Quick quiz: California rebates
A few questions from the programs we track. Tap an answer to see why.
The utility rebate is the main money
Where your electricity comes from decides almost everything. Glendale pays $1,000 per ton up to $5,000 when a heat pump replaces gas, Burbank $1,000 per ton up to $2,500, LADWP $1,000 to $2,500 per ton by tier, Riverside $750 per ton, Sacramento's SMUD $2,000 to $3,000 for a gas-to-electric swap, and San Jose Clean Energy a flat $1,500. Pasadena pays $170 per ton. Many large areas have none: PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E customers have no open utility cash rebate for a heat pump that we could confirm. See the table in Top 5 California cities for heat pump rebates.
What no longer stacks
The federal 25C heat pump tax credit ended after December 31, 2025. TECH Clean California and the federal HEEHRA program, which together paid thousands per home, are fully reserved for single-family homes and take new requests on hold only. California Energy-Smart Homes pays $4,250 plus bonuses, but only for converting every gas appliance, and applicants join a waiting list. If a quote counts on any of these, ask the contractor to show the program's own confirmation.
What can still add to a utility rebate
Some money sits next to a utility rebate: panel and wiring rebates (Glendale $1,000, Burbank $750, SMUD up to $4,000, San Jose Clean Energy $1,000), attic insulation (LADWP $0.50 to $0.75 per square foot, SJCE $0.75 up to $700), a smart thermostat program, and income-qualified help such as PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance, which installs heat pump water heaters and furnaces at no cost for households under its income table. South Coast AQMD's GO ZERO program resumed accepting single-family applications on August 28, 2026 with limited funding, according to the City of Santa Monica, so check it if you are in its region.
An honest order of operations
First, find your utility on your electric bill. Second, check free programs (Energy Savings Assistance, local weatherization, direct install) before you pay for anything. Third, read your utility's page for the heat pump rebate and the paperwork rules, since several require approval before installation. Fourth, get three bids with a written load calculation. California homes are often oversized by rule of thumb, and an oversized unit costs more and earns nothing extra under a flat or capped rebate.
Common questions
Can I still get $3,000 from the federal government for a heat pump?
No. The federal 25C credit ended after December 31, 2025.
Is the California state rebate still open?
TECH Clean California and federal HEEHRA are fully reserved for single-family homes and take new requests on hold only.
Which California utilities pay the most for a heat pump?
Glendale (up to $5,000) and LADWP (up to $2,500 per ton) pay the most, then SMUD and Burbank.
Does PG&E pay a heat pump rebate?
We found no open PG&E cash rebate for a heat pump. It offers free upgrades through Energy Savings Assistance for income-qualified households.
Sources, read October 2, 2026: LADWP Consumer Rebate Program, Glendale Water and Power rebates, SMUD heating and cooling rebates, Riverside Public Utilities heat pump rebates.
