Get the full scoop on Wisconsin energy rebates for home efficiency upgrades.
Hi there, Wisconsinite!
Looking for an easy-to-understand guide on energy rebates in Wisconsin or Milwaukee rebates for home energy upgrades?
You’ve found exactly the right corner of the internet.
As you know firsthand, Wisconsin isn’t small—and neither is this list. So use the links below to jump ahead to the programs you’re most interested in.
But first—let us first introduce ourselves: We’re Sealed, and we help make homes more comfortable and energy efficient year round.
Thankfully, plenty of energy rebates (and new federal incentives) can help cut energy waste at home—and make your house feel better to live in, too.
And if you work with Sealed, we can help you understand and apply rebates you’re eligible for to your high-performance insulation, air sealing, and heat pump home energy upgrades… which is the whole point of this guide.
Table of contents:
- Energy prices in Wisconsin
- Why does the state of Wisconsin want me to save energy at home?
- Wisconsin Focus on Energy rebates
- Touchstone Energy rebates
- River Falls Municipal Utilities rebates (RFMU rebates)
- Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative rebates
- East Central Energy rebates
- Wisconsin solar incentives: Solar grants and rebates for Wisconsin homeowners
- Federal tax credits and energy rebates
- How to get home energy upgrades at no upfront cost
Before we jump in, let’s look at energy costs in Wisconsin—and why your state and utility reduce your energy use in the first place.
Energy prices in Wisconsin: How Wisconsin energy efficiency programs and rebates can help
Wisconsin electricity costs are usually a bit lower than the national average—but some of the highest in the Midwest (1, 2).
However, that’s just electricity—it doesn’t include natural gas heating, propane heating, or heating oil costs. And if you haven’t noticed yet, heating prices are continuing to soar.
Midwesterners who heat their homes with natural gas are expected to spend about 33% more during the 2022–2023 winter, while oil users will spend about 27% more and propane uses about 5% more compared to last year (3).
Read Why is my heating bill so high? to see winter’s projected fuel cost outlook.
High energy costs means cutting energy waste in Wisconsin is important. And the best way to do that is to make the most efficient use of your energy as possible via home energy upgrades.
Using less energy is not only good for your utility bills, but it’s also a win for your utility company—and the planet.
(And that’s precisely why financial incentives for home energy upgrades are made available by the federal and state government and local utility companies… saving energy helps everyone.)
The good news is plenty of Wisconsin energy rebates are available. We’ll walk you through them below.
Conserving energy helps everyone.
What are energy-saving home improvements?
An energy-saving home improvement is an update or upgrade you make to your house that helps reduce your energy use and cut energy waste throughout the year.
Most homeowners first think of newer energy-efficient appliances when they think of an “energy-saving improvement.” But some of the best energy-saving home upgrades involve things you don’t regularly see or think about, like insulation, your HVAC system, and closing up draft-causing air leaks in your house.
Read 8 energy-efficient home improvements that can increase home value to learn more.
Why does the state of Wisconsin want me to save energy at home?
Energy efficiency programs (including rebates and other financial incentives) are available for home upgrades because when you conserve energy, you’re directly benefiting your community.
Cutting energy waste at home can:
- Reduce strain on the power grid (and chances of blackouts and brownouts)
- Decrease state spending on energy emergencies
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
Why do energy providers and utility companies want me to save energy?
Most utility providers—like your electric or gas company—don’t actually profit off of the rising cost of energy. High energy prices affect your utility too.
Depending on your utility service and where you live in Wisconsin, utility companies often earn profits through the services and infrastructure they provide, not the energy supply costs themselves. Read Why your energy utility wants you to use less energy to learn more.
That’s why utilities provide incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades or offer a store of recommended energy efficient products at a discount. Your energy savings help your utility, so cutting energy waste is incentivized.
But let’s get to the question that brought you here: What home energy rebates are available in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Focus on Energy rebates
Focus on Energy (FOE) offers financial incentives through the Home Performance: Heating and Cooling Program to customers of participating Wisconsin gas and electric utilities.
