Wow! You all really showed up. Thank you to everyone who packed the room at La Plata Electric Association for the HEAR Rebate Open House a few weeks ago. There’s a lot of money on the table, and you all are clearly excited to use it. If you couldn’t make it or haven't taken the next steps, this column is for you.
Here’s the news: There is now a hard deadline. Applications to Colorado’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program must be submitted by Aug. 1. That’s soon. But with up to $14,000 available per household for upgrades like cold-climate heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and electrical panel upgrades, it’s worth the hustle.
Here’s how to make it happen:
First, learn. Our local contractors are swamped, and we want them to spend their time quoting and installing projects, not explaining the basics. That’s a job for the internet. Program details can be found through the Colorado Energy Office website.
Check if you qualify. Income limits are up to 150% of Area Median Income, which is higher than most people expect – for La Plata County, it’s roughly up to $138,000 for a two-person household and $172,000 for a four-person household.
Learn about the program. Review the available rebates and their requirements (e.g., heat pumps must cover more than 51% of your heating load).
Learn about heat pumps. Heat pumps truly are the future – efficient (think lower utility bills), they cool and heat, and they’re healthier and safer. There are two main types: ducted and ductless (mini-splits). Figure out which works best for your home and needs.
Then, call a HEAR contractor – soon. Get a quote for any rebates you want to use. Capacity is tight, but these businesses are still taking clients for HEAR projects:
- Pinnacle Heat Pumps: Ducted and ductless heat pumps.
- Shaw Solar: Ductless heat pumps and electrical.
- Honest Abe’s Electric LLC: Electric panel upgrades and wiring.
- Zero Homes: All project types. Based in Denver, but use a proprietary app to size your system and work with local installers.
- SolarWorks! LLC (durangosolarworks.com): Panel upgrades and wiring.
Gather your documents. You’ll need your adjusted gross income, that’s Line 11 on most tax returns, and the project quote from your contractor.
Submit by Aug. 1. Your contractor will provide you with a link to submit your application. Once approved (that may take several weeks), you’ll have 120 days to complete your project – so your new heat pump probably won’t be ready for this summer, but it will be ready to go for the heating season when you need it most. If you need to finance the remaining cost, look into LPEA’s on-bill financing program that offers below-market rates for energy projects. No upfront payment required.
Bonus: If you qualify for HEAR, you also qualify for an additional $2,000 toward a heat pump from Energy Smart Colorado. You need to start with a home energy assessment. Get that scheduled at fourcore.org/energy-efficiency.
Questions? For HEAR, the Colorado Energy Office has a useful helpline at (866) 336-0016 or COenergyrebates@guidehouse.com. I’m here to help with all other questions at erika@fourcore.org.
Erika Brown is the regional energy coach for 4CORE (Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency), serving La Plata and Archuleta counties.
