs but may still qualify for equipment rebates. Tell us the situation and we will tell you which door to knock on.
Do these rebates run out?
Yes, and that is not a sales line. Efficiency Vermont’s enhanced weatherization incentive is explicitly described as available through the end of 2026 or while funding lasts, and the Home Performance cap already stepped down from $9,500 to $7,000 on July 1, 2026. New Hampshire’s 2026 equipment rebates require installation between January 1 and December 30, 2026, with forms postmarked by January 30, 2027.
Can I stack a state rebate with a utility rebate?
In Vermont, frequently yes — the Efficiency Vermont heat pump rebate and the Green Mountain Power income bonus are designed to be claimed together in one step, which is how a ducted system reaches roughly $4,200 for an income-eligible GMP customer. In New Hampshire the four NHSaves utilities co-fund one program, so there is nothing separate to stack, but the regional Heat Pump Accelerator instant discount does stack on top.
What if my income is low?
Then stop reading the percentage rebates and call your Community Action Agency. Both states run federally funded weatherization programs that cover 100% of the cost — not 75%, not 90%, all of it — for households under the income limits. In Grafton County that is Tri-County CAP; in Sullivan County, Southwestern Community Services; in Windsor County, SEVCA; in Orange County, Capstone Community Action. There is usually a waiting list, so apply early.
Not sure which of these you qualify for?
Send us your town and how you heat. We will tell you which programs apply to your address and what they are worth this year.