The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has expanded its Energy Saver North Carolina program to all 100 counties in the state. The initiative offers eligible households rebates to make their homes more energy efficient, with over $200 million available for upgrades.
Households can receive up to $16,000 in rebates for improvements such as heat pump systems and insulation. Additional rebates of up to $14,000 are available for high-efficiency appliances like water heaters and electric cooktops. Initial estimates suggest that a household could save nearly $1,000 on energy bills each year.
Governor Josh Stein stated, “Electricity bills are too high, and I am committed to doing everything I can to lower your costs. North Carolina is expanding Energy Saver NC to all 100 counties. Now, eligible families across the state will be able to lower their energy bills about $1,000 a year on average and improve the comfort and safety of their homes. These upgrades also strengthen our energy system, help our environment, and support good-paying jobs in communities statewide.”
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson added, “North Carolina is the first state in the nation to fully launch the Energy Saver program. Now that the program is available across the state, eligible North Carolina families can lower their utility bills by up to $80 per month, and their homes will be more comfortable. These energy-saving steps will also reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality while supporting more than 2,000 jobs for the contractors doing the installations. That’s a win all the way around for North Carolina.”
Julie Woosley, Director of DEQ’s State Energy Office (SEO), said, “The DEQ State Energy Office (SEO) is committed to ensuring a sustainable energy future for North Carolinians, and in just a year, we’ve met a critical goal to make that happen: Energy Saver NC is operating in all NC counties. This program makes energy efficiency accessible to North Carolinians who need it most, helping to lower their energy costs and make their homes more comfortable while also increasing our state’s resilience and energy independence. Although we’ve reached this milestone, we still have a lot of work to do, and we look forward to signing up more families and watching the benefits flow from this program.”
Energy Saver NC was launched last January in select counties before expanding statewide. Wake and Mecklenburg were the final two counties added. Since its start, initial figures show that $777,000 worth of rebate-eligible projects have been installed in 51 households. The program has received over 4,800 applications so far; more than 1,700 have been approved.
Funding comes from two U.S Department of Energy rebate programs: Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings (HOMES), which provides up to $16,000 for home efficiency upgrades; and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR), offering up to $14,000 for efficient electrical appliances.
North Carolina is noted as being the first state nationwide to fully launch both types of rebates at once.
According to initial data from DEQ:
– Households may save about $945 annually on power bills.
– In 2025 alone, participating households saved an estimated 293,000 kWh.
– Upgrades are expected not only to reduce individual bills but also enhance grid reliability by lowering demand.
– The program currently works with over 50 approved contractors across North Carolina.
Eligibility depends on household income relative to area median income (AMI) levels set by federal guidelines:
– Full rebates cover up to 100% of project costs for those earning less than 80% AMI.
– Partial rebates cover up to 50% for those earning between 80%–150% AMI.
Rebate amounts vary by project type:
– Up to $8,000 for heat pumps
– Up to $4,000 for electric panels
– Up to $2,500 for wiring
– Up to $1,750 for heat pump water heaters
– Up to $1,600 for insulation or ventilation
– Upwards of $840 for certain appliances
After confirming eligibility through an assessment process conducted by certified professionals from an approved contractor list—who must complete all work—households approve quotes with applied rebates before installation begins.
For additional information about services provided by DEQ—including environmental regulation across air quality management; permit issuance; waste management; water resource oversight; public education; community stewardship initiatives; science-based environmental protection efforts; regulatory authority over land/water/coastal areas; or details regarding its central office location at 217 West Jones Street in Raleigh—visit https://www.deq.nc.gov/.
To learn more about applying or checking eligibility under Energy Saver NC visit energysavernc.org.
