Frequently Asked Questions

It can take up to eight (8) weeks for rebates to process.

To check the status of your rebate, please visit the Mass Save Online Rebate Portal. If your rebate submission was incomplete, additional processing time may be needed.

If you have any questions regarding the status of your rebate, please email your question to [email protected] or call us at 888-855-0340.

Rebate requests submitted online through our Rebate Portal can result in faster processing of your rebate, typically 6-8 weeks. Applications that are mailed in typically take longer to process.

If you have difficulty submitting your rebate request through the Mass Save Online Rebate Portal, please reach out to us via one of the following:

1. Email us at [email protected] and include your completed rebate form and supporting documentation if you have it.
2. Call us at 888-855-0340
3. Mail your completed rebate form and supporting documentation to Mass Save at 1337 Massachusetts Ave, P.O. Box 228, Arlington, MA 02476

If you submitted your rebate request online, you can make edits through the Mass Save Online Rebate Portal. If you mailed your form call us at 888-855-0340.

A heat pump system that is properly sized for the facility it is serving can deliver sufficient heat through the winter. Some cold climate heat pump models have been tested to produce heat when outdoor temperatures get as low -30°F.

Yes. Information on heat pump rebates and eligibility requirements for your home or business can be found on Masssave.com.

Yes, if your Home Energy Assessment or weatherization work is done within 6 months of your heat pump installation, the rebate will be paid when weatherization is complete.

Rebate submissions can be tracked through the Mass Save Online Rebate Portal.

There is currently no waitlist for a Virtual Decarbonization Consultation. Appointments can only be made up to one month in advance, so please continue to check the schedule for available appointments.

A heat pump is an electrical system, so running one will add to your electrical use. In many cases, that additional electrical use is offset by savings elsewhere, such as a propane or oil heating fuel bill. You may also decide that increased comfort is worth an additional energy cost. Of course, if you’re adding a heat pump where there was no cooling source before, it will increase your electric use. Your electric utility offers a seasonal heat pump rate to lower your cost to heat your home during the winter months.

The seasonal heat pump rate is available to Massachusetts residential electric customers of Eversource, National Grid and Unitil who use a heat pump for space heating in all or part of their home. 

This new rate helps to reduce winter electric bills and provides more predictable costs, with the largest savings coming from a lower distribution rate during high winter usage.
Note that Eversource customers will also see a lower transmission rate.

Note that heat pump water heaters are not eligible unless the home also uses a heat pump to provide space heating.

• Eversource, National Grid and Unitil electric customers who installed a heat pump through a Mass Save program after January 1, 2019 will be automatically enrolled starting November 1, 2025 and will be notified via letter.
• Customers who installed a heat pump outside of the Mass Save programs must contact their electric utility and verify their system to enroll.
• Not sure if you have a heat pump and use it for heating? Check our guide for an easy step-by-step process to identify your system and to see if you may be eligible for the heat pump rate.

Each utility’s process is unique—visit your electric utility’s website for details and enrollment information. 

• For Eversource, visit: eversource.com/heat-pump-rate
• For National Grid, visit: ngrid.com/heatpumprate
• For Unitil, visit: unitil.com/ma-heat-pump-rate

Please note that enrollment information may not be available immediately and will be published closer to November 1.

The heat pump rate will be applied to usage beginning on November 1, 2025, and will be reflected on the first bill received after November 1. The lower rate applies through April. Please see your electric utility’s heat pump rate webpage for additional detail.

The seasonal heat pump rate is available all year. During the winter period, from November 1 through April 30, the heat pump rate has a lower distribution charge than the regular residential rate. For Eversource customers, the transmission rate is also lower during this winter period. 

• During the summer (May–October), heat pump customers will pay the same rate as other residential customers.
• The heat pump rate will be adjusted when your electric utility has a rate adjustment; for the most up to date rate, visit your electric utility's heat pump rate web page: 

Eversource 

National Grid 

Unitil 

Residential electric customers on the heat pump rate and using a heat pump for heating can expect winter electric bills to be lower than if they were on the standard rate. Exact dollar savings depend on energy use, the electric rate in effect for your utility, rate category and weather conditions.

Once enrolled, the lower rate applies to all household electricity usage from November 1 through April 30.

No. Your utility may request verification of your heat pump if it was installed outside of the Mass Save programs, but no additional equipment is needed.

