Who qualifies, how much comes back on a heat pump versus a tankless unit, which utility you need to be on, and how the paperwork actually works.
Oregon has one of the better residential rebate programmes in the country, and it is genuinely worth money on a water heater. It is also paperwork, which is why a lot of people intend to claim it and never do.
| Unit | Rebate | Roughly what it does to the price |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump water heater | Up to $800 | $2,000–$3,600 becomes about $1,300–$2,800 |
| Gas tankless (qualifying) | Up to $400 | $1,800–$3,800 becomes about $1,400–$3,400 |
| Standard gas or electric tank | None | No change — standard tanks do not qualify |
The heat pump rebate is the big one, and that is deliberate on Oregon's part: a heat pump water heater is roughly three times as efficient as the standard electric tank it replaces, so it is the upgrade with the largest effect on the grid.
The single most common way people miss out is buying a unit that turns out not to qualify. We confirm the model, your utility and the current rebate amount before anything is ordered — and if the unit you had in mind does not qualify, we will tell you which comparable one does.
For us it is about twenty minutes: the model and serial number, the installation date, the permit reference, your utility account, and the invoice. We submit it and you receive the rebate directly from Energy Trust, usually as a cheque, typically within six to eight weeks.
There is no charge for us doing this. It is part of the job, because the alternative — handing you a form and hoping — means most people lose several hundred dollars they were entitled to.
Federal tax credits for efficient water heaters can sometimes apply on top of the Oregon rebate. That is a tax matter rather than a plumbing one, so we will tell you the installation qualifies and what documentation you need, and leave the filing to you or your accountant. We are not going to pretend to be tax advisers.
In an all-electric Portland home, yes, unambiguously. The rebate largely closes the gap between a heat pump and a standard electric tank, and the running-cost difference after that is roughly $500 a year against roughly $170. Read the heat pump page for the space and circuit requirements, because those are the things that decide whether one fits.
On a gas home the tankless rebate is smaller and the decision is driven much more by how long you are staying and what your gas line can carry. The rebate is a nice reduction rather than the reason to do it.
Up to $800 on a qualifying heat pump water heater and up to $400 on a qualifying gas tankless unit. The exact amount depends on the model and your utility.
Residential customers of PGE, Pacific Power and NW Natural, in an existing home, with the work done by a participating contractor and a qualifying model. We confirm all of that before you commit.
Not with us. We are a registered Energy Trust trade ally and we complete and submit the paperwork as part of the job, at no charge.
No diagnostic fee, no trip charge, and a flat-rate price in writing before anything starts. If it is no hot water today, calling is faster than the form.
A real diagnosis and a flat-rate price in writing, anywhere in Portland, at no cost.