Michigan HEAR Program

Michigan’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program, commonly called HEAR, may help income-qualified households lower the cost of insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, electrical upgrades, and certain electric appliances.

HEAR is one of two rebate pathways available through the Michigan Home Energy Rebates program, or MiHER. It is separate from Michigan’s Home Efficiency Rebates, sometimes called HOMES or HER.

Program status: Limited funding. The program is accepting applications statewide, but new income-qualified applications for properties in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Detroit District are temporarily suspended while existing applications and regional funding capacity are reviewed. Previously submitted Detroit District applications continue to be processed.

Key Takeaways

• Michigan HEAR rebates are limited to households with income at or below 150% of Area Median Income.
• Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation may qualify for up to $1,600 as an envelope-improvement category.
• Homeowners must apply and receive approval before beginning a HEAR project. HEAR rebates are not available retroactively.
• All qualifying work must be completed by a MiHER Registered Contractor after a program-required home assessment.
• Funding is managed by region. New income-qualified applications for properties in the EGLE Detroit District are temporarily paused as of the last verified date.

What the Michigan HEAR Program Offers

The Michigan HEAR Program helps eligible households pay for specific electrification and home energy improvements. Rebate amounts depend on household income, the approved scope of work, project costs, measure-specific limits, and available program funding.

Households with income below 80% of Area Median Income may qualify for rebates covering up to 100% of qualified project costs. Households with income from 80% through 150% of Area Median Income may qualify for up to 50% of qualified project costs. Measure and household caps still apply.

Eligible Improvement	Maximum Published Rebate
Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation	Up to $1,600
Heat pump for heating and cooling	Up to $8,000
Heat pump water heater	Up to $1,750
Electric load service center or electrical panel	Up to $4,000
Electric wiring upgrades	Up to $2,500
Electric stove, cooktop, range, or oven	Up to $840
Heat pump clothes dryer	Up to $840
Maximum total HEAR rebates per household	Up to $14,000

These are maximum amounts, not guaranteed rebate awards. A household cannot receive more than the qualified project cost, and the final amount depends on income, approved improvements, and available funding.

Who May Qualify for Michigan HEAR Rebates?

Michigan HEAR eligibility generally depends on the applicant, property, household income, proposed improvements, and available funding.

Potential applicants include:

• Michigan homeowners using the property as their primary residence
• Renters when the property owner participates and approves the project
• Residents of eligible single-family homes
• Eligible multifamily residents and property owners
• Residents of manufactured or mobile homes
• Households with income at or below 150% of Area Median Income

New construction is not eligible. The structure must be an existing Michigan residence, and multifamily or rental projects may have additional owner-participation and documentation requirements.

Household Income	Potential Cost Coverage
Below 80% of Area Median Income	Up to 100% of qualified project costs
80% through 150% of Area Median Income	Up to 50% of qualified project costs
Above 150% of Area Median Income	Not eligible for HEAR

Area Median Income varies by location and household circumstances. Applicants should use the income eligibility tools provided through MiHER rather than relying on a single statewide income number.

What Insulation Work May Qualify?

Michigan lists insulation, air sealing, and ventilation as eligible HEAR improvements, with a published maximum rebate of up to $1,600 for this category.

The state’s public homeowner guidance does not guarantee that every type of insulation project will qualify. The eligible scope is identified through the required home assessment and must be included in the approved project.

Depending on the home, an assessment may recommend work such as:

• Adding insulation to parts of the home identified by the assessor
• Sealing air leaks before or alongside insulation installation
• Installing ventilation needed to support the approved air-sealing work
• Combining building-envelope improvements with an eligible heat pump or other electrification project

Homeowners should not assume that standalone attic, wall, crawl-space, or basement insulation automatically qualifies. A MiHER Registered Contractor must assess the home and confirm which improvements meet current program standards.

Michigan HEAR vs. Michigan HOMES Rebates

MiHER includes two different rebate pathways.

HEAR rebates cover listed measures such as insulation, heat pumps, electrical upgrades, and qualifying electric appliances. HEAR is limited to households at or below 150% of Area Median Income.

HOMES rebates are based on the estimated energy savings from a broader whole-home project. Insulation and air sealing may also be included under HOMES when the complete project meets the required modeled energy-savings threshold.

A home assessment helps determine whether an improvement should be submitted through HEAR, HOMES, or a combination of the two pathways. The same individual improvement cannot receive both a HEAR and HOMES rebate.

How to Apply for the Michigan HEAR Program

1. Check current availability

Review the MiHER program page before applying. Applicants with properties in the EGLE Detroit District should check whether the temporary application suspension has been lifted.

2. Submit the MiHER application

Complete the application through Michigan’s MiHER portal before hiring a contractor or beginning work. Applicants may be asked to provide household information, property information, and income-verification documents.

3. Wait for eligibility review and approval

MiHER reviews the household’s income and property information. Approved applicants receive instructions for continuing through the program.

4. Choose a MiHER Registered Contractor

Applicants must select a contractor from the program’s approved directory. A preferred contractor who is not registered cannot complete rebate-eligible work unless the contractor joins the MiHER network.

5. Complete a home energy assessment

The registered contractor or assessor evaluates the home, identifies eligible improvements, and recommends a project scope. The assessment also helps determine whether measures fit the HEAR pathway, the HOMES pathway, or both.

6. Review the approved scope and remaining cost

The contractor explains the recommended work, estimated rebate, and any amount the household may need to pay. Do not authorize additional work outside the approved scope without checking with MiHER.

7. Complete the approved improvements

All qualifying work must be performed by MiHER Registered Contractors. Michigan’s participation guide states that an approved project is generally valid for one year from the approval date.

8. Complete verification and rebate processing

The program may require invoices, installation records, customer sign-off, and a post-installation inspection. Once the project is verified, the rebate is paid directly to the contractor. The household is responsible for costs not covered by the rebate.

What to Confirm Before Starting Work

Before signing a contract or purchasing materials, confirm:

• Whether applications are open for your EGLE district
• Your household’s Area Median Income category
• Whether the proposed work will be submitted through HEAR or HOMES
• The approved rebate amount for your specific project
• Which project costs are included
• Whether you will owe a remaining balance
• That every contractor involved is registered with MiHER
• Which documents you must provide
• Whether a post-installation inspection will be required
• The deadline for completing your approved project

Do not begin a HEAR project before approval. Michigan states that HEAR rebates are not retroactive, so completed work generally cannot be submitted later for reimbursement.

Can Michigan HEAR Be Combined With Other Incentives?

A household may participate in both Michigan’s HEAR and HOMES programs when it meets the requirements for both. However, the two programs cannot provide rebates for the same individual upgrade.

Michigan also states that neither HEAR nor HOMES may be combined with another federal grant or rebate for the same single upgrade. Utility rebates and other assistance programs may sometimes be combined with MiHER when each program permits it.

Homeowners should ask MiHER, their utility, and their contractor to confirm stacking rules before using two incentives for the same equipment or insulation work.

Related Rebates and Assistance Programs

Homeowners comparing Michigan insulation incentives may also want to review:

• Michigan Home Efficiency Rebates: Whole-home rebates based on modeled energy savings
• Michigan Weatherization Assistance Program: Income-qualified energy improvements that may be provided at no cost through local agencies
• Michigan utility rebates: Insulation and energy-efficiency incentives offered by participating electric or natural-gas utilities
• Insulation rebates and incentives directory: Additional federal, state, utility, and local program information

Frequently Asked Questions