How to read this comparison
Every figure comes from the utility's own page, and each cell shows the status of the program it names. A cell that says no amount in our facts means we did not find a published amount, not that the utility pays nothing. Open the utility's page for the details and the date we read it.
What a 3-ton heat pump earns, where the rate is per ton
Per-ton rates are the one place a fair comparison is possible, so we did the arithmetic for a typical 3-ton system and applied each program's cap. The table is sorted by the result. It leaves out utilities that pay a flat amount or a whole-home tier, which are in the next table.
| Utility | Rate | Cap | 3-ton system | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Save on Energy | $1,250 per ton | $7,500 | $3,750 | Electric, oil, propane or wood home. |
| Glendale Water and Power | $1,000 per ton | $5,000 | $3,000 | Replacing a gas furnace. |
| Burbank Water and Power | $1,000 per ton | $2,500 | $2,500 | Must replace a gas appliance. |
| Riverside Public Utilities | $750 per ton | none stated | $2,250 | No cap stated on our card. |
| Enbridge Gas | $500 per ton | $2,000 | $1,500 | Gas-heated home or rental. |
| Pasadena Water and Power | $170 per ton | none stated | $510 | Base rate. |
| Moreno Valley Utility | $150 per ton | none stated | $450 | Midpoint of $140 and $160 for an in-city purchase, SEER 16 or more. |
The conditions matter as much as the amount: several of these programs only pay when the heat pump replaces a gas appliance, and the Ontario figure depends on how you heat. A bigger number is not better if your home does not qualify.
Every utility, by what it pays
The table groups utilities by region. Flat amounts, tiers and ranges appear as the utility states them, with the status pill for the program behind each number.
| Utility | Heat pump | Water heater | EV charger | Free or income help |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | ||||
| SMUD | Up to $3,000 Open | Up to $4,000 Open | Up to $850 Open | No amount in our facts |
| LADWP | $1,000 to $2,500 per ton Open | $1,500 to $2,500 Open | Up to $1,000 Open | Tier rate Open |
| Burbank Water and Power | $1,000 per ton, up to $2,500 Open | Water heater $1,500 Open | Up to $1,250 Open | No amount in our facts |
| Glendale Water and Power | $1,000 per ton, up to $5,000 Open | $4,000 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| Pasadena Water and Power | $170 per ton base Open | $500 Open | $600 or $200 Open | No amount in our facts |
| Riverside Public Utilities | $750 per ton for a heat pump Open | $200 water heater Open | Charger up to $1,500 Open | No amount in our facts |
| Moreno Valley Utility | $140 to $160 per ton Check first | No amount in our facts | $500 + $500 + $50 a month Open | 23% or 35% off Open |
| San Jose Clean Energy | $1,500, or $2,500 in EJ communities Open | $3,000, or $4,000 in EJ communities Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| CleanPowerSF | Up to $1,200 Open | Up to $1,200 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| PG&E | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | Up to 50% of equipment cost Open | No cost Open |
| Southern California Edison | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | Up to $4,200 Open | No cost Open |
| SDG&E | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | Free Open |
| San Diego Community Power | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | $50 plus $5 a month Open | Free Open |
| Ava Community Energy | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | Rate discounts and bill help Info |
| New York | ||||
| Con Edison | $2,500 to $11,000 Open | $1,300, or $1,500 until Nov 30 Open | 10 cents/kWh off-peak Open | No amount in our facts |
| National Grid (upstate NY) | $4,000 to $14,000 Open | $1,250 (retail) Open | No amount in our facts | Up to 100% of eligible costs Info |
| NYSEG and RG&E | $3,000 to $13,000 Open | $1,250 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| Central Hudson | $4,000 to $12,000 Open | $1,250 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| Orange & Rockland | $4,000 to $14,000 Open | $1,250 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| PSEG Long Island | $4,000, $5,000 or $7,500 Open | Up to $1,200 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| Vermont | ||||
| Efficiency Vermont | $375 to $475, plus up to $600 Open | $600, up to $1,000 Open | No amount in our facts | $200 to $2,200 Open |
| Green Mountain Power | $2,000 per condenser Open | Up to $600 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts |
| British Columbia | ||||
| FortisBC | $4,000 whole home, $1,500 partial Open | $1,000 Open | Up to $150 and $350 Open | Free Open |
| Ontario | ||||
| Save on Energy | Up to $7,500 Open | No amount in our facts | None Info | Free Open |
| Enbridge Gas | $500 per ton, up to $2,000 Open | No amount in our facts | No amount in our facts | Free Open |
Why the headline numbers mislead
New York's utilities advertise whole-home maximums such as $14,000 that only apply to a weatherized home in a Disadvantaged Community that removes its old system. California's municipal utilities pay per ton or per upgrade, so a small system earns little. Ontario's amount depends on how you heat. Compare the condition column, not just the dollar figure.
Where a utility pays nothing we could find
Several large utilities, including PG&E, SCE, SDG&E and Ava, have no cash heat pump rebate in our facts. That is a finding about published, primary-source offers on the dates we read them, and utilities do change programs. Their pages explain what exists instead, such as free income-qualified upgrades and EV charger help.
Free help is worth checking first
Income-qualified programs, such as SDG&E's Energy Savings Assistance, Enbridge's Home Winterproofing, Ontario's Energy Affordability Program and Moreno Valley's rate discount, give free upgrades or lower bills. They are often worth more than a rebate, and they should be checked before you spend your own money.
How to use this comparison
- Find your utility by the name on your bill.
- Open its page and read the status and date on each program.
- Check the free help column first if your income may qualify.
- Use the 3-ton table only to compare per-ton programs.
- Confirm every amount with the program before you sign a contract.
More for Utility programs homes
- Utility programs home rebates: every program in one place
- Compare all PowerScore cities: city rankings
- All utility and program pages: every page in the series
Common questions
Which utility pays the most for a heat pump?
On a 3-ton system with per-ton rates, Save on Energy's electric, oil, propane and wood rate is the largest in our table, then Glendale and Burbank. New York utilities advertise larger whole-home maximums under conditions.
Why do some utilities show no amount?
We found no published amount in the program pages we read. It does not prove nothing exists, so check the utility's own page.
Are these amounts current?
Each utility page shows the date we read it, and statuses come from the verified facts behind each card.
Is a bigger rebate always better?
No. Check the conditions, such as replacing a gas appliance, weatherization or income limits.
Does the comparison include federal credits?
No. The federal 25C and 25D credits ended for installs after December 31, 2025.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read September 26, 2026: Save on Energy: For Your Home, NYS Clean Heat program, SMUD rebates, LADWP residential programs.