Request for Information: Residential Energy Equity

Introduction & Background

The Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act, passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2026, established a new Dedicated Purpose Account (DPA) with $72.5 million in funding for the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to support heat pump installations and replacements for low-to-moderate income (LMI) Maryland households through the Residential Energy Equity (REE) Program.

Under the REE Program, eligible non-profit and local government organizations serving LMI Maryland residents could apply for grant funding to support additional heat pump installations. MEA is also exploring the possibility of directing some of this DPA funding into a REE Heat Pump Rebate Program. If implemented, this program would provide heat pump rebates directly to eligible households through participating contractors who agree to comply with the guidelines of the rebate program. Rebate offerings would likely focus on heat pumps for space heating and cooling, though other heat pump technologies may be eligible.

MEA is seeking feedback from interested parties on the design of the potential REE Heat Pump Rebate Program and strategies for deploying available funding to most effectively benefit LMI households.

Please note: this program is subject to change. This document is not a guarantee of fund availability, nor is it a complete and full Funding Opportunity Announcement (“FOA”). Final program parameters and application instructions will be included in an upcoming FOA.

Deadline for Feedback

MEA requests that responses be submitted via this Jotform by no later than Friday, September 18, 2026. MEA may accept comments after this date, but comments received by this date may be most impactful.

If you cannot submit via Jotform, please email your responses to residentialenergy.mea@maryland.gov with "RFI: REE Heat Pump Rebate Program" in the subject line and the questions you are answering clearly specified

There is an opportunity for more open-ended feedback at the end of the RFI. Respondents can respond to some or all of the questions below.

Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

Organization Name (input "Individual" if submitting personally)

Please check the descriptor that best describes your affiliation:

Briefly describe your organization (if applicable) and interest in this potential program:

1. What key insight, concern, or recommendation would you most like to share with MEA regarding the proposed heat pump rebate program?

2. How should "low-to-moderate" income be defined for program eligibility purposes?

3. How can MEA verify household income while minimizing administrative burden for applicants and contractors?

4. What quality assurance and consumer protection measures can MEA implement to ensure heat pump systems are properly designed, installed, and commissioned?

5. How can this program best complement existing federal, state, utility, and local energy efficiency and electrification programs?

6. How can MEA encourage and support contractor program participation?

7. What potential program requirements could discourage contractor participation?

8. What contractor barriers and capacity constraints currently exist in the residential heat pump market in Maryland?

9. What workforce development or contractor recruitment strategies are needed to support successful program implementation?

10. Which program-relevant occupations are likely to experience the greatest capacity constraints with a statewide increase in residential heat pump installations (HVAC technicians, electricians, weatherization crews, energy auditors, inspectors, etc.)?

11. What post-heat pump installation education and support should be provided to households?

12. How can MEA effectively identify and market these rebates to qualifying households?

13. How can this program most effectively serve disadvantaged and overburdened communities?

14. How can MEA ensure this program is accessible to households for whom English is not the primary language?

15. How can MEA promote heat pump deployment in rural areas where delivered fuels are most prevalent?

16. How can MEA most effectively connect or refer residents to other state programs and services (DHCD, EmPOWER, etc.) for which they may be eligible?

17. Please share any program design feedback related to building types (single-family homes, townhomes or rowhomes, multifamily buildings, rental housing, etc.).

18. Please share any program design feedback related to project types (natural gas to electric heat pump retrofits, delivered fuels to electric heat pump retrofits, electric resistance to electric heat pump retrofits, like-to-like electric heat pump replacements, dual-fuel systems, etc.).

19. Please share any program design feedback related to heat pump technologies (air-source heat pumps, ductless mini-split heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, etc.).

20. If possible, should MEA offer rebates for heat pump technologies other than heat pumps for space heating and cooling (heat pump water heaters and clothes dryers, etc.)?

21. If possible, what supporting measures would be most beneficial to include as eligible costs under this program (electric panel upgrades, wiring, insulation and air sealing, energy audits, Manual J and other assessments, etc.)?

22. Should energy audits and weatherization be required before heat pump retrofit projects?

23. Should Manual J and/or other assessments be required before heat pump retrofit projects?

24. Is there anything else you'd like to share with MEA that isn't asked about in this RFI?

File Upload: Please attach any files you wish to include with your RFI submission.

Request for Information: Residential Energy Equity - Heat Pump Rebate Program

Basic Information

Program Design

Contractors

Communications & Equitable Access

Project Details

Additional Feedback