Last Verified: October 1, 2026. Applications for the Indiana Energy Saver Program are open. The Indiana Office of Energy Development says the program combines Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and Home Appliance Rebates (HEAR) through one application process and delivers approved rebates as upfront discounts through qualified contractors.
Indiana says Energy Saver Program contractors do not go door-to-door or solicit business. The state says the only way to access the rebates is through the official Indiana Energy Saver Program application process.
What the program is
Indiana launched the Energy Saver Program in May 2025 with about $182 million in federal funding. It has two major rebate tracks. HOMES supports modeled whole-home efficiency improvements. HEAR supports selected electric appliances and electrification upgrades for income-qualified households. The state combines both through a single application process so a household does not have to start with two separate systems.
HOMES: rebates based on modeled energy savings
HOMES is available for single-family and multifamily retrofits that are expected to reduce energy use by at least 20%. Indiana’s program page lists insulation, air sealing, qualifying HVAC equipment, and water-heating equipment as examples. The state’s published single-family maximums vary by household income and modeled savings: households below 80% of area median income can qualify for much larger project support than households at or above 80% AMI.
| Single-family HOMES case | Published maximum |
|---|---|
| Below 80% AMI, 20–34% modeled savings | Lesser of $12,000 or 100% of project cost |
| Below 80% AMI, 35%+ modeled savings | Lesser of $18,000 or 100% of project cost |
| 80% AMI or more, 20–34% modeled savings | Lesser of $2,000 or 50% of project cost |
| 80% AMI or more, 35%+ modeled savings | Lesser of $4,000 or 50% of project cost |
HEAR: targeted appliance and electrification rebates
Indiana’s HEAR offering is for low- and moderate-income households below 150% of area median income and focuses on selected first-time upgrades. Examples on the state program page include heat-pump water heaters, heat-pump HVAC systems, and electrical upgrades. Because HEAR is income-limited and equipment-specific, a general “energy-efficient” purchase should not be assumed to qualify.
How the application process starts
The official program portal describes a two-step application process. First, an applicant submits a pre-screening form. The portal then creates the relevant rebate application for the homeowner or landlord property. The program uses qualified contractors, and the contractor directory itself warns that listed contractors cannot initiate projects outside the program process. In other words, the safest sequence is application first, program direction second, contractor work after that.
How to avoid rebate scams or expensive mistakes
- Start from the Indiana Office of Energy Development or IndianaEnergySaver.com, not from an unsolicited sales pitch.
- Do not give personal or financial information to a person claiming the rebate requires immediate door-to-door enrollment.
- Confirm your application status before assuming a contractor quote includes a state-approved rebate.
- Use the program’s qualified-contractor process.
- Keep copies of your application, audit, project scope, and approval documents.
Energy Saver rebates are different from Indiana EAP
The Indiana Energy Assistance Program is a separate utility-bill assistance program. For Program Year 2027, IHCDA says applications open October 1, 2026 and close April 30, 2027. EAP can provide a one-time benefit toward heat and electric bills for qualifying low-income households. It is not the same as the Energy Saver rebate program for efficiency upgrades. A household may need one program, the other, or potentially both depending on circumstances and eligibility.
Who should check this program first
Homeowners planning insulation, HVAC, heat-pump, water-heating, or major efficiency work should check the Energy Saver program before signing a contract. Renters and landlords should also review the program because Indiana provides pathways for multiple housing types. Households below 80% AMI have especially strong HOMES rebate potential, while HEAR uses a below-150% AMI income limit for eligible appliance and electrification measures.
What would make this guide change
We will update this page if Indiana changes rebate maximums, income thresholds, application steps, qualified-contractor rules, funding availability, or fraud guidance. We also track the separate Energy Assistance Program because its application window and software changed for Program Year 2027. The Last Verified date reflects an actual source review, not a cosmetic date refresh.
A practical way to compare a quote with the program rules
If you already have a contractor estimate, separate the total project price from the rebate assumption. Check the official program page for your income band and modeled energy-savings tier, then compare the published maximum with the amount shown in the sales proposal. A maximum rebate is not the same as an automatic rebate. The project still has to move through the program process, meet technical requirements, and use the required contractor workflow. For HOMES in particular, the modeled percentage of energy savings affects the ceiling, so two projects with similar equipment can have different rebate outcomes.
Why we include the separate EAP window
People searching for help with “energy costs” can easily land on the wrong program. Energy Saver is mainly about efficiency upgrades and equipment. EAP is about help with current heat and electric bills. Including both on one page is useful only if the distinction is explicit. We therefore do not combine their eligibility rules, benefits, or deadlines. If your immediate problem is keeping the heat or electricity on, start with EAP. If you are planning an efficiency renovation or equipment replacement, start with Energy Saver.
Official sources
- Indiana Office of Energy Development — Home Energy Rebates
- Indiana Energy Saver Program — Official Program Site
- Indiana Energy Saver — HOMES Rebate Details
- Indiana IHCDA — Energy Assistance Program
Money Signal News is an independent information site, not a government agency. Verify eligibility, funding availability, and project approval with the administering program before spending money.