Effective 5/1/2021 Efficiency Maine is reducing heat pump rebates by 20% due to their limited budget.

• Tier 1 first indoor units will be $400
• Tier 1 second indoor units will be $200
• Tier 2 first indoor units will be $800
• Tier 2 second indoor units will be $400

Rebates for installations after 5/1/2021 must be claimed within 90 days of the installation. 

Heat Pumps that were quoted prior to 5/1/2021 and installed by 7/31/2021 are grandfathered.

Any business that is registered as a “Small General Service” (SGS) or “General Service” (GS) electricity customer may be eligible for financing options to upgrade to high-performance heat pumps. Visit Efficiency Maine for more information.

Efficiency Maine is now offering incentives for Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) based on sensible heat recovery. Talk to one of our expert designers to learn more.

Efficiency Maine continues to offer enhanced incentives for high-performance heat pump retrofit projects for eligible small businesses. Eligible small businesses statewide may receive $1,600/single-zone heat pump system (up to three individual systems or $4,800 per business). Heat pump systems must have an HSPF of 12.5 or higher.
Small businesses also may be eligible for a $400 adder on top of the statewide incentive of $1,600/system, if the business is located in the designated Small Business Initiative (SBI) Regions 20 – 23 listed below:

• Bucksport Area (Region 20)
• Belfast Area (Region 21)
• Belgrade Lakes Area (Region 22)
• Lewiston/Auburn Area (Region 23)

Small businesses that have completed SBI lighting projects in the past are being sent $400 coupons to apply to eligible heat pump retrofit projects. Coupons have been sent to SBI customers in the following regions:

• Lakes Region – Bridgton/Fryeburg Area (Region 5)
• Mountains Region – Bethel/Farmington/Skowhegan Area (Region 6)
• Sanford/Berwick Area (Region 7)
• Route 25 Corridor, from Gorham west to Porter[KR1] (Region 8)
• Windham/Gray/New Gloucester (Region 9)

Eligibility requirements for heat pump retrofit projects for small businesses include:

• Facility’s electric meter(s) must have a Small General Service (SGS) or General Service (GS) designation (A copy of electric bill is required at time of project submission.).
• Customer must confirm the heat pumps will serve as the primary heating and cooling system for the conditioned spaces
• Pre-approval is required for all projects.

Ineligible projects include:

• Facilities that heat with natural gas.
• Businesses that only operate in the summer months.
• Space types, including warehouses, large assembly spaces, grow facilities, and multi-family buildings.

Small Businesses Loans Now Available

Financing is now available for eligible small business owners completing high-performance heat pump projects.

Eligibility requirements include:
• Business must have a peak electrical demand of 25kW or less (SGS or GS designation, depending on the utility territory).
• Business must have a Creditsafe credit score of at least 43 OR, if a Creditsafe score cannot be generated, the business may provide a personal guarantee, proof of operations for more than 24 months, and a current electric bill payment with no past-due balance

To apply, visit the Efficiency Maine Small Business Energy Loans webpage

Senator Angus King and  Senator Susan Collins are working on a proposal to allow customers get a refundable federal tax credit for costs associated with installing heat pumps. They say this is a good idea for Maine because heat pumps cool and heat homes more efficiently than fossil fuels. Heat Pumps are the only source of heat that can also provide cooling. Efficiency Maine also offers heat pump rebates for qualifying systems, up to $1500.00.