What is open for Denver homes in 2026
Xcel's amounts come from its 2026 rebate summary, last read September 29, 2026, because Xcel's pages load by script and would not open for our reader on October 5. The state, Colorado Energy Office and Power Ahead Colorado pages were read on October 5, 2026. Each card shows its status and source.
Xcel heat pump
Cold-climate air-source heat pumps, counted at 5°F. The higher rate is for homes heated with Xcel natural gas.
Power Ahead Colorado heat pump rebate
ENERGY STAR cold-climate air-source heat pump in an existing building, through a verified contractor, approved before work starts.
State heat pump discount
$83 for a heat pump water heater. Taken off your invoice by a registered contractor.
Xcel heat pump water heater
The higher amount is for gas-heated homes. ENERGY STAR, 3.3 UEF. The state adds at least $83.
Xcel insulation and air sealing
Attic up to $500, walls up to $350, air sealing up to $400. Gas-heated homes get 1.5 times the caps.
Xcel EV charger and wiring
Level 2 charger and/or 240V wiring. Up to $800 in a Disproportionately Impacted Community and up to $2,300 for income-qualified homes. Sign up for Optimize Your Charge first.
Xcel Renewable Battery Connect
$250 per kW of continuous power, with a battery charged by solar. $100 a year for five years on top.
Xcel Solar Rewards
For income-qualified homes and homes in a Disproportionately Impacted Community only in 2026. Other homes get net metering without an upfront payment.
State income-based rebates (HEAR)
Up to $14,000 per household while open. The single-family program is now closed.
Federal tax credits (25C, 25D)
Ended for spending after December 31, 2025.
City of Denver homeowner rebate
Denver's homeowner page lists a group-buy program for solar and heat pumps with savings up to 10% off the average install cost, and no city rebate amount.
Who lives in Denver's homes
The American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) says about 51% of Denver households rent and 49% own. Only 40% of homes are detached houses, and about 5% are in buildings of two to four units, so the rest are larger apartment and condo buildings. About 55% were built before 1980 and 31% in 2000 or later.
That mix means a lot of Denver rebate decisions belong to landlords, condo boards and building owners. Several of the programs above reach them: Power Ahead Colorado takes multifamily and commercial buildings, and the state discount lets a contractor claim one credit per unit a heat pump serves. If you rent, use this page to start a conversation with the owner.
How the pieces stack
Denver homes are served by Xcel Energy, and Xcel's heat pump rebate can be combined with the $1,500 Power Ahead Colorado rebate and the state discount, according to Colorado Public Radio's reporting on the program. The best order is to choose a contractor who does all three, get Power Ahead Colorado's approval before work starts, and ask for the model's output at 5°F so you can check Xcel's per-ton math. Our Denver heat pump page works through an example.
Gas or electric
About 61% of Denver households heat with utility gas and 36% with electricity. Xcel pays higher amounts for gas-heated homes on heat pumps, water heaters and weatherization, so the gas majority has the larger rebates. The electric-heat 36% saves the most on bills after a switch. If your home is in that group, start with the heat pump and the insulation, and see the Denver insulation page.
What ended in 2026
The federal 30% credits ended for spending after 2025. The Colorado Energy Office closed its single-family income-based rebate program in August 2026, which could pay up to $8,000 for a cold-climate heat pump and $14,000 in total. The state's invoice discount is still running, but it fell from $499.95 to $333 per air-source heat pump in 2026, and it is scheduled to fall again in tax year 2029.
Group buying and city programs
The city runs a group-buy program with Switch Together Denver. Homeowners sign up, join a group wanting similar equipment, and an installer prices the job; the city says savings can reach 10%. It does not replace any rebate here. The city's pages also list rebates for energy audits, building electrification grants and affordable housing, which are aimed at larger buildings, not single-family homes.
Every rebate guide for Denver
- Insulation rebates in Denver
- Heat Pump rebates in Denver
- Colorado battery rebates (same for the whole state)
- Colorado solar rebates (same for the whole state)
- Colorado ev charger rebates (same for the whole state)
- Colorado appliance rebates (same for the whole state)
- Colorado smart thermostat rebates (same for the whole state)
Top-rated installers in Denver
Ranked by Google reviews (minimum five). We don't take referral fees or paid placements.
How to claim Denver rebates
- Check your Xcel bill to see whether you get gas and electric from Xcel.
- Decide which project comes first, usually insulation and air sealing, then the heat pump.
- Ask contractors whether they are Xcel participating, Power Ahead Colorado verified and registered for the state discount.
- Have the contractor submit heat pump projects to Power Ahead Colorado before any work begins.
- Keep every invoice and check that the state discount shows as its own line.
Common questions
What rebates can a Denver homeowner get in 2026?
Xcel Energy heat pump, water heater, insulation, thermostat, EV charger and battery rebates, the $1,500 Power Ahead Colorado heat pump rebate, and the state's invoice discount. The state's income-based program and the federal credits have closed.
Does Denver have its own rebate for homes?
We could not confirm one. The city's homeowner page lists a group-buy program and links to other rebate sources.
Can renters get rebates?
Rebates usually go to whoever pays for the equipment. A tenant can ask the landlord to apply, and some programs cover multifamily buildings.
Are the Xcel heat pump amounts open yet?
Xcel's 2026 rebate summary lists them from October 1, 2026. Its page would not load for us, so confirm the status with Xcel.
Is the state's income-based program open?
No. The Colorado Energy Office says the single-family program is closed.
What to do next
See Colorado-wide pages for home batteries, solar and EV chargers, and the Colorado rebate calculator.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 5, 2026: Xcel Energy Colorado residential rebates, Xcel Energy 2026 rebate summary, Power Ahead Colorado rebate overview, State heat pump tax credit page (Colorado Energy Office), Colorado Home Energy Rebate Program, Denver homeowner group-buy page. All Denver rebates → Every Xcel Energy Colorado rebate →