Mass Save Rebates: What Massachusetts Homeowners Get in 2026

A homeowner in Worcester gets a notice that her heating system is aging out. Before she calls an HVAC contractor, her neighbor tells her to book a Mass Save home energy assessment first. That tip saves her a significant chunk of money on a new heat pump.

Mass Save is Massachusetts' statewide energy-efficiency program. It is not a government agency on its own. Instead, it is a collaboration among the state's electric and gas utilities, including Eversource and National Grid, operating under oversight from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The program is funded through charges that appear on every utility customer's bill, which means virtually every residential electric customer in the state is eligible to use it.

The practical result is a single front door, MassSave.com, where homeowners, renters (in some cases), and landlords can request assessments, browse rebates, and apply for financing. The program covers a wide range of upgrades, and the rebate amounts change periodically as program administrators update their offerings.

The home energy assessment is the gateway to most Mass Save rebates, and it costs the homeowner nothing. A certified energy specialist visits the property, evaluates insulation levels, checks air sealing, reviews heating and cooling equipment, and looks at lighting and appliances.

At the end of the visit, the specialist produces a report that flags which upgrades would deliver the most benefit for that specific home. More importantly, that report often unlocks instant discounts on some measures, such as air sealing and basic weatherization, that are completed during the assessment itself or scheduled shortly after.

Homeowners who skip the assessment and purchase equipment on their own sometimes miss rebates they would have qualified for or buy equipment that does not meet program specifications. Booking the assessment first is the single most consistent advice energy advisors give.

To schedule, visit MassSave.com or call the program directly. Wait times can run several weeks during peak seasons, so booking early in the year or right after the summer cooling season tends to get faster appointments.

Heat pump rebates are among the largest Mass Save offers available. The program covers both air-source heat pumps, which handle space heating and cooling, and heat pump water heaters, which replace conventional electric or gas water heaters.

Rebate amounts for heat pumps depend on factors like the equipment's efficiency rating, the size of the system, and whether the home is a single-family or multifamily property. Because Mass Save updates rebate levels on a rolling basis, the exact dollar figures available in a given month are best confirmed directly at MassSave.com or through your utility. ElectricRates.org also maintains a Massachusetts electricity guide with links to current program resources.

What is consistent: the rebates are structured to reward higher-efficiency equipment. A cold-climate air-source heat pump that qualifies for the highest efficiency tier will receive a larger rebate than a baseline-qualifying unit. That tiered structure is worth understanding before you finalize an equipment choice with a contractor.

Heat pump water heaters have their own rebate track. They are one of the most cost-effective upgrades available because they move heat rather than generate it, cutting water heating energy use substantially compared with a conventional electric resistance tank.

Insulation and air sealing are where Mass Save has historically offered some of its most accessible rebates, partly because the upfront costs are lower than HVAC equipment and the payback periods are relatively short.

The program covers attic insulation, wall insulation, basement ceiling insulation, and air sealing throughout the building envelope. For income-qualified households, a greater share of these costs may be covered, in some cases approaching the full installed cost. Income eligibility thresholds and the exact share covered are set by the DPU and updated periodically, so confirming current terms through MassSave.com or the MA DPU is the right move.

Air sealing often gets overlooked because it is invisible after the work is done, but it is one of the highest-impact measures in a leaky older home. Drafts that drive up heating bills in January and cooling bills in July can be significantly reduced through a professional blower-door-guided air sealing session, and Mass Save subsidizes a meaningful portion of that work.

Contractors who perform this work must be Mass Save-approved. Using a non-approved contractor typically disqualifies the project from rebates.

The program covers a broader range of upgrades than many homeowners realize.

Smart thermostats: Mass Save offers rebates on qualifying smart thermostats that can be controlled remotely and programmed to reduce energy use during unoccupied hours. These are among the easiest rebates to claim because installation is typically a DIY project.

Electric vehicle chargers: Level 2 EV charger rebates are available in some utility territories under the Mass Save umbrella. Eligibility and rebate amounts vary, so checking directly with Eversource or National Grid for your address is the most reliable step.