These incentives can help with purchasing and installing energy-efficient home improvements.
Over 100 utilities participate in this rebate program, and to qualify, all work must be completed by a Focus on Energy Trade Ally.
The best part? Since this program includes so many participating Wisconsin utilities, most Wisconsin homeowners can find a rebate that may help reduce the cost of needed upgrades.
And depending on your income level, you may be eligible for income-qualifying increased rebates.
Focus on Energy rebates include:
- HVAC rebates
- Air-source heat pumps (including cold climate air-source heat pumps)
- Heat pump water heaters
- Smart thermostats
- Attic insulation
- Foundation insulation
- Wall insulation
- Duct sealing
Focus on Energy HVAC rebates
FOE offers several HVAC rebates, including savings for air-source heat pumps.
Wondering if it’s the right time for your house to get a new air conditioner? Learn when to replace your AC here.
Focus on Energy heat pump rebates
Focus on Energy heat pump rebates are available to current customers of participating utilities for air-source heat pumps and cold climate air-source heat pumps.
With Sealed, you can get a heat pump professionally installed (and use your Focus On Energy rebate!) with zero upfront cost. Learn how.
Wondering what a heat pump is?
Check out our ultimate guide to heat pumps to learn how and why this HVAC technology is the best, most efficient way to heat and cool your home.
Focus on Energy water heater rebates
As an FOE customer, you have access to an FOE heat pump water heater rebate for an ENERGY STAR® certified appliance upgrade.
Electric heat pump water heaters use less than half the energy of a standard electric storage water heater—those are some significant energy savings!
Focus on Energy thermostat rebates
As an FOE customer, you have access to an FOE Smart Thermostat rebate for an ENERGY STAR® certified thermostat upgrade.
Learn more about how smart thermostats can help cut energy usage (and how you can get one at no upfront cost with Sealed).
Focus on Energy home weatherization, insulation, and air sealing rebates
Focus on Energy offers financial incentives to bring down the cost of home weatherization, including insulation and air sealing, and all projects must be installed by a participating Trade Ally.
Learn What is home weatherization? here.
You could cut up to 50% of your energy use when getting high-performance insulation, professional air sealing, and heat pump HVAC upgrades with Sealed. Learn how.
Touchstone Energy rebates
If you are an electric co-op member, rebates are available to you, too! To qualify for Touchstone Energy rebates, all homeowners must receive an energy audit.
But getting an energy audit is a great first step to any home energy improvement plan, and rebates can help offset the audit costs.
Here’s an overview of the Touchstone Energy rebates available on ENERGY STAR® certified upgrades, and we’ll cover a few more in depth below.
- Air-source heat pumps (including ductless mini-split heat pumps)
- Heat pump water heaters
- Energy audits
- Clothes washer and dryers
- Heat pump clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Dehumidifiers
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Inductive ranges
An important note: Check directly with your utility to determine what rebates are currently active. Rebates often come and go!
The following electric co-ops participate in the Touchstone Energy rebate program:
- Barron Electric Cooperative
- Bayfield Electric Cooperative
- Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative
- Dunn Energy Cooperative
- Jackson Electric Cooperative
- Jump River Electric Cooperative
- Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative
- Price Electric Cooperative
- Riverland Energy Cooperative
- St. Croix Electric Cooperative
- Washington Island Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Touchstone Energy heat pump rebates
Rebates are available to current Touchstone Energy customers for air-source heat pumps and ductless mini-split heat pumps. (And there’s an added bonus for recycling your old room air conditioner!)
With Sealed, you can get a heat pump professionally installed (and use your Touchstone Energy rebate) with no upfront cost. Discover how.
Touchstone Energy water heater rebates
As a Touchstone Energy customer, you have access to a rebate for an ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump water heater.
Switching to a heat pump water heater can save a four-person household about $330 a year on average.
ConsumerAffairs
Touchstone Energy home performance assessment rebates
Remember, to qualify for Touchstone Energy rebates, you must receive an energy audit.
