25C Credit Expired — Energy Saver NC Pays Up to $8,000

Professional 25C Credit Expired — Energy Saver NC Pays Up to $8,000 in Asheville & Western NC

The Federal 25C Credit Has Expired

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C of the Internal Revenue Code) was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and expired for any equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. The old "30% up to $2,000 for a heat pump / $600 for a furnace or AC" credit does not apply to 2026 installs. Only systems completed on or before 12/31/2025 qualify, claimed on a 2025 tax return. For a new system today, the current way to save is North Carolina's Energy Saver NC rebates.

How Much You Can Get Back Now

Through the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program, Energy Saver NC provides up to $8,000 toward a qualifying ENERGY STAR electric heat pump. The HOMES whole-home efficiency program provides up to $16,000 for income-eligible households that cut whole-home energy use. Because these are direct rebates rather than a tax credit, they help even if you owe little or no federal tax — a real advantage over the old 25C credit.

Who Qualifies

Energy Saver NC is income-qualified — it is not available to everyone. Households at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) can have the full project cost covered up to the program cap. Households between 80% and 150% AMI can have 50% of project cost covered. Income limits vary by county and household size. Quality Comfort helps you check eligibility and specifies qualifying ENERGY STAR equipment for every installation.

Claiming Your Rebate: Step by Step

Step 1: Confirm income eligibility and apply through the NC State Energy Office at energysavernc.org. Step 2: Choose a participating contractor — Quality Comfort helps you select qualifying equipment. Step 3: Install the qualifying ENERGY STAR heat pump (we handle this). Step 4: Receive your rebate, often as a point-of-sale discount that lowers your invoice directly. Many WNC utilities (e.g. Duke Energy) also offer rebates you can stack on top.