Gov. Evers, PSC Celebrate One-Year Anniversary of Successful Home Energy Rebate Programs 

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), today celebrated the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Home Energy Rebate Programs in Wisconsin, which have helped residents statewide reduce energy use and lower utility bills. Wisconsin was the very first state to make energy efficiency upgrades available under the Home Efficiency Rebate (HOMES) Program in August 2024 and remains one of only five states in the country to offer both the HOMES Program and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) Program, which was launched a few months later.

The governor’s announcement comes as, in recent weeks, he signed the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, which works to lower out-of-pocket energy and utility costs for Wisconsinites by eliminating the sales tax on household energy bills, saving Wisconsin households over $178 million over the next two years. Working in tandem with the state’s leading rebate programs, these efforts are providing meaningful relief to Wisconsinites’ household budgets.

“Here in Wisconsin, we were proud to be the first to launch our Home Energy Rebates Program, and today, we’re excited to celebrate the impact this program has had on families and households across our state in just one year,” said Gov. Evers. “To date, more than $2 million in rebates have gone out the door to folks and families across our state, helping Wisconsinites make home upgrades to lower their energy bills and keep more money in their pockets. We must continue building upon this work to keep lowering costs for working families while working toward the more sustainable future Wisconsin needs and deserves.”

The Home Energy Rebate Programs have helped many Wisconsinites afford energy efficiency projects with significant impacts on energy and financial savings. Since launching the programs, over $2 million in rebates have been paid to Wisconsin households to install popular energy-efficient measures, including air sealing, insulation, heat pumps for cooling and heating, and electric panels and wiring.

In addition, the Home Energy Rebate Programs have helped create new job opportunities for the state’s network of IRA registered contractors. As of the end of July, there are nearly 200 IRA registered contractors who can help Wisconsin households make energy efficiency upgrades.

“The Home Energy Rebate Programs are a win, win, win for Wisconsin and we are excited to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the program launch,” said PSC Chairperson Summer Strand. “In the last year, Wisconsin households across the state have stepped up to utilize these rebates to save energy, save money, and support our workforce. Under Governor Evers’ leadership, significant progress has been made, but the work is far from over. Home energy rebates remain available, and in recognition of this important milestone, we encourage additional Wisconsin households to undertake energy efficient upgrades and reap the many benefits of the Home Energy Rebate Programs.”

Wisconsin was allocated $149 million under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to administer two Home Energy Rebate programs: the HOMES Program and the HEAR Program. Under the HOMES Program, $74.8 million was made available to support whole-home energy efficiency improvements, including insulation, air sealing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades. All Wisconsin households are eligible for HOMES, including existing multi-family buildings.

Under the HEAR Program, $74.5 million was made available to provide instant discounts to low- and moderate-income households for installing energy-efficient appliances, including electric heat pumps, and installing electric wiring and panel upgrades or energy efficiency upgrades, such as insulation and air sealing. Eligible customers will soon be able to receive rebates for purchasing appliances, such as ENERGY STAR electric clothes dryers and electric stoves, cooktops, or ranges, through participating retailers.

The HOMES and HEAR rebates are administered by Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency program. Utilizing Focus on Energy’s existing statewide framework for delivering energy efficiency programs and rebates uniquely positions Wisconsin to deliver HOMES and HEAR rebates to households across the state expeditiously and effectively. Focus on Energy will continue to manage and maintain its existing programs separately from the Home Energy Rebate programs to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance.

Focus on Energy created the Residential Rebate Finder to help households find available rebates and incentives by answering a few simple questions. Visit the Residential Rebate Finder at FocusonEnergy.com/get-started. More information about the Home Energy Rebate programs is also available here or by calling Focus on Energy at 1-800-762-7077.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.