Utilities (and other administrators of utility-sponsored energy efficiency programs) are uniquely positioned to help states implement federally funded residential retrofit incentive programs included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The Home Efficiency Rebate (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) programs are particularly well-aligned with utility program design and implementation, creating opportunities for collaboration, coordination, and complementary program offerings.
Coordination on state and utility-funded residential energy efficiency efforts can leverage federal investment to expand the reach and overall benefits of both the state and utility programs. Longer term, federal funding will bolster both the retrofit market and programs that continue after the federal programs expire.
This brief is the first in a three-part series on coordinating state implementation of federal residential retrofit incentives with utility and other energy-efficiency program efforts. The briefs are intended for energy efficiency program administrators, implementers, and evaluators; state energy offices; regulators; and others working to maximize the impact of expanded federal funding for residential retrofits for near-term energy savings and carbon reductions as well as long-term market transformation. Other briefs in this series focus on navigating utility regulatory requirements and leveraging long-term market transformation and will be published in early 2025.
