Maryland Energy Administration Request for Information (RFI): Residential Energy Equity - Heat Pump Rebate Program

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to gather stakeholder feedback on the design of a potential Residential Energy Equity (REE) Heat Pump Rebate Program. This initiative is enabled by the Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act, passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2026, which established a Dedicated Purpose Account (DPA) with $72.5 million in funding. The program aims to support heat pump installations and replacements for low-to-moderate income (LMI) households across Maryland. MEA is exploring whether to direct a portion of this funding into a rebate program that would provide incentives directly to eligible households through participating contractors.

MEA is seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders, including contractors, industry representatives, utilities, non-profits, community-based organizations, and private individuals. The RFI covers multiple aspects of program design, including definitions of LMI eligibility, income verification methods, quality assurance and consumer protection measures, contractor engagement and workforce development, communications and equitable access, and specific project and technology details. Respondents are encouraged to answer some or all of the 24 open-ended questions provided in the RFI.

Key areas of feedback include how to best define low-to-moderate income for program eligibility, how to verify income without imposing excessive administrative burdens, and what quality assurance measures should be implemented to ensure proper heat pump design, installation, and commissioning. MEA is also interested in strategies to complement existing federal, state, utility, and local energy efficiency and electrification programs, as well as ways to encourage contractor participation and address barriers in the residential heat pump market.

Responses to this RFI must be submitted via the designated Jotform by Friday, September 18, 2026. Alternatively, responses can be emailed to residentialenergy.mea@maryland.gov with the subject line "RFI: REE Heat Pump Rebate Program" and the questions being answered clearly specified. MEA may accept comments after this date, but submissions received by the deadline may be most impactful. This RFI is not a guarantee of fund availability, and final program parameters will be published in a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).