Home Efficiency Rebates Program (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (HEAR)

Home Efficiency Rebates Program (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (HEAR) is sponsored by Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon, Earth Advantage. These programs provide rebates for high-efficiency home improvements and appliance installations to eligible single-family and multifamily households, particularly low- and moderate-income households, to lower energy costs and improve home comfort.

HOMES and HEAR - Energy Trust of Oregon Energy Trust of Oregon is collaborating with community-based organizations to help deliver the Oregon Department of Energy’s HOMES and HEAR rebates to income-qualified households across Oregon. Supporting communities through home energy rebates Community-based organizations play an essential role in connecting households to trusted resources.

Through the Oregon Department of Energy’s Home Efficiency Rebates Program (also known as HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (also known as HEAR), Energy Trust is working to expand access to energy-saving upgrades for income-qualified households. This page outlines how your organization can participate in outreach and program support to help bring these benefits to the communities you serve.

The HOMES program offers performance-based rebates for whole-home efficiency upgrades based on modeled energy savings. Learn more about this program The HEAR program offers rebates to install specific eligible high-efficiency electric appliances and associated upgrades for households up to 150% of area median income (AMI).

Learn more about this program The Oregon Department of Energy administers these statewide programs, partnering with Energy Trust and Earth Advantage for coordinated delivery. Energy Trust will implement HOMES and HEAR in investor-owned utility areas it has served since 2002. Community-based organizations (CBOs) have two options for participating—as a Referral CBO (sign-ups open) or as a Partner CBO (currently closed).

Use the “contact us” form on the right hand sidebar if you are interested in becoming a Referral CBO. Partner CBOs provide direct program support to households from enrollment through project completion. Organizations in this role may assist with income verification, application navigation, contractor coordination and customer advocacy.

Partner CBOs are identified through a competitive RFQ process and may receive funding to support program delivery. The most recent RFQ is now closed. Future opportunities will be announced on Energy Trust’s Contracting Opportunities page .

Community-based organizations participating in the home energy rebate programs receive orientation training to ensure they understand eligibility requirements, rebate pathways and customer support expectations. Training prepares CBO staff to confidently guide households through outreach, referrals or full project support, depending on their role.

Energy Trust will provide a communications toolkit to help ensure consistent, clear and culturally responsive messaging across participating organizations. Referral CBOs participate in orientation sessions that cover program basics, eligibility requirements, key timelines and available resources. Training is designed to help organizations accurately share information and connect households to next steps.

Partner CBOs receive more in-depth training on income verification, portal navigation, contractor coordination and program compliance. Ongoing coordination and technical support are provided to support effective program delivery. Energy Trust will provide ongoing updates, resource materials and staff support to ensure participating CBOs remain informed as the programs evolve.

Frequently Asked Questions These frequently asked questions are designed to help trade allies understand the HOMES and HEAR programs, including program structure, participation requirements, training and next steps. These FAQs reflect information available at this stage of program development and will be updated as details are finalized and timelines are confirmed.

The Home Efficiency Rebates Program (also known as HOMES) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (also known as HEAR) are the Oregon Department of Energy’s (ODOE’s) Home Energy Rebate programs, which represent an investment in Oregon’s households through rebates to cover a large portion of the up-front cost of making energy efficiency upgrades and installing efficient appliances for Oregonians.

Energy Trust of Oregon will deliver the programs in areas served by investor-owned utilities (IOUs). These IOUs are: Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Northwest Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista. How much funding is available for HOMES and HEAR incentives, and how long will it be available?

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded ODOE over $113 million for the HOMES and HEAR programs. Funding for these programs comes to Oregon thanks to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Energy Trust will be implementing approximately $25 million for HOMES and $25 million for HEAR.

Specific amounts will be allocated to different housing segments and income categories to ensure the funding is distributed equitably throughout the investor-owned utility territory we serve. What is the expected timeline for program launch, training availability and full operational readiness? HOMES and HEAR Home Energy Rebate programs will launch in phases.

The programs are currently awaiting approval to launch from the U.S. Department of Energy. In the meantime, Energy Trust is diligently planning a training curriculum to onboard trade allies and community-based organizations (CBOs) to deliver these offers to customers when they are available. Trainings are slated to begin 30 days after approval is received and will continue to be available on a rolling basis.

How can CBOs participate in HOMES and HEAR? Energy Trust is seeking to collaborate with CBOs located within IOU territory that can support implementation in their current service territory to priority communities. Energy Trust released an RFQ in early 2026 to identify the first cohort of Partner CBOs who will aid in on-the-ground delivery of these programs.

That RFQ is now closed. CBOs can still participate as a Referral CBO. If interested, use the submission form on this page.

How will customers know if they need to work with a contractor or a CBO? Customers must work with an approved contactor when installing HVAC, air sealing and any electrical work. Energy Trust also recommends working with a contractor when installing a heat pump water heater, insulation and/or appliances.

