Last updated September 12, 2026.
Oregon’s Home Efficiency Rebates Program, usually called HOMES, is designed to help pay for whole-home energy upgrades. But applications are not open yet. The Oregon Department of Energy says no rebates are currently available while it waits for final U.S. Department of Energy approval to launch.
That timing matters if you are planning a heat pump, insulation, air sealing, water-heating, or other efficiency project. It also matters if you are comparing a HOMES energy assessment with a Home Energy Score for a Bend home sale. They are related to home energy performance, but they are not the same service.
Oregon HOMES has not launched yet
Oregon plans to launch HOMES and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program, or HEAR, in phases after federal approval. The first phase will cover owner- and tenant-occupied single-family homes, followed by multifamily properties and then in-store HEAR rebates.
There is no application window or firm launch date yet. Before paying anyone who promises access to these funds, confirm the current status on the official Oregon home energy rebate program page.
Planned Oregon HOMES rebate amounts
HOMES rebates will be based on modeled energy savings, household income, and eligible project cost. For an existing single-family home, Oregon currently lists these maximum amounts:
- Low-income household, 20–34% projected savings: up to $8,000 or 100% of project cost, whichever is less.
- Low-income household, 35% or more projected savings: up to $10,000 or 100% of project cost, whichever is less.
- Moderate- or higher-income household, 20–34% projected savings: up to $2,000 or 50% of project cost, whichever is less.
- Moderate- or higher-income household, 35% or more projected savings: up to $4,000 or 50% of project cost, whichever is less.
Oregon defines a low-income household as earning less than 80% of area median income. A moderate-income household earns at least 80% and less than 150% of area median income; higher-income households earn more than 150%. County and household size affect the applicable threshold.
See the official HOMES program details and current rebate tiers before making a project decision.
What projects may qualify?
The planned program covers packages of improvements that produce at least 20% projected whole-home energy savings. Examples may include:
- Insulation and air sealing
- Heat pumps and other high-efficiency heating or cooling equipment
- Efficient water heating
- Smart thermostats
- Other weatherization and efficiency measures included in an approved project
Final eligibility, contractor requirements, application steps, and covered measures will depend on Oregon’s approved program rules. Do not assume that an upgrade or an assessment completed before launch will qualify.
HOMES modeling is different from a Home Energy Score
A U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score is an asset rating. A trained assessor documents the home’s structure and major energy systems, and the DOE software estimates performance using standardized operating assumptions and local weather. The result is a comparable 1–10 score with recommended improvements.
The modeled HOMES pathway is project-specific. It estimates the percentage of energy savings expected from a proposed package of upgrades and uses historical energy consumption to calibrate the model under BPI-2400 rules when those rules apply.
In practical terms:
- Home Energy Score: a standardized rating used for disclosure, comparison, and homeowner information.
- HOMES project model: a calibrated model used to estimate savings from a specific proposed retrofit and calculate a potential rebate.
A Home Energy Score should not be represented as the standard pre-project BPI-2400 model required for a HOMES rebate. Federal guidance does describe limited roles for Home Energy Score in some rebate workflows or exceptions, but Oregon’s final implementation details will control.
What Bend homeowners should do now
- Check the official status. Oregon says no HOMES rebates are available yet. Watch the program site for a launch announcement.
- Avoid starting work based only on an expected rebate. Program approval, an eligible contractor, and a qualifying assessment may be required before installation.
- Gather useful records. Keep recent utility bills and basic information about the home and planned improvements. A calibrated model may need historical energy use.
- Identify your utility. Energy Trust of Oregon will process rebates in PGE and Pacific Power areas. Earth Advantage will process them in consumer-owned utility and Idaho Power areas.
- Separate rebate planning from a Bend sale requirement. If you are publicly listing a qualifying home inside Bend city limits, you may still need a Home Energy Score before listing, regardless of the HOMES launch schedule.
Need a Bend Home Energy Score?
Get My HES provides Home Energy Score assessments for Bend home sellers. View the current square-footage pricing and book a 90-minute Bend Home Energy Score appointment. After the visit, we send the invoice; once paid, you receive the official report and Green Building Registry link.
If your goal is a future HOMES rebate, start with the Oregon home energy rebate program and follow its launch instructions rather than booking a Home Energy Score as a substitute for required project modeling.
