Are Ohio's home energy rebates (HOMES and HEAR) available?

Short answer: Not yet. As of November 6, 2026, Ohio's Department of Development says it is currently awaiting approval from DOE on the program application, which was submitted Nov. 12, 2024 [1]. There is no launch date.

What the programs are

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Ohio was awarded $249 million by the U.S. Department of Energy for home energy rebates [1]. The two programs: the whole-home HOMES rebates, for households at all income levels, and the electrification rebates, which DOE now calls the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) [2].

Why there is no date

Ohio's page once said it expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025 [1]. That did not happen. In May 2026 DOE issued new guidance saying programs that have not launched are required to align with new program requirements prior to launching [3]. DOE says rebates are available only in select states [2].

We will update this page when Ohio opens applications. Until then, nobody in Ohio can promise you one of these rebates.

What you can use now

• Income-qualified weatherization. Ohio's Home Weatherization Assistance Program, run county by county. Your county page names the local agency.
• Columbia Gas WarmChoice. For households up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, free home energy inspections and energy-saving improvements, including insulation, air sealing, and natural gas appliance upgrades [4].
• Columbia Gas's other programs: Columbia says its residential energy efficiency programs, not including the income-qualified program, have ended [5].
• Your electric co-op. Several co-ops in our area offer home energy audits; your county page lists them.
• The federal 25C credit ended for 2026 work. Details.

More questions

When will Ohio's home energy rebates launch?

There is no published date. Ohio's Department of Development says it is awaiting DOE approval of the application it submitted Nov. 12, 2024, and DOE's May 2026 guidance requires unlaunched programs to meet new requirements first.