What San Jose Clean Energy pays
These figures come from the EcoHome Rebate page of San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE), which we read on October 1, 2026. Add-on rebates require a heat pump HVAC or heat pump water heater, and the insulation add-on specifically must be paired with a heat pump HVAC rebate.
Attic insulation
Up to $700 for a standard customer.
Environmental Justice community
Up to $1,000.
Pair it with
Standard $1,500, or $2,500 in an EJ community, replacing a gas system.
Where the cap lands
At $0.75 per square foot, a 933 square foot attic reaches the $700 cap, and a 1,333 square foot attic reaches the $1,000 cap in an Environmental Justice community. Insulating a 1,000 square foot attic earns $700, not $750, for a standard customer.
Why it is only an add-on
SJCE built insulation into its heat pump offer instead of paying for it alone. That means a household that only wants insulation gets nothing from SJCE, and a household replacing gas heating gets a bonus for sealing the attic. If you are planning a heat pump, ask the installer to price the attic work in the same quote, since the same crew can often do both.
Insulate before you size the system
San Jose's average January low over 2015 to 2024 was 6.7°C (about 44°F), so winters are cool but not severe, and summers are warm. A well-insulated attic lets you choose a smaller heat pump, which costs less to buy and run. Because SJCE requires approval before installation, ask the installer for a written scope that lists the attic insulation, so the rebate application matches the invoice.
What to look at in the attic first
Before you quote anything, have the contractor go up and look at what is already there: how deep the current insulation is, whether it is compressed or wet, and whether bathroom fans and recessed lights vent into the attic. Those fans should vent outdoors, not into the attic, and recessed lights need clearance from insulation unless they are rated for contact. SJCE's rebate pays by square foot, so ask for the measured square footage on the invoice. A well-prepared attic job takes a day and should leave air-tight hatches and sealed wiring holes behind.
Ask the contractor to describe the insulation type and the finished depth in writing, because SJCE verifies the work, and a vague invoice is the usual reason a claim stalls.
Your utility: San Jose Clean Energy
SJCE is the only utility in this part of California we found that pays insulation as a heat pump add-on. LADWP pays $0.50 to $0.75 per square foot as a stand-alone rebate (Los Angeles), and SMUD pays up to $3,000 through its Home Performance Program (Sacramento). SJCE's EcoHome Payment Plan can spread the up-front cost.
Other money
BayREN's EASE Home program pays 80% of weatherization costs for income-qualified PG&E customers in Santa Clara County, including insulation and air sealing, and may be the better route for a qualifying household (BayREN). The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended after December 31, 2025.
How to claim the SJCE insulation add-on
- Confirm that you are a current SJCE customer and that you are also replacing a gas system with a heat pump HVAC.
- Ask the installer to include the attic insulation in the written scope and the quote.
- Apply on the EcoHome Rebate page before installation begins, listing the insulation with the heat pump.
- Wait for SJCE's confirmation email, then install within the 120 days of reserved funds.
- Keep the invoice that shows the square footage insulated.
- Submit your claim for the heat pump and the add-on together.
Common questions
How much does SJCE pay for attic insulation?
$0.75 per square foot, up to $700, or up to $1,000 in an Environmental Justice community.
Can I claim it without a heat pump?
No. The insulation rebate must be paired with a heat pump HVAC rebate.
Is there an alternative for low-income households?
BayREN's EASE Home program pays 80% of weatherization costs for income-qualified PG&E customers in Santa Clara County.
When do I apply?
Before installation, together with the heat pump.
What does a typical attic earn?
A 1,000 square foot attic would earn $750 at the rate, but the standard cap of $700 applies.
What to do next
See SJCE's EcoHome Rebate page, or compare all San Jose offers on our San Jose hub. Read San Jose heat pump rebates first.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 1, 2026: San Jose Clean Energy EcoHome Rebate, BayREN EASE Home, San Jose Clean Energy EcoHome Payment Plan. All San Jose rebates → Every San Jose Clean Energy rebate →