Yes. Renters who pay their electricity bill and have a heat pump tied to their electricity bill in their apartment or unit used for space heating qualify. Those who received the heat pump through Mass Save programs are automatically enrolled starting November 1; others should contact their electric utility to verify and enroll.  If a landlord is paying the electricity bill on behalf of the tenant, so long as the landlord's bill is on a residential rate and the heat pump is used for heating in the winter, this heat pump rate can be applied.

No. The rate stays with the premise. The new occupant can continue the rate if the heat pump remains in use for space heating. If your new home has a heat pump, it may already be enrolled. You can contact your electric utility to verify and/or enroll.

If the previous homeowner installed a heat pump through a Mass Save program or was already on the heat pump rate, the rate should appear on your electric bill within one to two cycles after the new rate starts on November 1, and remain in effect for the heating season (November-April). Otherwise, please contact your electric utility to verify your eligibility and sign up.  Additional details may be available on your electric utility’s heat pump rate webpage.

• Eversource: eversource.com/heat-pump-rate 
• National Grid: ngrid.com/heatpumprate 
• Unitil: unitil.com/ma-heat-pump-rate 

The heat pump rate will be reflected in the next bill received after enrollment is completed.

The heat pump rate is only for customers who use their heat pump for space heating. If you previously only used your heat pump for cooling and would like information about using it for heating, check our guide for an easy step-by-step process to identify your system and to see if you may be eligible for the heat pump rate.

No. The rate is only for homes that have heat pumps used for space heating. Heat pump water heaters, dryers and other appliances featuring heat pump technology but not used for space heating do not qualify.

Customers who switch from natural gas to a heat pump for heating can expect changes in their total annual energy costs, which will vary by customer based on their usage and their electric utility.

Not at this time.

If you’re enrolled in the heat pump rate: 

Eversource

On the second page of your bill, next to “Rate,” you will see R1HP or R2HP (“HP” indicates heat pump rate).  

National Grid 

You’ll find this message reflected on your bill: You are currently enrolled in the Heat Pump Rate, which provides a lower distribution charge during the winter heating season. The reduced rate is applied to November through April kWh usage and is included in the distribution charge line item under the Delivery Services section of your bill. To view the current rate and learn more, visit ngrid.com/heatpumprate

Unitil

On page 3 of your bill (the front side of the second sheet of your bill) you will see a table summarizing your meter usage for the current cycle. The last column of the table is “Rate Code” where you will see the letters “HP” to indicate Heat Pump rate. 

Yes. Customers who are currently on the R-2, residential assistance rate and have a heat pump used for space heating, are eligible for the R-2 heat pump rate, which provides the same discount that customers receive on the R-2 electric rate.

Yes. A customer that has solar or is net metered can participate in the heat pump rate. A solar net metering customer may not experience as large an overall bill reduction as a non-solar customer by participating in a heat pump rate because they are already reducing their utility charges with onsite generation, but participation in a heat pump rate will still reduce their remaining charges for net energy consumption.

Yes, since the heat pump rate is on the delivery side of the electric bill, not the supply side, customers not on the utility's basic service supply can still receive the rate reduction.

A Home Energy Assessment will take no more than 2.5 hours depending on the size of the home. During that time, an Energy Specialist will walk throughout the home making recommendations for weatherization including insulation and air sealing opportunities, along with HVAC and water heating upgrades. While performing the assessment, the Energy Specialist may also provide instant energy saving measures such as smart thermostats, low-flow showerheads, aerators, and energy saving powerstrips.

No. Customers participating in a Home Energy Assessment are not obligated to implement any recommendations proposed by their Energy Specialist.

It is recommended and encouraged that the homeowner/decision maker and/or the person that knows the most about the home be present throughout the duration of the Home Energy Assessment. If the homeowner/decision maker is unavailable someone who is knowledgeable about the home and at least 18 years-old must be present.

The Mass Save HEAT Loan offers 0% financing opportunities for eligible residential energy-efficient upgrades. Financing is available for a variety of energy-efficient upgrades including insulation, heat pump installations, batteries, and more. More information can be found on the HEAT Loan page. An updated HEAT Loan guide will be available shortly.

A full list of eligible equipment including efficiency requirements can be found on the HEAT Loan page. An updated HEAT Loan guide will be available shortly.