To offset the initial costs of the audit, Touchstone Energy offers $150 to $500 off your audit, depending on your co-op.
Touchstone Energy dehumidifier rebate
Touchstone Energy customers have access to a rebate for ENERGY STAR® certified dehumidifiers.
By the way, if you have a humidity concern in your house, professional air sealing and insulation can restore correct and healthy airflow through your home (and help resolve moisture issues).
Check out How to fix a stuffy house or Why is my house so humid? to learn more!
Touchstone Energy refrigerator and freezer rebate
As a Touchstone Energy customer, you have access to a refrigerator and freezer rebate for an ENERGY STAR® certified appliance upgrade. (And there’s an added bonus for recycling your old refrigerator and freezer!)
Refrigeration accounts for about 3% of a household’s energy consumption.
EIA.gov
River Falls Municipal Utilities rebates
River Falls Municipal Utility (RFMU), in conjunction with the Wisconsin Focus on Energy program, offers a variety of rebates to residential electric customers for upgrading to energy efficient equipment.
Here’s an overview of the rebates available, and we’ll cover a few more in depth below.
- Home energy assessment incentive
- Central air conditioner
- Smart thermostats
River Falls Municipal Utilities Home Energy Assessment Incentive
The Home Energy Assessment Incentive is available to homeowners who are also participating in the Focus on Energy rebate program.
RMFU offers an additional incentive (up to $2,400), and homeowners must pay for a $50 assessment.
With Sealed, you can get a heat pump professionally installed (and use your River Falls Municipal Utilities rebate) with zero upfront cost. Learn how it works.
River Falls Municipal Utilities central air conditioner rebates
River Falls Municipal Utilities offer a $50 rebate to homeowners who service their A/C unit by a professional technician.
Yearly HVAC maintenance is an important step to keep your heating and cooling system running more efficiently.
River Falls Municipal Utilities smart thermostat rebates
As a River Falls Municipal Utilities customer, you have access to a $50 rebate for a certified smart thermostat (in addition to the Focus on Energy smart thermostat rebate—score!).
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative rebates
Central Wisconsin offers a variety of rebates through the Energy Conservation Rewards Program for purchasing and installing energy efficient home improvements and appliances.
Here’s an overview of the rebates available, but you’ll get a closer look at a few rebates of note below!
- Air source heat pump
- Central air conditioner
- Heat pump water heaters
- Smart thermostat
- Energy Audit
- Air sealing
- Duct insulation
- Attic insulation
- Wall insulation
- Foundation insulation
- Refrigerator
- Clothes washer and dryer
- Dishwasher
- Freezer
- Microwave
- Dehumidifier
- Window air conditioner
- Inductive range and stove
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative heat pump rebates
Rebates are available to current Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative customers for air-source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. (And that’s great news, because heat pump HVAC systems and heat pump water heaters are an excellent way to significantly waste less energy at home.)
With Sealed, you can get a heat pump professionally installed (and use your Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative rebate) at no upfront cost if your home qualifies. Learn more.
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative refrigerator and freezer rebate
As a Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative customer, you have access to a refrigerator and freezer rebate for an ENERGY STAR® certified appliance upgrade. (And there’s an added bonus for recycling your old refrigerator and freezer!)
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative energy audit rebate
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative offers an incentive for homeowners to complete an energy audit. This is an excellent first step toward any energy-energy improvement project, so take advantage if you can!
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative weatherization, insulation, and air sealing rebates
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative offers an incentive for weatherization and air sealing measures, covering 50% of the costs.
These rebates do not apply to new construction, so if you live in an older existing home, you’re in luck here!
Learn how you can get whole home weatherization and air sealing at no upfront cost with Sealed.
East Central Energy rebates
East Central Energy offers residential rebates through the Energy Wise Program for homeowners that purchase and install energy efficient home improvements and appliances.
Here’s an overview of the rebates available, and we’ll cover a few more in depth below:
- Ductless and ducted air source heat pumps
- Smart thermostats
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Dehumidifiers
East Central Energy heat pump rebates
East Central Energy heat pump rebates are available to current customers for both ductless (sometimes called mini split AC) and ducted air-source heat pumps.