Central AC and ductless mini-splits: Cooling equipment rebates exist for qualifying systems, particularly units that meet high-efficiency thresholds. Mini-splits that also provide heating are often treated under the heat pump rebate track rather than a separate cooling category.

Commercial and multifamily programs: Mass Save runs separate tracks for small businesses, large commercial customers, and multifamily building owners. Landlords with rental properties should look at the multifamily rebate programs, which can cover work in common areas and individual units.

For the most current list of covered measures, MassSave.com publishes a rebate finder tool that filters by utility territory and property type.

Yes. The Mass Save HEAT Loan (Home Energy Assistance Technology Loan) is a zero-percent interest loan available to qualifying homeowners for eligible energy efficiency improvements. As of August 2026, the program provides financing that allows homeowners to pay for upgrades over time without interest charges, making upgrades that remain expensive after rebates more accessible.

The HEAT Loan is available through participating lenders. Eligibility is tied to the property being the borrower's primary residence and the work being performed by a Mass Save-approved contractor. Loan terms and maximum amounts are set by the program and can be confirmed through MassSave.com or the MA DPU.

Pairing a HEAT Loan with a rebate is a common strategy: the rebate reduces the principal, and the zero-percent loan finances the rest. For a heat pump installation that carries a four or five-figure price tag before rebates, that combination can make the monthly payment manageable.

Rebates lower the upfront cost of efficient equipment, but the ongoing savings depend on what you pay for electricity. In Massachusetts, customers served by Eversource and National Grid are automatically on the utility's Basic Service rate unless they have chosen a competitive supplier.

As of August 2026, Eversource's Basic Service rate is approximately 17.3 cents per kWh and National Grid's (including Nantucket) is approximately 17.2 cents per kWh. The lowest competitive supplier rate available in Massachusetts is around 15.7 cents per kWh, though that figure varies by utility territory and changes as suppliers update their offers.

For a household that installs a heat pump and sees its electricity use climb, even a modest difference in rate per kWh adds up over thousands of kilowatt-hours per year. The state comparison site, Energy Switch Massachusetts, lets residents compare competitive supplier offers for their specific utility territory. You can also check current competitive rates at ElectricRates.org's Massachusetts page before committing to a supplier.

The sequencing that tends to work best: complete the energy assessment, confirm rebate eligibility, choose efficient equipment, and then review your electricity rate to make sure you're not leaving savings on the table on the supply side as well.

Mass Save maintains enhanced incentives for households that meet income eligibility requirements. These programs can cover a higher percentage of upgrade costs, sometimes substantially higher than the standard rebate, and may stack with federal programs like LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).

Eligibility thresholds are based on household income and size and are set by the program administrators under DPU oversight. The thresholds are updated periodically, so households that have checked in the past and not qualified should check again, as income guidelines sometimes shift.

For households that qualify, the financial case for upgrades like heat pumps and insulation becomes even stronger, since the out-of-pocket cost after program support can be very low. Income-qualified customers can begin the process the same way other customers do: through a home energy assessment request at MassSave.com, where the specialist will evaluate income program eligibility as part of the visit.

LIHEAP assistance for heating costs is a separate federal program administered in Massachusetts through the Department of Housing and Community Development. It does not replace Mass Save but can be used alongside it for qualifying households.

The process is more straightforward than many homeowners expect.

Step 1: Schedule a free home energy assessment at MassSave.com. You'll need your utility account information and some basic details about your home.

Step 2: Complete the assessment. The energy specialist will provide a report and walk you through eligible upgrades and available rebates for your home.

Step 3: Get quotes from Mass Save-approved contractors. Using a non-approved contractor will disqualify the work from rebates.

Step 4: Complete the approved work. The contractor typically handles rebate paperwork on the homeowner's behalf, submitting required documentation to Mass Save.

Step 5: Receive the rebate. Timelines vary, but rebates for most residential projects arrive within several weeks of the contractor submitting completed paperwork.

For smart thermostats and a small number of other products, there is also an online rebate application path that does not require a contractor submission, but the home energy assessment path covers the largest and most impactful upgrades.

If you have questions about your utility bill or want to compare electricity supply rates while you plan your upgrades, visit ElectricRates.org for current Massachusetts rate information.