Customers receiving fuel assistance should review the options available through the Income Eligible Program. You may be eligible to receive energy efficient upgrades at little or no cost through your local Community Action Program (CAP) agency.

Yes, while the authorization letter from the Sponsors of Mass Save is proof to a bank/credit union that the equipment is approved for the HEAT loan, you must also comply with the lending and credit requirements of the lender.

Customers have two years from their Home Energy Assessment to apply for the Heat Loan Authorization Letter. Once issued, the Authorization Letter is good for 60 days. During that time, a customer should work with a participating lender to secure the loan.

No. You cannot apply for a HEAT Loan for work that has already been installed. The program does not cover work completed prior to receipt of an authorization form.

No. The HEAT Loan is only available to individually owned houses, condos, and 1-4 unit properties.

The loan amount is the cost of the eligible equipment, less any applicable rebates. Rebates are deducted from the proposal total and are not able to be included in the loan amount.

Yes. The final step in completing the HEAT Loan application requires the submission of verification photos of the installed equipment that was financed through the loan.

Participating HEAT Loan lenders can be found here.

Customers are ultimately responsible for their financial relationship with the contractor they select. A deposit may be required for you to schedule planned work that involves ordering equipment. The Sponsors recommend multiple quotes before selecting a contractor, including discussing the timing of deposits, payments, and rebate amounts.

Yes. HEAT Loan maximum amounts are per property.

Weatherization is an important first step towards a more energy-efficient home and business. It includes insulation and air sealing. These measures can help:

• Lower heating and cooling costs
• Decrease drafts to improve comfort and humidity all year long, including keeping your home or business cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter
• Minimize outside noise
• Prevent allergens from entering your home or business
• Reduce future building maintenance costs

No. Many businesses can schedule the weatherization of their building in phases. Business operations and services to customers can continue while non-customer facing areas are weatherized. Customer facing areas can be weatherized during non-traditional business hours.

The installing contractor or Energy Specialist can provide this upon completion of the weatherization project.

The Sponsors of Mass Save currently offer 0% financing for solar battery back up storage for residential customers. Additional solar programs may be added in the future. Please visit the solar section of the Mass Save website for additional resources.

No. Only the battery storage is eligible for financing.

The Sponsors of Mass Save^® offer incentives for Residential and Commercial new construction and renovations. Please visit the following for more information:

• Residential New Construction: https://www.masssave.com/en/residential/programs-and-services/new-home-construction
• Residential Renovations and Additions: https://www.masssave.com/en/residential/programs-and-services/renovations-and-additions
• Commercial New Construction and Major Renovations: https://www.masssave.com/en/business/programs-and-services/new-construction-and-major-renovations

For more information about incentives available for Residential and Commercial new construction and renovations, please visit:

• Residential New Construction: https://www.masssave.com/en/residential/programs-and-services/new-home-construction
• Residential Renovations and Additions: https://www.masssave.com/en/residential/programs-and-services/renovations-and-additions
• Commercial New Construction and Major Renovations: https://www.masssave.com/en/business/programs-and-services/new-construction-and-major-renovations

The Sponsors of Mass Save provide a whole-house, performance-based incentive for energy efficiency upgrades included in a renovation or addition. The Sponsors calculate how much energy your home uses after your renovation or addition. That energy usage is compared against a baseline that represents the minimum expected performance of the home. The more energy efficiency measures you implement, the greater your energy savings and incentive. The Sponsors offer financial incentives for renovations and additions to homes that exceed the Massachusetts building energy code to improve energy efficiency.

Yes.

New construction homes must be all-electric to qualify for incentives, therefore no fossil fuel equipment can be present in the home. Homes undergoing a renovation are eligible for Renovation & Addition incentives if they retain or replace existing fossil fuel equipment in the home, but no incentives will be tied to this equipment. Adder incentives are available for renovation projects that partially or fully displace fossil fuel equipment with heat pumps from the Mass Save Heat Pump Qualified Products Lists (QPL).

Rebate commitment letters are available for Commercial heat pump installations. They can be requested by completing this application.

For a full list of trained heating and cooling (HVAC) contractors, as well as contractors who provide no-cost Home Energy Assessments and installation of insulation and air sealing, click here.

For heat pumps, you can select any contractor as long as they are part of our Mass Save Heat Pump Installer Network.

