Seattle home energy rebates at a glance
We read Seattle City Light's pages, the State Department of Commerce pages and the state solar tax law on October 6, 2026. Every card names its source at the bottom of the page. Seattle City Light's rebates are for the electric side of your home.
Heat pump
A contractor discount that depends on the efficiency rating of the heat pump. Homes that heat with oil also get $2,000 from the City.
Oil to electric
For Seattle households heating with oil that switch to a qualified heat pump. Income-eligible homes can get the switch at no cost.
Heat pump water heater
Through a contractor, a store coupon or an online rebate for a unit you install yourself.
Smart thermostat
An instant discount on Mysa and Sinope thermostats bought from the maker's Seattle City Light page.
Solar
Systems up to 100 kilowatts earn bill credits at your retail rate. Washington also exempts solar equipment and installation from sales tax through 2029. There is no City Light solar rebate on the page we read.
Lower-income households
The City of Seattle is a state partner for home electrification rebates for households at or below 150 percent of area median income.
What is not here
We did not find a Seattle City Light rebate for insulation, windows or home batteries on the pages we read, and the federal tax credit for heat pumps and solar ended after 2025. That is why Seattle has no insulation or window page on this site. Income-eligible households can ask the City's HomeWise program for free insulation and a heating and cooling system.
Seattle homes in numbers
The US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) counts 393,918 homes in Seattle. About 56 percent of households rent and 44 percent own. Only 37 percent of homes are detached houses and about 5 percent sit in buildings of two to four units. About 53 percent were built before 1980, and 23 percent before 1940. Roughly 33 percent were built in 2000 or later.
For main heating fuel, about 61 percent of homes use electricity, 33 percent use utility gas and about 3 percent use heating oil. These shares matter because City Light rebates fit electric homes best, the City's oil rebate fits only the oil group and gas homes may need to look at their gas company's offers.
How the pieces fit together
Seattle City Light is a city department. Its page lists a few household offers and sends people with lower incomes to the City's Office of Housing. The Office of Housing runs the Clean Heat program for oil-heated homes and the HomeWise program. The State Department of Commerce adds a third layer by giving the City of Seattle money to run home electrification rebates for households at or below 150 percent of area median income. If Puget Sound Energy sends your gas bill, it adds a fourth layer for gas customers. Our Seattle City Light guide and our Puget Sound Energy guide explain each.
Renters and condo owners
With 56 percent of households renting, many Seattle readers are not the ones who decide on a heat pump. The state program says renters can qualify when their income is at or below 150 percent of area median income, so ask the City. City Light's page for single-family homes does not say whether a renter or a condo owner may claim a rebate on a unit the building owns, so call before you plan on it. A landlord can claim the contractor discount on a rental house.
Every rebate guide for Seattle
Where to start in Seattle
- Find your fuel: check whether you heat with electricity, gas or oil, and who sends each bill.
- Pick the upgrade that fits your fuel. Oil homes start with the $2,000 City rebate and the free Clean Heat program for lower incomes.
- Ask contractors for written bids that show each rebate as its own line.
- If your household income is at or below 150 percent of area median income, call the City about state-funded rebates.
- Use our rebate calculator for a quick total, then check each amount on the official page.
Common questions
What rebates does Seattle City Light offer?
On our October 6, 2026 reading: $300 to $600 contractor discount on a heat pump, $750 for a heat pump water heater, $50 on certain smart thermostats and net metering credits for solar. The City adds $2,000 for oil-heated homes.
Does Seattle have a solar rebate?
We did not find one. Seattle City Light credits solar power sent to the grid at your retail rate for systems up to 100 kilowatts, and Washington exempts solar equipment and installation from sales tax through 2029.
Is there help for lower-income households?
Yes. The City's Office of Housing runs free programs for income-eligible homes, and the City is a state partner for home electrification rebates at or below 150 percent of area median income.
Is there a federal tax credit?
No. The IRS says the residential clean energy credit does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Where do I find the official amounts?
Each card on this page links to its official source in the list at the bottom.
What to do next
Start with the Seattle heat pump page if you plan to replace heating, or the water heater page if you want a quick win. The Washington rebate hub compares Seattle with other cities.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 6, 2026: Seattle City Light heating and cooling, Seattle City Light solar power, Seattle Office of Housing HomeWise program, Washington Commerce HEAR program, Washington solar sales tax exemption (RCW 82.08.962), IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit. All Seattle rebates → Every Seattle City Light rebate →