However, customers can install the latter items themselves if they get preapproval when enrolling and follow the HOMES and HEAR installation manual requirements. Customers who need additional support understanding and navigating the program requirements will be referred to a Partner. Can both contractors and CBOs support income verification and paperwork navigation?

Yes, contractors and CBOs can support income verification and paperwork navigation. Both groups will receive special training to help customers through these steps, with Partner CBOs receiving additional training in managing projects on behalf of the customer. How will contractors and CBOs be notified of program updates, changes or federal guidance adjustments after the program launches?

Will Energy Trust notify contractors and CBOs as incentive budgets decline or approach depletion? HOMES and HEAR programs require project reservations. The program will monitor incentives spent in both programs and provide updates via INSIDER, email communication and direct communication to enrolled trade allies when incentives reach 20% depletion.

Can funding be withdrawn from projects that have already begun? Funding is only available for projects that have been completed and for which all required project documentation has been approved. Energy Trust will issue a check for reimbursement within 28 days of receiving completed project documentation.

Income Verification and Customer Privacy How will customers apply for HOMES and HEAR? Customers will submit a pre-application through an ODOE online portal that will qualify their income and site eligibility and assign them to the appropriate implementor (Energy Trust or Earth Advantage) based on their location. Once the pre-application is approved, contractors will be able to submit a project application through the online portal.

This portal is currently under development. Information about navigating the portal will be included in trainings for registered trade allies and CBOs. How will income verification work?

The Inflation Reduction Act set minimum household income eligibility guidelines for states to follow for both rebate programs. To meet these guidelines, program participants must demonstrate their income eligibility to receive rebates designated for low- and moderate-income households. Potential applicants will be able to demonstrate their income eligibility through one of two pathways.

The first pathway will require all income earners in a household to submit tax transcripts from the most recent tax filing year, and the summation of this income must be less than the amount listed in the income table for that household size and county. To order a tax transcript, customers may call the Oregon Department of Revenue at 503. 378.

4988, visit any Oregon Department of Revenue location in person or visit www. irs. gov/ individuals/get-transcript .

The second pathway is through categorical eligibility, where at least one member of the household provides official documentation of participation in a pre-qualifying program. Can customers use alternative income verification besides submitting tax transcripts? Yes, there will be a list of categorical eligibility programs that a customer can use to verify their income.

If a customer can demonstrate current participation in one of these programs, this proof can substitute income verification documentation. How will digital access challenges be addressed for customers who lack internet or comfort with technology? Customers who lack access can contact their local participating CBO, who may be able to work with the customer to submit information on their behalf.

Customers can also contact Energy Trust’s call center, which can help them navigate the online system. How will the program support immigrant communities with clear, culturally relevant information so they can confidently participate?

Energy Trust is working closely with CBOs that already have trusted relationships within immigrant communities to educate them on program requirements and provide the resources they need to support community participation. CBOs will play a central role in helping households understand the programs, navigate requirements and access the support they need.

Energy Trust will train CBOs to help them understand program requirements and to guide community members in the direction most beneficial to them. What participant data is required to determine eligibility? The program verification process requires income verification and information about the home.

It does not ask about demographic or citizenship information. All information collected in the verification process is stored on a secure server. Although states must retain all program data in the application platform for at least three years following the programs’ completion, the information is aggregated without personally identifying information.

This anonymized information will be analyzed and used to inform state energy reporting and assessment. How is income verification handled for point-of-sale appliance rebates? Income verification for both HOMES and HEAR is handled identically for all rebate options.

A customer enters their income information or proof of participation in an eligible low-income program into ODOE’s online portal. Customers participating in HEAR will be provided with a reservation to purchase the equipment and then be reimbursed the incentive amount either at time of purchase, at a participating retailer or within 28 days after providing proof of purchase to the program portal.

How will funds be equitably distributed throughout Oregon? Energy Trust’s program aims to distribute funds to all investor-owned utility territories through working with a combination of local CBOs and regional outreach managers and following the required regional budget allotment. How should organizations talk to customers about the possibility that project scope changes could affect rebate eligibility?

Because all projects require a reservation, if the approved invoice is followed, the customer will receive a rebate. If the contractor needs to make a change due to an installation issue, the revision process will require the rebate to be re-reserved. It is the contractor’s responsibility to maintain communication with the customer and work with their program contact to update the necessary documentation.

What guidance will be provided to help customers decide whether HOMES or HEAR is the best fit? Contractors and CBOs will receive training to understand the benefits of HOMES vs. HEAR and how to guide customers toward the best offering for them. Educational resources and other guidance materials targeting customers will also be available on the programs’ website.

Is there a centralized place where customers can see all available incentives across programs? Yes, there will be a centralized website that shows all available incentives when we are closer to program launch. Can HOMES and HEAR incentives stack with Energy Trust incentives?

Yes, HOMES and HEAR incentives can stack with existing Energy Trust incentives. Energy Trust will train contractors and CBOs to help them understand how this works. Is your organization interested in becoming a Referral CBO for the HOMES and HEAR programs?

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Organization Name (Required) State / Province / Region Need further assistance or have additional questions? Contact our team.