What is open in Oakland
The City of Oakland's incentives page lists programs by name without dollar amounts for heat pumps. The cards below are the ones we could read ourselves. Where a program is full, we say so.
Ava rebates and induction lending
Oakland's page says Ava provides rebates for holistic electrification, including battery storage and induction stoves, and an induction cooktop lending program with sites across Alameda County.
PG&E Energy Savings Assistance
Free energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified households, including renters.
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.
What we could not confirm
Ava's incentive finder asks for your zip code, household size, income, homeowner or renter status and tax filing status before it shows results, and its amounts are not printed on a public page. A search summary mentioned a $1,000 Ava incentive for heat pump water heaters that is paid through BayREN to contractors. We could not read that program page, so we do not quote it as a homeowner rebate. Ask your contractor whether such a discount is already in the quote.
Ava and the City's list
Ava Community Energy, formerly East Bay Community Energy, is Oakland's default electricity provider. The City of Oakland's building electrification page lists Ava next to BayREN, TECH Clean California, the Switch Is On campaign, California Energy Smart Homes through PG&E, PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance, the Low Income Weatherization Program, PACE and GoGreen Financing. That is a good map of where to look, but it prints no heat pump amounts. Use Ava's incentive finder with your own household details to see the figures that apply to you, and treat the result as a lead until you confirm it with the program.
Permits are quick in Oakland
The City says you usually need a separate mechanical, electrical and plumbing permit for each type of work, and that residential permits are for houses, duplexes and their accessory structures. If your project does not need a plan check, permits are issued right after you submit your application and pay the fees through the Online Permit Center. That is faster than many cities. Ask your contractor to pull each permit and book the inspections, and call the City at (510) 238-3891 with questions. See the MEP permit page.
Climate and what it means
Oakland's average January low over 2015 to 2024 was 7.0°C (about 45°F), with a coldest recorded day of 0.2°C, and it gets about 5.2 peak sun hours a day. A standard heat pump does the job, and solar works well, though shading and roof direction decide the result. The Bay Area Air District's clean building appliance rules begin phasing out some gas appliances in 2027, which is a reason to plan a replacement before a failure forces one.
What is full
TECH Clean California's single-family heat pump incentives and the federal HEEHRA program are fully reserved and take new requests on hold only. California Energy Smart Homes, which PG&E administers, is listed by Oakland, but BayREN's incentive page says funding for 2026 had no funding left as of April 2026. The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended after December 31, 2025. Financing is available through PACE and GoGreen Financing, with repayment on the property tax bill for PACE.
Free guidance first
BayREN's EASE Home program pays 80% of weatherization costs for income-qualified PG&E customers and helps you apply for heat pump, water heater and induction rebates, with a limit to homes of four units or fewer built before 2010 (BayREN EASE Home). BayREN's Home Energy Advisor service connects owners to available rebates and qualified contractors, according to the City's list. Start there before you spend on quotes.
Installers in Oakland
These Oakland heat pump and HVAC companies have the best Google ratings, listed by rating and then review count. We are not paid to list anyone, and some have few reviews, so call several.
How to start
- Check your electric bill for Ava and your gas bill for PG&E.
- Run Ava's incentive finder with your household details, and ask BayREN's Home Energy Advisor about current rebates.
- If your income may qualify, ask about EASE Home and PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance first.
- Get two or three quotes, and ask whether any discount or incentive is already in the price.
- Ask the contractor to pull the City permits and book the inspections.
Common questions
Who is Oakland's electricity provider?
Ava Community Energy, formerly East Bay Community Energy, is the default provider, and PG&E delivers the power.
Is there an Oakland heat pump rebate?
We found no dollar amount for one from Ava, PG&E or the City. TECH Clean California and federal HEEHRA are fully reserved for single-family homes.
Can I borrow an induction cooktop?
Yes. Oakland's page says Ava runs an induction cooktop lending program with sites across Alameda County.
How do Oakland permits work?
Separate mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits for houses and duplexes, issued right after you apply and pay when no plan check is needed.
Is there free help for income-qualified households?
Yes. PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance offers free upgrades, and BayREN's EASE Home pays 80% of weatherization costs.
What to do next
Open the City's incentives list, run the California rebate calculator, or see Ava's incentive finder.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 2, 2026: City of Oakland building electrification incentives, City of Oakland MEP permits, BayREN EASE Home, Ava Community Energy incentive finder. All Oakland rebates → Every PG&E rebate →
