What Rochester Public Utilities pays in 2026
Amounts come from the utility's 2026 form. The utility says it can end the offer without notice, and it handles applications in the order it gets them.
Ducted heat pump used for heating and cooling
For a ducted heat pump that is the main system or works with a backup heater. The backup must take over at 30 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Minimum ratings: 16.2 for cooling and 7.8 for heating.
Heat pump that replaces working electric heat
The amount depends on the size of the unit and whether it is a cold-climate model. A small standard unit earns $900. A larger cold-climate unit earns $2,200. Add $10 or $20 for each point of cooling score above the minimum. The rebate cannot be more than half of the equipment cost.
Heat pump that replaces a gas furnace
The form pays much less when the old heat was natural gas or another fuel. The unit must be rated for a cooling size up to 65,000 Btu per hour.
Heat pump water heater
For a 20 to 55 gallon ENERGY STAR model. Over 55 gallons earns $90. Not more than half the cost. Electric tankless heaters do not qualify.
Smart thermostat
Half the cost, up to a limit set by your heating type and by whether the thermostat controls your air conditioner. One per home.
Ground source heat pump
Plus $20 per ton for each efficiency point above the minimum, with the bonus capped at $200 per ton.
Rebates of $500 or less are credited to your utility bill. Larger ones can be mailed as a check if you tick that box on the form. Applications for 2026 purchases must arrive by March 31, 2027.
Read the heat pump table before you shop
The utility prints one table that sets the base rebate. It splits projects into three groups. The first group is a new home, a home with no earlier heat, or a failed system. The second is replacing or adding to working equipment, and that group is split by the heat you have now: electric heat, an older heat pump, or gas and other fuels. Electric heat gets the biggest numbers. A home that heats with gas gets $100 or $200.
Why would a gas home get so little? The utility is paying for electric savings. A heat pump that replaces electric baseboard heat cuts electric use a lot. A heat pump that replaces gas may raise electric use. Do not stop there, though. A heat pump can still lower your total energy bill in a gas home, and our CenterPoint Energy Minnesota guide lists a hybrid rebate from the gas side.
The cold-climate tier needs proof
The higher base amounts, such as $1,000, $1,100, $2,000 and $2,200, need a heating score of at least 7.7 for a ducted unit or 8.5 for a ductless one, plus a performance rating of 1.75 or better at five degrees Fahrenheit. If the unit misses the cold-weather test, the form drops you to the lower base amount for the standard efficiency level. Ask the contractor for the rating sheet before you buy.
Smart thermostat savings are small but quick
The thermostat rebate has four possible amounts. If the thermostat controls your air conditioner too, you get up to $100 with electric heat, $50 with a heat pump and $10 with gas or other fuel. If it does not control the air conditioner, you get up to $90 with electric heat and nothing for gas. The utility also runs a program called Bring Your Own Device that pays bill credits when you let it adjust your thermostat during peak demand events between May and September. We did not read its details here, so check its page before you enroll.
First come, first served
The form is plain about funding. Applications are handled in the order received. If the money is used up, the utility will not pay a rebate for equipment installed after the stop date. So do not wait until December. File as soon as the work is done and keep a copy of the invoice and the efficiency sheet.
How to claim a Rochester Public Utilities rebate
- Confirm that the equipment will be connected to an active electric account with Rochester Public Utilities.
- Choose equipment that meets the efficiency numbers on the 2026 form for the rebate you want.
- Ask your contractor for the efficiency certificate and a full invoice.
- Fill in the form and send it with the papers by email or mail. Rebates of $500 or less are credited to your bill.
- File by March 31, 2027 for 2026 purchases, and sooner is better.
Our pages for Rochester Public Utilities customers
- Rochester: Heat pump and water heater rebates from the city-owned electric company.
Guides
- Rochester heat pump rebates
- Rochester water heater rebates
- Xcel Energy Minnesota rebates
- Minnesota smart thermostat rebates
- Minnesota rebate hub
- Save Energy Minnesota state programs
Common questions
How much does Rochester Public Utilities pay for a heat pump?
From $100 to $2,200, depending on what the heat pump replaces, the size of the unit and its efficiency. Replacing working electric heat pays the most.
Is there a rebate for a heat pump water heater?
Yes. $400 for a 20 to 55 gallon ENERGY STAR model and $90 for a larger one, up to half the cost.
Do I have to use a certain contractor?
The form asks that contractors be licensed if a license is required. It does not name a program list. Rebates are for customers, not contractors.
When must I apply?
For 2026 purchases the form must arrive by March 31, 2027. The utility can end the offer sooner if money runs out.
Can a landlord or builder get the rebate?
No. The form says rebates are intended for customers, not contractors or builders.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 6, 2026: Rochester Public Utilities 2026 equipment rebate form, Rochester Public Utilities residential rebates, Rochester Public Utilities rebates and programs, City of Rochester energy programs. All rebate programs →