What is open in Berkeley
We found no dollar amount for a heat pump or heat pump water heater rebate from Ava, PG&E or the City, so none is shown. The City lists the following resources.
Electric Coach
A local volunteer creates a free, customized electrification plan for your home.
Induction hob lending
Borrow a portable induction hob from the Ecology Center through Acterra's East Bay Induction Lending Program or the Berkeley Tool Lending Library.
Just Transition Residential Electrification Pilot
A two-year direct-install program for income-qualified residents, run with Rebuilding Together East Bay Network.
BayREN EASE Home
For income-qualified PG&E customers (at or below 120% of area median income) in a single-family home built before 2010. Helps with heat pump and water heater applications but does not pay for that equipment.
TECH Clean California
Single-family heat pump incentives are fully reserved and take new requests on hold only.
Federal HEEHRA rebates
Single-family funding was fully reserved statewide on February 24, 2026, with requests on hold.
A date to plan around
The City's page says that starting in 2027 the Bay Area Air District will start to phase out some gas appliances in favor of electric alternatives. If your gas furnace or water heater is old, planning the replacement now lets you choose the equipment instead of buying in a hurry.
Start with the Electric Coach
Berkeley's best free resource is a human one. The City says to connect with a local volunteer Electric Coach for a free, customized plan for your home. The coach can help you work out whether you need a panel upgrade, which appliance to replace first, and which programs apply. The City also points to Rewiring America's resources on how to electrify without upgrading your electric panel, which matters in the many older Berkeley houses with small panels.
Try induction before you buy
The East Bay Induction Lending Program, through Acterra at the Ecology Center and the Berkeley Tool Lending Library, lets you borrow a portable induction hob. Cooking is the easiest appliance to electrify and the one people most worry about, so a few weeks with a borrowed unit is a free test. Ava also runs an induction cooktop lending program across Alameda County, according to the City of Oakland.
What ended and what is full
The Just Transition pilot and the Climate Equity Fund's Resilient Home Retrofits Program provided direct electrification help to income-qualified households, and the City posts their final reports. The pilot ended in July 2026. TECH Clean California's single-family incentives and the federal HEEHRA program are fully reserved and take new requests on hold only. The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended after December 31, 2025. BayREN's EASE Home pays 80% of weatherization costs for income-qualified PG&E customers in homes of four units or fewer built before 2010 (BayREN).
Berkeley's climate and housing
Berkeley's average January low over 2015 to 2024 was 6.4°C (about 44°F), with a coldest recorded day of -0.5°C, and about 5.2 peak sun hours a day. That is the coolest of the Bay Area cities we cover, but still mild for a heat pump. The City's Existing Buildings Electrification Strategy, adopted in 2021, lays out four tracks: electrify at the time of replacement and renovation, at the time of sale, through building performance standards, and by neighborhood. Its Building Emissions Saving Ordinance lets sellers and buyers choose upgrades such as heat pumps.
Where to look for current amounts
Ava Community Energy serves Berkeley, and its incentive finder shows the incentives that fit your household once you enter your details. The Switch Is On site has a contractor database and a comprehensive incentive finder for renters and owners. We treat any amount from those tools as a lead until the program confirms it.
Installers in Berkeley
These Berkeley heat pump and HVAC companies have the best Google ratings, listed by rating and then review count. We are not paid to list anyone. One of them advertises heat pumps as its specialty, so ask each about their experience with older Berkeley homes.
How to start
- Book a free plan with a volunteer Electric Coach through the City.
- If you are curious about induction cooking, borrow a hob first.
- Check Ava's incentive finder and the Switch Is On finder for what applies to your household.
- If your income may qualify, ask about EASE Home and PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance.
- Plan gas appliance replacement before the Air District's 2027 rules start.
- Get two or three quotes and ask who handles the City permits.
Common questions
Does Berkeley have a heat pump rebate?
We found no dollar amount for one from Ava, PG&E or the City. The City's Just Transition pilot ended in July 2026 and the state and federal single-family programs are fully reserved.
What is the Electric Coach?
A local volunteer who creates a free, customized plan for electrifying your home, offered through the City of Berkeley.
Can I try induction cooking for free?
Yes. You can borrow a portable induction hob through Acterra's East Bay Induction Lending Program or the Berkeley Tool Lending Library.
What happens in 2027?
The City says the Bay Area Air District will start to phase out some gas appliances in favor of electric alternatives.
Who is Berkeley's electricity provider?
Ava Community Energy is the default provider, and PG&E delivers the power.
What to do next
Read the City's building electrification page, run the California rebate calculator, or see Ava's incentive finder.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 2, 2026: City of Berkeley building electrification, BayREN EASE Home, Ava Community Energy incentive finder, The Switch Is On California. All Berkeley rebates → Every PG&E rebate →
