Focus on Energy
Statewide efficiency program run with Wisconsin utilities: HVAC and heat pump rebates, insulation, smart thermostats, solar, assessments, and the federally funded Home Energy Rebates.
Program detailsWisconsin home energy costs & incentives
One of the four states where gas is clearly cheaper to run than a heat pump — and also one running the federally funded Home Energy Rebates, which is what closes the gap.
Prices pulled August 16, 2026
What energy costs here
18.16¢
per kWh, residential electricity
5% above the national average of 17.3¢. 16th most expensive of 51.
Up 25% since 2021 (5.8% a year), against 27% nationally.
$1.04
per therm, residential natural gas
$10.74 per thousand cubic feet, 2025 annual. National average $1.48/therm.
Up 10% since 2021 (2.5% a year).
Heat pump vs. gas furnace — Gas favored on running cost
Wisconsin's electricity-to-gas price ratio works out at 5.1-to-1. At these prices a gas furnace is likely cheaper to run through winter. A heat pump can still win on total cost if it replaces an aging air conditioner too, or if you have solar.
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 Wisconsin
Focus on Energy is the statewide program, delivered in partnership with Wisconsin utilities. It covers heating and cooling rebates, insulation and air sealing, smart thermostats, water heating, home solar and energy assessments, and works through a network of vetted Trade Ally contractors.
Focus on Energy also lists the federally funded Home Energy Rebates among its programs, which makes Wisconsin one of the states where those are actually running rather than still pending. Those are income-qualified and require approval before installation — check eligibility before you commit to a job.
Be clear-eyed about the running-cost picture: at Wisconsin's electricity and gas prices a gas furnace is cheaper to run through winter. A heat pump can still make sense here — it replaces your air conditioning too, and rebates cut the upfront gap — but it is not a bill-reduction move on its own the way it is in Oregon or the South.
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.
Wisconsin programs
The 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
- Focus on Energy
- 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 Wisconsin'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
- Heat Pumps in Cold Climates: Do They Actually Work Below Freezing?Addressing the biggest myth about heat pumps — whether they still work in genuinely cold winters.HVAC · 2 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
- 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
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