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ClaimWatt Find my rebates

How ClaimWatt works

ClaimWatt maps every US federal, state, county, city, and utility renewable-energy incentive — solar, heat pump, EV, battery, geothermal — and shows you the actual stacking math to claim every dollar you qualify for. We update against IRS guidance, state energy office portals, and utility rebate program documents.

The four-layer stack

  1. 1. Federal tax credits (25C, 25D, 30C, 30D, 25E, 45L) — claimed on your tax return at filing. Most cover 30% of cost up to a cap.
  2. 2. IRA rebates (HEEHRA, HOMES) — point-of-sale rebates administered by state energy offices. Income-qualified.
  3. 3. State programs — state-specific tax credits (NY, AZ, others), upfront rebates (NY-Sun, SGIP), or sales/property tax exemptions.
  4. 4. Utility programs — local utility rebates (PG&E, ConEd, Duke, etc.) and time-of-use rate plans that compound savings.

The order of operations

Most installers (and most articles) get this wrong. Here is the exact order:

  1. Subtract utility rebates from total cost.
  2. Subtract state cash rebates from remaining cost.
  3. Calculate state tax credits on full pre-rebate cost (most states).
  4. Calculate federal tax credits on the net cost (post-rebate).
  5. Apply credits against tax owed in their respective filings.

Why we built this

DSIRE has the comprehensive database but treats every program equally — newer homeowners do not know that a $2,000 NYSERDA Clean Heat rebate beats a $1,000 utility heat pump rebate. The IRS publishes the credit forms but does not show you the stack. State energy offices document HEEHRA but do not explain the 25C interaction.

ClaimWatt sits in the middle: every program, ranked by total stacked value for your specific situation, with the math written out and the order of operations explicit.

How we stay current

Federal credit rules update when the IRS issues guidance — we re-check Form 5695, Form 8936, and Form 8911 instructions quarterly. State programs change annually (most reset January). Utility programs change at varying cadence — we cross-check DSIRE with utility websites and update affected pages within two weeks of program changes.

Every page shows a "Last updated" date. If a number on this site is out of date, it is our error — email us and we will fix.

Frequently asked questions

Are tax credits the same as rebates? +
No. Rebates are cash off the price (immediate or check). Tax credits reduce your tax bill at filing. Most homeowners stack both.
Which credits stack and which cancel? +
25C and HEEHRA do NOT stack on the same item — pick the higher (HEEHRA wins for income-qualified, 25C wins for higher-income). 30D and commercial 45W do NOT stack on the same vehicle. Everything else generally stacks if you have qualifying property in each category.
Does the state rebate reduce my federal credit? +
Yes. State and utility cash rebates reduce the federal cost basis, which reduces the dollar value of the federal credit. State tax credits do NOT reduce federal basis.
Does ClaimWatt sell installation services? +
No. We are an independent rebate research site. Some links to installer partners (Modernize, Networx, EnergySage) are affiliate-paid — clearly labeled — and only appear where they add value to the reader.