Quick quiz: how rebate programs work
Seven questions that apply almost everywhere. Tap an answer to see why.
Why check the utility first
A home energy assessment finds where your house wastes energy and which fixes come first. Many utilities run their own, often with small items installed on the spot. A private auditor, such as a RESNET-listed HERS rating company, is another route. Neither is always better. But the utility's visit costs little or nothing in the places below, so it is worth a call before you pay for another one.
Three questions to ask the utility
Before you book, ask: what does the visit include, does it come with a blower door test, and does it unlock any rebates or no-cost upgrades afterward? Mass Save, for example, says its assessment unlocks weatherization incentives. Write down the answers so you can compare them with a private auditor's quote later.
Also check that you are a customer of the utility that runs the program. Several of these programs list who can join, such as electric customers of Xcel who are also gas customers of Xcel or CenterPoint.
Massachusetts: Mass Save
The Mass Save Home Energy Assessment is free. It also unlocks weatherization incentives, so booking it is the first step toward insulation and air sealing help. If you are on a municipal light plant, your town may not be part of Mass Save, so check your electric bill first. See our Massachusetts page.
New Jersey: PSE&G
PSE&G customers can book a free assessment of about one hour. You get a personal report, plus no-cost products while supplies last: a smart thermostat, LED bulbs, faucet aerators, efficient showerheads, water heater pipe insulation, advanced power strips, door sweeps, weather stripping and attic hatch insulation. The page gives no end date. See our New Jersey page.
Michigan: Consumers Energy and DTE
Consumers Energy offers a free home visit with a report and no-cost items such as smart thermostats, pipe wraps, power strips, bulbs and showerheads, and it states no income rule. DTE Energy works differently: it pays $50 toward a blower door pre-test, and air sealing that cuts leakage earns $75, $125 or $150 at 10%, 20% and 40%. DTE electric customers heating with an air source heat pump or electric baseboard can get 50% of the cost of a comprehensive audit, air sealing and insulation, up to $5,000, if leakage falls at least 10%. See our Michigan page.
Illinois: ComEd
ComEd offers a free in-home assessment, with free products such as LED bulbs, a thermostat and showerheads, to households at or below 80% of area median income. Free weatherization, meaning insulation and air sealing, may follow. Single-family homes, two-flats, condos, mobile homes and townhomes can qualify, and renters need landlord permission. See our Illinois page.
Minnesota: Xcel Energy Home Energy Squad
The Energy Saver visit costs $70, and the Energy Planner visit costs $100 and includes a blower door test. Visits are free for income-qualified customers. You must be an Xcel electric customer and a natural gas customer of Xcel or CenterPoint. See our Minnesota page.
When to call a private auditor too
We have not found a rule that says a private audit is better or worse. Three situations are worth a question. Your utility does not offer a visit. The utility's visit does not include a blower door test and you want one. Or a rebate program you plan to use names a specific report. In each case, ask the auditor for the price of every visit and whether the report counts for your program.
Browse HERS rating companies near you in our auditor directory.
Common questions
Is the Mass Save home energy assessment free?
Yes. It is free and unlocks weatherization incentives for Mass Save customers.
How much is the Xcel Home Energy Squad?
The Energy Saver visit is $70 and the Energy Planner visit is $100, with a blower door test. Visits are free for income-qualified customers.
Do I need to be low income for a free assessment?
Not always. PSE&G and Consumers Energy state no income rule on the pages we read. ComEd's free assessment is for households at or below 80% of area median income.
What is a blower door test?
A fan pulls air through the house to measure how leaky it is. DTE pays $50 toward one, and Xcel's Energy Planner visit includes one.
What is a HERS rating company?
RESNET lists the companies that can give a HERS rating, which scores how efficient a home is.
More on the federal heat pump rebate
Sources, read October 20, 2026: Mass Save and MassCEC: weatherization, PSE&G: whole home energy assessment, Consumers Energy: home energy analysis, DTE Energy: home energy assessment, ComEd: Home Energy Savings, Xcel Energy: Home Energy Squad.