Ducted air-source heat pumps require certain performance factors to qualify for the rebate, so homeowners should ensure their system meets the parameters.
With Sealed, you can get a heat pump professionally installed (and use your East Central Energy rebate) with zero upfront cost. See it for yourself.
East Central Energy smart thermostat rebates
As an East Central Energy customer, you have access to a $25 rebate for a certified smart thermostat (in addition to the Focus on Energy smart thermostat rebate).
East Central Energy refrigerator and freezer rebate
As an East Central Energy customer, you have access to a refrigerator and freezer rebate for an ENERGY STAR® certified appliance upgrade.
(And much like other Wisconsin energy rebates, there’s an added bonus for recycling your old freezer and refrigerator!)
Wisconsin solar incentives: Solar grants for Wisconsin homeowners
A quick word of wisdom here: Before you make the transition to solar energy, make sure your house is using energy as efficiently as possible.
(If not, an investment in renewable energy by going solar is just—well—a more expensive way to waste energy at home!)
Professional air sealing, insulation, and heat pump HVAC upgrades (when done together) can cut energy waste by up to 50%. And that can even allow for a smaller number of solar panels to be installed, since your home will now be wasting less energy overall.
Sealed can help you use WI state energy rebates to get high-performance insulation, professional air sealing, and heat pump HVAC system upgrades.
Cut energy waste in your home first, before you start generating energy of your own.
Check out our easy-to-understand guide on the new home energy upgrade incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Cut energy waste at home first, before you start generating energy of your own.
Focus on Energy solar rebates
Focus on Energy offers a $500 rebate for residential solar installation.
Although these projects do not need to be installed by a Trade Ally, homeowners should examine the Terms and Conditions to ensure they meet all rebate requirements.
City of Milwaukee financial incentives for solar
The city of Milwaukee offers low-interest loans for solar energy under its Milwaukee Shines solar financing program.
Loans are available to homeowners of 1 to 3 unit owner-occupied homes in Milwaukee and installs must be completed by a Focus on Energy Residential Ally.
State of Wisconsin solar financial incentives
While the state of Wisconsin doesn’t specifically offer solar rebates, eligible Wisconsin homes using certified energy sources are exempt from general property taxes. That’s a great incentive!
The exemption applies regardless of whether the equipment is deemed real property or personal property. Homeowners must file a request for the exemption.
The State of Wisconsin offers a sales tax exemption to offset the upfront costs of solar panels.
Federal tax credits and energy rebates
In 2022, new legislation was signed into effect under the Inflation Reduction Act that increased tax credits for eligible energy upgrades to your home—as well as more robust energy rebates at a federal level.
These changes are effective starting in 2023. Read What heat pumps qualify for tax credits and rebates? to learn more.
Sealed makes energy upgrades hassle-free
With Sealed, you can get home energy upgrades—and increased comfort year round—at no upfront cost if your house qualifies.
You can apply any Wisconsin energy rebates you’re eligible for to your overall project costs, too. (And we can help!)
Here’s how it works: If your house is eligible for Sealed—you can find out in a few minutes—you’ll answer a few easy questions about your comfort levels and the issues you’ve been experiencing in your house.
Our team of experts will take a close look at all the information and get back to you with a professional energy assessment that tackles the biggest energy-wasters in your home: air leaks, insulation issues, and underperforming HVAC.
Then you’ll pay us back in a way that works best for you based on our flexible payment options—all with an energy-savings guarantee.
If you don’t save energy? We take the hit.
Interested?
See if your house qualifies in 2 minutes.
Energy rebates and financial assistance for low-to-middle income households
What if you’re having trouble paying your energy bills right now?
For Wisconsin residents, the State of Wisconsin’s Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources provides information on all energy assistance programs for residents of the state.
Homeowners that qualify for the program can receive weatherization and HVAC services based on the needs of the home at no cost.
To learn more, check out the following initiatives:
