WA HEAR Rebates: A Contractor's Guide
HEAR is Washington's income-based heat pump rebate for households at or below 150% of area median income. The customer's income tier sets the amount, and it stacks on top of PSE and local utility rebates.
What HEAR is
HEAR stands for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. It's a federally funded program run by Washington Commerce, with about $103.6 million to pay households for going electric. Heat pumps are the headline item.
For an income-qualified customer, HEAR is usually the biggest single rebate on the job. Worth checking before you quote.
Who qualifies
Eligibility is based on household income measured against area median income (AMI) for the customer's county and household size. Households at or below 150% of AMI qualify, and the lower the income tier, the larger the rebate.
How much and how it pays
For heat pumps, HEAR covers up to $8,000 for the lowest income tier, and a share of project cost for the middle tier. It stacks with PSE and local utility rebates rather than replacing them.
- •Lowest income tier: up to $8,000 toward a qualifying heat pump.
- •Middle income tier (up to 150% AMI): a percentage of project cost, capped.
- •Income verification is required, and it trips up more homeowners than anything else.
Not sure what a job qualifies for?
Send Tipoff any quote you're working on. We'll tell you every federal, state, and utility rebate it qualifies for, free and same day. We'll file them for you too.
FAQ
How does income get verified?
The household documents its income against the AMI limit for its county and size. See our income-qualified guide for what to tell customers.
Can HEAR and PSE both pay on the same install?
Yes. They're different programs and they stack. Our stacking guide walks through a full example.
Keep reading
This guide is general educational information, not legal or financial advice. Rebate amounts, eligibility, and deadlines depend on program funding and utility rules, and change over time. Always confirm the current terms with the program before quoting a customer. Last updated July 1, 2026.