A San Diego homeowner planning a 2026 heat pump installation should not assume that an SDG&E rebate, a TECH incentive, a HEEHRA rebate, or the federal 25C credit is available. SDG&E says its Golden State retail rebate offers have ended. TECH’s single-family heat pump HVAC and water heater incentives are fully reserved, HEEHRA’s single-family rebates are fully reserved statewide, and Section 25C ended for property placed in service after 2025.
For the broader system-selection picture, see our complete guide to San Diego HVAC in 2026. This guide focuses on verifying incentives before a heat pump purchase.
Current status at a glance
| Program | Status shown by the primary source | What to do before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| SDG&E Golden State Rebates | Retail rebate offers ended | Do not rely on the residual product table. Check SDG&E for a different active offer tied to your exact purchase. |
| TECH Clean California single-family HVAC and water heater incentives | Fully reserved since November 14, 2025; no new reservations | Do not budget a TECH incentive unless the program confirms a valid reservation for your project. |
| HEEHRA single-family | Fully reserved statewide as of February 24, 2026; no new income-verification applications | Do not purchase or install on a pending request. A reservation must be approved before installation. |
| Federal Section 25C | Qualifying 2025 installations may fall within the credit period; property placed in service after December 31, 2025 does not | Do not claim it for a 2026 installation. Ask a tax professional about an eligible 2025 project and its QMID. |
Program status can change. Check the primary pages again on the day you compare quotes.
SDG&E: read the closure notice before the old table
The SDG&E rebate page displays a closure notice for the Golden State Rebates Program’s retail rebate offers. The same page still contains an older product table and redemption instructions. The closure notice controls the current status, so the table is not evidence that those retail coupons remain available.
That page does not support a blanket claim that SDG&E currently pays a specific heat pump HVAC or heat pump water heater amount. If a quote lists an SDG&E incentive, ask for the current program name, official offer page, qualifying model, application deadline, and whether the amount is reserved or only estimated.
TECH Clean California: eligible equipment does not mean available funds
TECH Clean California’s incentive page says single-family heat pump HVAC and heat pump water heater incentives were fully reserved on November 14, 2025, and stopped accepting new reservations.
This status is separate from contractor enrollment and equipment eligibility. A contractor can participate in TECH, and a product can satisfy program specifications, while no new incentive funding is available. Climate Pros SD is a referral service and does not represent that every contractor in its network is enrolled in TECH.
HEEHRA: single-family funding is fully reserved
The California Energy Commission says HEEHRA single-family rebates were fully reserved statewide as of February 24, 2026. No new single-family income-verification requests are being accepted.
The program design offers up to $8,000 for an income-qualified household below 80 percent of area median income and up to $4,000 for a household from 80 to 150 percent of area median income when replacing an existing primary heating source with a qualifying heat pump. Those caps describe the program design. They are not currently available money for a new single-family application.
HEEHRA requires an approved reservation before installation and is not retroactive. Confirm contractor and enrollment rules on the official program pages if funding later becomes available. Climate Pros SD does not enroll contractors in HEEHRA or TECH.
Multifamily status is different. TECH says funding remains available, but it has paused new HEEHRA Multifamily Application Stage 1 submissions while it processes existing applications. Available budget therefore does not mean a new Stage 1 application can be submitted today.
Federal 25C: no credit for a 2026 installation
The IRS Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit page says the credit can be claimed for improvements made through December 31, 2025. Qualifying 2025 installations may fall within the credit period; property placed in service after December 31, 2025 does not.
For qualifying property placed in service in 2025, the IRS says the annual credit limit for qualified heat pumps and heat pump water heaters was $2,000. The credit is nonrefundable, and the taxpayer must report the product’s Qualified Manufacturer Identification Number, or QMID. Ask a tax professional how the rules apply to your return.
A safer quote checklist
- Name each incentive. The quote should identify the program, not just say “rebate.”
- Separate eligibility from availability. Ask whether the model qualifies and whether funds are open for a new reservation.
- Get approval before installation when required. HEEHRA does not fund work completed before reservation approval.
- Show confirmed and conditional amounts separately. A pending application is not a discount.
- Keep identifiers and records. Save model numbers, purchase and installation dates, invoice, reservation approval, and payment records.
- Confirm contractor status with the program. Use the official finder when enrollment is required.
Do not budget 25C, new TECH, or new HEEHRA single-family money for a 2026 heat pump
SDG&E Golden State retail offers ended. TECH single-family HVAC reservations stopped November 14, 2025. HEEHRA single-family was fully reserved February 24, 2026. IRS 25C does not cover property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Eligible equipment is not the same as available funds. Climate Pros SD does not enroll contractors in TECH.
Checklist
- Name each incentive on the quote or omit it.
- Keep QMID records only for a qualifying 2025 project.
- See California HVAC rebates.
- See heat pump vs AC.
- Use heat pump service.
Related: IRS 25C page and TECH incentives.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I get in heat pump rebates in San Diego in 2026?
There is no single current amount that applies to every project. The SDG&E Golden State retail offers ended, and the main TECH and HEEHRA single-family funds are fully reserved. Check for a current offer tied to your exact address, equipment, contractor, and purchase date before including it in your budget.
Is the federal heat pump tax credit available for a 2026 installation?
No. Property placed in service after December 31, 2025 is outside the credit period. A qualifying 2025 heat pump or heat pump water heater may be eligible under the 2025 rules, including the QMID requirement.
Can I apply for HEEHRA single-family funding now?
The CEC says the program is fully reserved statewide and is not accepting new single-family income-verification applications. Existing approved reservations continue through the program process. A pending request is not an approved rebate.
Can a contractor guarantee an incentive?
A contractor can document eligibility and submit program materials when authorized, but program approval and payment depend on the program administrator. Verify enrollment through the official finder and require the quote to distinguish confirmed funding from a possible incentive.
Does an eligible heat pump automatically receive a rebate?
No. Equipment eligibility is only one condition. The customer, property, contractor, installation timing, funding, reservation, and documentation may each have separate requirements.
See our heat pump service page and installed HVAC cost guide as you compare options. For a referral to a licensed local contractor, call (442) 777-6440. Ask the contractor to itemize the base project price and any confirmed incentive separately.