Utility incentives, expired credits, and pending programs. Start with the details, then verify your eligibility before you buy.
Our view / Incentive planning
Look at the full price before counting a rebate.
A suitable system should make sense for your home and budget. Keep the full installed price visible, then confirm the incentive for your utility account, exact equipment, and project. A bigger advertised rebate doesn’t tell you which system fits your home.
Check who supplies your electricity and gas separately. A Great Falls address or a former Energy West gas account does not establish eligibility for a NorthWestern electric program.
NorthWestern’s current natural-gas application excludes former Energy West Montana and Cut Bank Gas accounts. Check the account restriction before counting a furnace or boiler incentive.
Identify the utility account and the applicable application.
Confirm equipment, approval timing, and required records before purchasing.
Compare the installed cost and operating assumptions with the incentive shown separately.
Published utility incentives — confirm availability
NorthWestern Energy · Published Utility Offer — Confirm Account Eligibility
Existing Home Natural Gas Heating Incentives
$425 furnace / $700 boiler / $70 thermostat
Effective August 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Furnace: AFUE 90% or higher, replacing AFUE 80% or lower. Condensing boiler: AFUE 90% or higher, replacing AFUE 82% or lower. Qualifying programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat.
Former Energy West Montana and Cut Bank Gas accounts are excluded by the current application. Confirm your account before budgeting a gas rebate.
NorthWestern Energy · Published Utility Offer — Confirm Availability
Existing Home Electric Heat Pump Incentive
$450 per unit
Effective August 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Central ducted or ductless heat pumps: ENERGY STAR rated or SEER2 at least 15.2 and HSPF2 at least 8.5, subject to utility approval
Eligibility & requirements
Must be an active NorthWestern Energy Montana electric residential customer
Applies to existing homes and new materials; new construction and garages are excluded
Confirm the exact equipment rating and account eligibility with NorthWestern; gas service alone does not qualify an electric account
Purchases and completed work must fall within the program window; complete and submit by June 30, 2027, with a recent electric bill and itemized receipts or invoices
NorthWestern Energy · Published Utility Offer — Confirm Availability
Participating-Contractor Heat Pump Water Heater Incentive
Up to $3,000 instant incentive
Limited-time program; confirm funding before committing
Qualifying high-efficiency hybrid heat pump water heaters installed by participating contractor
Eligibility & requirements
Customer must receive residential electric service from NorthWestern Energy in Montana
Must be installed by an approved participating contractor to receive instant customer discount
Replaces an existing electric resistance tank; natural-gas replacement does not qualify
Existing single-family or permanently founded manufactured homes at least 12 months old may qualify; rental properties, new construction, commercial properties, and self-installation are excluded
One incentive per residence; limited funding. Confirm participating-contractor and equipment requirements; this site does not establish our enrollment in that program
Sun River Electric Cooperative · Published Co-op Offer — Confirm Availability
Air-Source Heat Pump Incentive
$150 per installed ton (Up to $750 per system)
Published program; obtain approval before installation
Qualifying air-source heat pump installations meeting cooperative efficiency guidelines
Eligibility & requirements
The installation must be served by Sun River Electric; a nearby town name alone does not establish eligibility
Request the Air Source Heat Pump Rebate Agreement and return it for approval before installation
The public page lists minimums of 14 SEER and 8 HSPF using older rating terms. Ask the co-op to approve the exact model and its current ratings before purchase
One rebate per system; provide the installer's invoice. Payment follows installation and co-op compliance inspection; the published amount is $150 per installed ton, capped at $750 per system
Sun River Electric Cooperative · Published Co-op Offer — Confirm Availability
Ground-Source (Geothermal) Heat Pump Incentive
$200 per installed ton (Up to $1,000 per system)
Published program; obtain approval before installation
Qualifying ground-source heat pump systems approved by the cooperative
This is the co-op rebate only. Older geothermal tax-credit promotions do not establish eligibility for a new 2026 installation; see the expired-credit information below.
