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Ohio home electrification rebates (2026)
Ohio HEAR is rolling out, ECO-Link loans bring rates down, and the state's big four utilities run real efficiency programs. Often overlooked.
DOE-approved plan; rollout in progress.
Ohio's 2026 status
Ohio's HEAR plan was DOE-approved in 2024 and the Ohio Development Services Agency is the lead implementer. Pilot rollout began in late 2025; broader launch is staged through 2026. As of mid-2026, HEAR is available in some counties but not yet statewide; income-tested first, with broader income tiers opening as funding flows.
Parallel to HEAR, Ohio has several pre-IRA programs that are still operating and stackable.
ECO-Link: Ohio's rate-reduction financing program
The Ohio Treasurer's ECO-Link program reduces interest rates on home improvement loans for energy-efficiency projects by up to 3 percentage points. Maximum loan: $50,000. It works through participating banks (you apply through them, not the Treasurer's office).
For a $20,000 electrification project financed over 10 years, a 3-point rate reduction is roughly $3,500 in saved interest. That's a meaningful number, especially before HEAR is broadly open.
Active programs in Ohio
We're tracking 3 state-level programs. Stack them with federal HEAR (where open) and utility-level rebates for the largest combined incentive.
Air-Source Heat Pump
Ohio ECO-Link Program
Below-market interest rate on financing for energy efficiency upgrades.
Reduced-rate financing up to $50,000
Air-Source Heat Pump
AEP Ohio Heat Pump Rebate
Available to AEP Ohio residential electric customers.
$300–$800 depending on equipment tier
Heat Pump Water Heater
AEP Ohio HPWH Rebate
Available to AEP Ohio residential customers.
$400 flat rebate for ENERGY STAR HPWH
Utility programs
- AEP Ohio — covers much of central and southern Ohio. Strong efficiency rebate menu, including heat pump and HPWH programs through their Smart Energy programs.
- FirstEnergy companies (Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison, Illuminating Company) — cover the northern half of the state. Programs are real but somewhat thinner than AEP's.
- Duke Energy Ohio — southwest Ohio (Cincinnati metro). Solid efficiency programs with $500–$1,500 heat pump rebates.
- Dayton Power & Light (AES Ohio) — Dayton metro. Decent residential energy efficiency programs.
Note that Ohio's utility efficiency program landscape was disrupted in 2019–2020 by HB 6 (the contested legislative package); programs are slowly recovering but residential efficiency budgets are still below historical norms.
The natural gas reality in Ohio
Ohio is heavily reliant on natural gas for home heating (about 70% of households), and gas prices in Ohio are among the lowest in the country. This is the dynamic that makes heat pump payback harder in Ohio than in northeastern states:
- Residential gas heating cost in Ohio: ~$700–$1,100/year for typical use.
- Equivalent heat pump electricity cost on a Columbus-area system: ~$1,000–$1,400/year.
Without rebates, the operating-cost math sometimes favors keeping the gas furnace. With rebates and the AC replacement avoided, the project usually still pencils — but the timing matters. Most Ohio heat pump conversions make sense when the existing furnace and AC are both at end of life. Forcing the replacement early rarely wins.
By product
Heat pump rebates in Ohio
Replaces your furnace and AC with a single electric system that's typically 3–4× more efficient than gas heat. The single biggest electrification upgrade most homes can make.
HPWH rebates in Ohio
Uses 60–70% less electricity than a standard electric water heater by pulling heat from surrounding air. Pays back faster than almost any other electrification upgrade.
EV rebates in Ohio
Federal EV tax credits expired Dec 31, 2025. State EV incentives, utility charger rebates, and reduced-rate charging plans are still active in many states.
Solar rebates in Ohio
Federal residential clean energy credit (25D) expired Dec 31, 2025. State solar tax credits, SREC markets, net metering, and property/sales tax exemptions remain — varying widely by state.
Induction rebates in Ohio
Faster than gas, safer for indoor air quality, and the lowest-friction electrification swap. Eligible for HEAR rebates up to $840 for income-qualified households.
Weatherization rebates in Ohio
Air sealing, attic insulation, and duct sealing. Quietly the highest-ROI energy upgrade — and a HEAR-eligible category for up to $1,600 in rebates.
Frequently asked
When does Ohio HEAR open in my county? +
Ohio Development Services Agency is launching HEAR in waves. Pilot counties launched first (mostly NE Ohio in late 2025). Mid-2026 sees expanded county participation, focused on low-income tier (≤80% AMI). Middle-income tier launch is later in 2026. Check the ODSA Energy Programs page for your county's current status.
Does ECO-Link work for any home improvement, or just energy efficiency? +
ECO-Link is specific to energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy projects. Qualifying projects include heat pumps, HPWHs, insulation, weatherization, solar, geothermal, and energy-efficient windows. Cosmetic remodels don't qualify.
Is solar viable in Ohio in 2026? +
In southern and central Ohio where electricity rates are moderate (14–16¢/kWh) and full retail net metering is in place for most IOU territories, yes. Payback is 12–16 years on a typical residential install without the federal credit. Northern Ohio (Lake Erie band) has somewhat less reliable solar production, which lengthens payback.
Does Ohio have a state EV rebate? +
No statewide consumer EV purchase rebate in 2026. Some utility EV charger and time-of-use programs exist (AEP Ohio, Duke Ohio), and HB 6's 2019 EV charging infrastructure funding has supported public chargers, but there's no equivalent of the (expired) federal credit at the state level.
What about all the electric coops in rural Ohio? +
Ohio has more than 25 electric cooperatives serving rural areas. Their efficiency programs vary widely — some run robust heat pump rebate programs (Buckeye Power, Mid-Ohio Energy), others offer almost nothing. Buckeye REC has historically been one of the better coops for heat pump support. Always check your specific coop before assuming.