DNREC Green Energy Program
Delaware's own state-funded grant program for renewable energy systems. Independent of the federal rebates, which is why it has kept running.
Program detailsDelaware home energy costs & incentives
The federal rebates are still pending, but Delaware's own Green Energy Program has been running on state money for years — and that is the one to look at.
Prices pulled August 16, 2026
What energy costs here
17.13¢
per kWh, residential electricity
1% below the national average of 17.3¢. 18th most expensive of 51.
Up 37% since 2021 (8.2% a year), against 27% nationally.
$1.54
per therm, residential natural gas
$15.97 per thousand cubic feet, 2025 annual. National average $1.48/therm.
Up 22% since 2021 (5% a year).
Heat pump vs. gas furnace — Heat pump favored
Delaware's electricity-to-gas price ratio works out at 3.3-to-1. At these prices a heat pump should cost less to run than a gas furnace across the heating season, before counting the air conditioning it also replaces.
Below roughly 3.5-to-1 a heat pump usually wins on running cost; above roughly 5-to-1 a furnace may be cheaper through winter. How that comparison works · run it with these rates
State averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (electricity, gas), pulled 2026-08-16. Real bills vary substantially by utility within a state, and by rate plan within a utility — check a recent bill for your own numbers before relying on any of this. The heat pump verdict above follows from these averages, so it moves if your rates differ.
What's different in Delaware
Delaware's Home Energy Rebate Programs are not open. DNREC describes both tracks — whole-home efficiency and electrification — as awaiting funding and federal approval, and the most recent substantive update on that page is old enough that you should treat any contractor claiming otherwise with suspicion.
What Delaware does have is a state energy office running its own portfolio independent of the federal money: the Green Energy Program, a low- and moderate-income solar program, weatherization assistance, the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund, and an EV charging equipment rebate. Small state, unusually complete list.
The Green Energy Program is the one most Delaware homeowners have never heard of and should. It is Delaware's long-running grant program for renewable energy systems, funded through the state rather than through Washington, which is precisely why it has kept operating while federally funded programs stalled.
One process note that applies across DNREC's programs and catches people out: these are grant and rebate programs with pre-approval steps, not tax credits you claim afterwards. Contact the energy office before the work starts. DNREC runs a customer support line specifically for energy programs, and using it first is cheaper than discovering the sequencing after installation.
Check with the administrator before you sign anything. Program budgets run out, terms change without notice, and most require approval before work starts — a rebate you apply for afterwards is usually a rebate you don't get. Treat this page as a starting point for your own call, not as confirmation that you qualify. We last checked these programs on August 16, 2026.
Delaware programs
DNREC Energy Office — residential programs
Low- and moderate-income solar, weatherization assistance, the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund, and EV charging equipment rebates. Most involve pre-approval — contact the office before work begins.
Program detailsDelaware Home Energy Rebate Programs — not yet launched
Both federally funded tracks remain pending funding and federal approval. There is nothing to apply for yet.
Program detailsThe federal position — the same everywhere
- Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D)Ended
Ended. No credit for expenditures made after 31 December 2025.
- Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C)Ended
Ended. No credit for property placed in service after 31 December 2025.
Full detail, sources and changelog on the national incentive tracker.
Where to check for your address
- DNREC Energy Office — Programs
- DNREC — Home Energy Rebate Programs
- DSIRE — search state, local and utility programs by ZIP
- ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder
- U.S. DOE — Home Energy Rebates, by state
Your own utility is worth checking separately — utility rebates are often the largest remaining incentive and rarely appear in any central listing.
Not tax advice
Everything here is general information gathered from public sources. It is not tax, financial or engineering advice, and it cannot account for your utility, your income, your equipment or your return. Energy prices are state averages that move; program terms and budgets change without notice. Confirm anything you plan to budget around directly with the program administrator, your utility and a licensed professional before you commit money.
If you find something on this page that is out of date, tell us at minchangyi@me.com and we will correct it.
Run the numbers for your house
These open with Delaware's average rates already filled in. Correct them from a recent bill before you rely on the result — state averages hide a lot of variation between utilities.
Guides behind these numbers
- Heat Pump vs. Gas Furnace: The Real 2026 Cost ComparisonUpfront cost, operating cost, and total cost of ownership for heat pumps vs. gas furnaces in 2026 — with the trade-offs most guides skip.HVAC · 6 min read
- The Gas-to-Heat-Pump Rebate Is Gone. The Electric-to-Heat-Pump One Isn't.DOE Program Notice 26-2 removed fuel switching from the HEAR rebates. Here's exactly what changed, who is still eligible, and what to do if your project is already underway.HVAC · 6 min read
- How to Tell If Your HVAC System Is Properly Sized (Manual J Explained)An oversized or undersized HVAC system wastes money and comfort. Here's what proper sizing means and how to know if yours is right.HVAC · 4 min read
- Insulation vs. HVAC Upgrades: Which Should You Prioritize First?Before spending on a new HVAC system, it's often smarter to fix your home's envelope first. Here's how to decide the right order.HVAC · 3 min read
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