Eligibility & requirements
Must be an active cooperative member on Sun River Electric lines
Request the Geothermal Heat Pump Rebate Agreement and obtain co-op approval before installation
Site-built or manufactured homes on co-op electric service may qualify regardless of the previous heating fuel; this does not change NorthWestern's separate no-fuel-switching water-heater rule
Use a qualified installer and comply with electrical codes. Include the installer's invoice; one rebate per system, paid after installation and approval
Published amount: $200 per installed ton, capped at $1,000 per system; confirm current availability and approved equipment directly with the co-op before purchase. No state or federal tax credit is included in this listed incentive
Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C)
Expired for property placed in service after Dec 31, 2025
Ended December 31, 2025
Previously applicable to qualifying biomass stoves, heat pumps, central AC, and furnaces
Eligibility & requirements
Notice for 2026 purchases: Under current federal statutory terms, the Section 25C tax credit is not available for qualifying property placed in service after December 31, 2025
Homeowners claiming credits for prior 2025 installations should refer to their 2025 tax filing documents and Form 5695
Always consult a licensed CPA or tax professional regarding personal tax situations
Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) · Pending Launch
Montana DEQ Home Energy Rebate Programs (HOMES & HEEHR)
Not yet available; final DOE approval required
Not launched — revised guidance and final DOE approval still required
Planned HOMES and HEEHR programs; final equipment and project rules depend on approved program guidance
Eligibility & requirements
Montana DEQ reports that state-administered HOMES and HEEHR rebate programs have not yet launched
DEQ reports revised DOE guidance began June 1, 2026; further guidance, application revision, and final implementation approval remain necessary
The state programs are not currently available; do not count announced incentives toward a purchase until DEQ publishes applicable launch and eligibility rules
Check the DEQ program page for availability before relying on a future incentive in your budget
Frequently asked questions about Montana HVAC rebates.
Checked October 30, 2026. Published programs do not confirm remaining funding or approval for your project.
Can I still claim the federal $2,000 heat pump tax credit for a 2026 installation?+
No. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit under Section 25C is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Older pages advertising a heat pump credit through 2032 do not reflect that change. A qualifying 2025 installation is a separate tax-filing question; use the IRS guidance and your tax professional rather than counting a federal credit toward a new 2026 project.
Does my NorthWestern account qualify for the $450 heat pump rebate?+
NorthWestern’s current Montana existing-home electric application lists $450 per qualifying ducted or ductless heat pump. It requires residential electric service; a NorthWestern gas account alone does not establish eligibility. The equipment must be ENERGY STAR rated or meet SEER2 of at least 15.2 and HSPF2 of at least 8.5, along with the application’s other conditions. Confirm your account and exact models before purchase; the utility makes the final eligibility decision and funding is limited.
Do I need approval before installing a heat pump to get a Sun River Electric rebate?+
Yes. Sun River’s published air-source program says to request its rebate agreement and return it for approval before the contractor installs the system. It lists $150 per installed ton, capped at $750 per system, for buildings served by the cooperative. Payment follows installation and the co-op’s compliance inspection. Confirm the exact equipment, current efficiency requirements, and availability with Sun River before committing; its public page uses older SEER and HSPF terminology.
Can I apply for Montana’s HOMES or HEEHR rebates now?+
Not yet, according to Montana DEQ’s program page checked October 30, 2026. DEQ says the programs are not currently available and need final U.S. Department of Energy implementation approval before rollout. Announced funding or an estimated rebate is not an approval for your home. Do not assume a purchase made now will qualify later; wait for official application, timing, income, and equipment rules before relying on a future rebate.
Is NorthWestern’s up-to-$3,000 incentive for the heat pump that heats my house?+
That offer is for a heat pump water heater, not the space-heating heat pump. NorthWestern’s separate program requires an existing electric resistance water-heater tank and a participating contractor; replacing a gas water heater does not qualify. Home type, age, account, and other restrictions apply, with one incentive per residence and limited funding. Confirm the current requirements and participating contractor before ordering; this page does not establish Great Falls Heating and Air’s enrollment in that program.
What paperwork and deadlines should I confirm before counting a rebate in my budget?+
Use the application for your utility account and project, and check approval timing before buying. NorthWestern’s current existing-home electric form excludes work completed or materials purchased before August 1, 2026, and requires project completion and submission by June 30, 2027, with a recent bill and itemized receipts or invoices. Other programs have different steps, so keep model details, approvals, invoices, and a copy of the submitted application. Do not subtract an unapproved incentive from the amount you must be able to pay, and ask each administrator before assuming incentives can be combined.