For weatherization, please visit the contractor look up page for approved contractors.

For Heat Pump Water Heater contractors, visit https://www.energystar.gov/productfinder/water-heater-installers/

Installation times vary based on the scope of the work. When a contractor calls to review the job, they are better suited to provide an exact timeline.

Residential customers can schedule a decarbonization consultation with a specialist to review the quotes and recommend a path forward. More information about Decarbonization Consultations can be found here.

Businesses that use less than 1.5 million kWh or 40,000 therms annually are eligible under the Sponsors Small Business program. Businesses that utilize more than those thresholds are eligible through our Large Commercial program. Contact your Sponsor with questions.

Please visit MassSave.com/SmallBusiness for more information and to Find Your Sponsor. Contact your Sponsor to schedule an appointment.

The energy assessments for small businesses are no-cost.

The Sponsors of Mass Save offer incentives on weatherization, refrigeration, HVAC, water-saving devices and more. Visit here to find out more.

Customers are still able to have a no-cost energy assessment on your building even if you don't own the building. The Sponsors will work with the property manager/owner for deeper measures such as weatherization and HVAC.

If each unit has its own gas (for gas to heat pump conversions) or electric account (for oil, propane, or electric resistance to heat pump conversions), each unit is eligible for a rebate. If there is one meter for all units the building is eligible for one rebate.

A townhouse is defined as a single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units in which each unit extends from foundation to roof.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA or Act) is a law designed to advance clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through support for investment in domestic energy production, energy efficiency, and electrification. The legislation provides over $10 billion in rebates and tax credits to help households install important home upgrades, increase energy efficiency, and use renewable energy.

Yes, the Act extends and increases certain tax credits that are available to consumers who reduce energy use and emissions from their homes by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder tool is a helpful resource to identify local, state and federal tax credits and incentives and rebates for clean energy projects.

The Act reinstituted and increased the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which allows households to credit up to 30% of the cost of energy efficiency home upgrades against their taxes. Depending on the equipment or improvement made, this credit can total up to $3,200 per year for residential efficiency and electrification upgrades. Households are eligible for up to $1,200 per year for weatherization, including insulation and efficient windows and doors, as well as electrical panel upgrades installed in connection with a heat pump. Households can also claim an additional $2,000 for electric heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. The full credit is available for home improvements made starting in 2023. Please review our guide to IRA tax incentives, which the Mass Save Sponsors co-created with Rewiring America, to learn more about this tax credit.

Note that this tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2025. Be sure to install and pay for your eligible energy efficiency upgrades by December 31, 2025 to take advantage of this tax credit.

The Act extended the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which allows households to credit up to 30% of the cost of installing solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, and batteries against their taxes. This credit is available for solar and geothermal heat pumps installed starting in 2022, and for residential batteries installed starting in 2023. Massachusetts customers installing ground source heat pumps as their primary source of heating may receive up to $15,000 from the Mass Save Program. You can find further details and information on how to enroll here. Massachusetts customers with residential batteries are eligible to participate in the Mass Save ConnectedSolutions Program and have the potential to earn up to $1,375 per year based on an average 5-kW battery. You can find further details and information on how to enroll in ConnectedSolutions here.

Note that this tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2025. Be sure to install and pay for your eligible clean energy upgrades by December 31, 2025 to take advantage of this tax credit.

The value of Mass Save rebates is deducted from the project cost prior to calculating the value of the tax credits.

The Act extended and increased the New Energy Efficient Home Credit, which provides up to $5,000 to developers to build energy efficient single-family homes and units in multi-family buildings. To qualify for the credit, these homes and buildings must meet the U.S. Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction requirements or be certified as Zero Energy Ready Homes. (The latter are verified by a qualified third party as being at least 40% more energy efficient than a typical new home.) The credit is available for qualified homes sold starting in 2023.

Note that this tax credit is set to expire June 30, 2026. Expenditures made after June 30, 2026 will no longer be eligible for this credit.

