Ground-Source Heat Pumps

Success Story Snapshots

MassCEC offers rebates to homeowners who install qualifying ground-source heat pumps (GSHP), which provide highly efficient electrical heating, cooling, and hot water. This program is part of MassCEC’s Clean Heating and Cooling program, which supports technologies that provide customer cost-savings and environmental benefits while maintaining a high level of comfort and reliability.

Rebates are available for new or existing single-family homes or buildings with up to four units that receive electrical service from National Grid, Eversource, Unitil, and participating municipal lighting plant communities.

In the interest of increasing access to clean energy to all residents of Massachusetts, MassCEC offers additional incentives for households with incomes below 120 percent of state median income. Learn more about the Income-Based Rebate Adder here.

Homeowners should first select their installers, who will submit the rebate application on their behalf. MassCEC maintains a list of installers who have previously participated in the program. The following directories can also help identify local eligible installers:

MassCEC recommends that residents:

Solicit proposals from at least three installers.
Ensure the installer has IGSHPA accreditation or Professional Engineer licensure.
Check references from prior installations and ask the questions listed on our Ground-Source Heat Pump Installers webpage

Prior to deciding to move forward with a system, residents who may meet income criteria should determine if they are eligible for the Income-Based Rebate Adder, as described in the Program Manual. For example, a household of four with annual income of $127,408 or less may qualify.

Once the resident selects an installer, and is ready to move forward with the project, the installer should:

1. Complete the system design.

2. Apply for the rebate on your behalf and help you apply for other financial incentives by:

Learning about ground-source heat pumps technology and additional incentives;
Having you sign a MassCEC Participant's Agreement, gathering your electric bill, as well as other information about the project site;
Ensure you have had a free MassSave Home Energy Assessment within the past four years, or have one scheduled within the next six months;
Wait for MassCEC to approve the rebate award so the installation process can begin.

3. Once MassCEC issues an award letter, the installer may complete the system installation.

4. Once the project is complete, the installer submits documentation verifying the project is complete .

MassCEC may schedule an inspection prior to payment to ensure installation quality.
Once complete, MassCEC will issue the rebate payment.

Payment will typically be issued within four weeks of the time the documentation is received.

Please read the program manual for full details on eligibility, program requirements, and rebates. Installers looking to participate in the program or apply on behalf of homeowners should visit the installer resources page.

How much will my rebate be?

Homeowners are eligible for a base rebate of up to $10,000 depending on system size and efficiency. Residents qualifying for the Income-Based Rebate Adder can qualify for an award of up to $20,000. More detail can be found in section 3 of the Program Manual.

Why isn’t everyone in Massachusetts eligible for this rebate program?

Projects receiving rebates through MassCEC must be located in a utility territory that contributes funding to the Renewable Energy Trust (RET), which includes communities served by investor owned electric utility companies or a partcipating municipal light plant.

What is an MLP and where are they?

MLP stands for “municipal light plant” and refers to communities who are serviced by a publicly owned local utility instead of an investor-owned electric company, such as National Grid or Eversource. Some of these MLP communities contribute to RET, which is the original source of our funding for rebates. We are unable to provide rebates to MLP communities that do not contribute to the RET.

The Residential Ground-Source Heat Pump program is one in a suite of MassCEC’s Clean Heating and Cooling programs. MassCEC authorized long-term funding for Clean Heating and Cooling programs.

Please click here to download the residential ground-source heat pump projects database

For questions on the Residential GSHP Program, please contact us at GSHP@masscec.com or (617)315-9300.