The Act significantly increased the Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Tax Deduction, which allows building owners constructing new buildings or undergoing major renovations to deduct the cost of qualified energy efficiency improvements up to a maximum of $0.50 to $1.00 per square foot for projects achieving 25 to 50 percent reductions in energy cost compared to a building meeting the ASHRAE 90.1 standard. These incentives quintuple for projects that meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

The Act also adds a new alternative option to claiming the Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Tax Deduction. This option is available for building owners that reduce the building’s energy use intensity (EUI) by 25% or more. This path to claiming the tax deduction allows the owner to deduct the cost of qualified energy efficiency improvements up to a maximum of $.50 to $1.00 per square foot for projects achieving 25 to 50 percent reductions in EUI over baseline, with the same increase in incentives for projects that meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

Note that this tax credit is set to expire June 30, 2026. Expenditures made after June 30, 2026 will no longer be eligible for this credit.

Yes, the Act extended and increased clean energy tax credits for developers of ground source heat pumps. Customers installing these projects can claim a tax credit of up to 30% or more of the cost of the energy investments if certain requirements are satisfied, such as projects under 1 MW in size or that use prevailing wage and apprentice labor, as well as for projects using domestic content and in low-income communities.

Note: There have been no changes to this tax credit.

Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working to implement the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The GGRF will fund three programs with a strong focus on low- and moderate-income communities. The National Clean Investment Fund will use $14 billion to create a network of “green banks” around the country to finance the deployment of technologies that reduce greenhouse gases. The Clean Communities Investment Accelerator will allocate $6 billion to community lenders in low- and moderate-income communities. Finally, the Solar for All will deploy $7 billion to support residential solar in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Tax credits are available for improvements made to your home starting in 2023. With respect to cash rebates, the Act does not include any specific implementation timeline. The federal government recently opened the application for rebate funds to individual states, and Massachusetts DOER will need to create new programs to oversee these funds, including determining cash rebate values and eligibility rules. The Sponsors of Mass Save look forward to collaborating with our partners in Massachusetts state government to design and implement approaches that allow customers to leverage these new sources of funding when taking advantage of complementary offerings from the Mass Save programs. We will continue to provide updates through MassSave.com as additional details become available.

The Act was signed into law on August 16, 2022. The Act includes multiple programs designed to assist owners, renters, and landlords of single- and multi-family homes and buildings. Some energy savings programs, such as tax credits, are already available to support home improvement projects, while federal and state agencies are still working to develop rules and guidelines for other programs.

The Act includes tax credits and rebates designed to reduce the cost of increasing your home's energy efficiency and of transitioning to clean energy sources. Specifically supported measures include weatherization, distributed energy resources (solar PV and batteries) and various forms of electrification, including support for high-efficiency heat pumps, induction cooktops, heat pump hot water heaters and electrical upgrades.

About 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the residential housing sector. The Act provides financial incentives to reduce energy use and transition to clean energy sources.

In addition to tax credits that taxpayers can claim directly, the Act includes almost $8.6 billion in federal grants issued to individual state energy offices to develop and implement rebate and incentive programs. In Massachusetts, this will be administered through the Department of Energy Resources. The Mass Save Sponsors are coordinating with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources in the development of energy efficiency programs and offerings that utilize the IRA funds.

The Mass Save Sponsors already offer significant rebates and incentives designed to save homeowners, renters, and landlords money through supporting energy efficiency solutions that lower energy costs. While the IRA’s programs continue to roll out, Massachusetts residents and businesses can make energy efficiency improvements now with the existing Mass Save program offerings and federal tax credits. Find more information about Mass Save residential rebates and incentives here, and review our guide to IRA tax incentives, which the Mass Save Sponsors co-created with Rewiring America, to learn how you can benefit today.

Yes. The IRA creates two rebate programs to promote home energy efficiency and home electrification called the Home Efficiency Rebates (“HER”) Program and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (“HEAR”) Program. The federal Department of Energy will allocate these funds (over $8 billion in total) to energy offices in all 50 states, including around $145 million to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”). DOER is developing a plan to allocate $71.8 million of the HEAR funding to the programs, and the Mass Save Sponsors are coordinating with DOER to ensure that these rebates are seamlessly integrated into existing Mass Save incentives.

The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program includes rebates for low- and moderate-income households (or those working on their behalf) that install new, efficient electric appliances. Further details will be developed as the U.S. Department of Energy issues guidance to state energy offices like DOER, which will administer the Home Efficiency Rebates in Massachusetts. The Sponsors of Mass Save and DOER are working to seamlessly integrate this funding into our existing, no-cost Mass Save offerings for low- and moderate-income customers. Check out our income-based programs to learn how you can take advantage of these offers.