A homeowner's guide to government programs that can cover the cost of energy upgrades and electrical work.
If you are looking to lower your energy bills, add air conditioning, or replace an old oil furnace, local government and state programs may cover up to 100% of the cost.
These programs are funded through a combination of federal grants, state appropriations, and local utility contributions, not a single source. Because public agencies administer and manage the projects directly, homeowners do not hire contractors or manage budgets out of pocket. Instead, the program opens the work up to a competitive bidding process among pre-approved, licensed local trade professionals.
Being wary of anything labeled "free" is smart. But these programs aren't a gimmick, they're publicly funded and set aside specifically to help homeowners weatherize and go electric. The money comes from Washington's Climate Commitment Act (the state's cap-and-invest program), federal energy grants, and utility efficiency programs that every PSE customer already pays into on their monthly bill. It can only be spent on this kind of work.
The honest fine print (we'd rather you hear it up front):
How to tell the real thing from a scam:
Where we fit: Hanco Electric is a licensed, bonded local contractor who can bid on the electrical part of these projects. For grant-funded work the program pays approved contractors directly, so we never ask you to pay out of pocket for work a grant covers. We're glad to point you to the right program even if we don't end up doing the work.
Run by the Seattle Office of Housing, this initiative provides free energy efficiency improvements to income-qualified residents living within Seattle city limits.
For residents who live outside Seattle city limits but within King County, the KCHA runs a parallel version of the HomeWise program.
Funded by the state's Climate Commitment Act, the Home Electrification & Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program provides massive subsidies for low-to-moderate-income households (making under 150% of the Area Median Income) across the state.
If PSE is your utility, they offer direct rebates for going electric. Some are open to everyone; the largest are for income-qualified households. The equipment is usually installed by an HVAC contractor, but nearly all of it needs electrical work first, a dedicated circuit, added capacity, or a panel upgrade, which is the part Hanco Electric handles.
Heads-up: as of April 2, 2026, PSE requires rebate-eligible installations to be done by a PSE Trade Ally / Registered Energy Professional, and the current rebate cycle runs through Dec 31, 2026. Amounts and rules change, so confirm current details on PSE's site before counting on a specific number.
PSE Rebates & Offers →In addition to grant programs, King County and Seattle both offer deferred payment loans: 0% interest loans with no monthly payments at all. The balance is simply repaid later, when the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer your primary residence. These loans can be used for major electrical upgrades alongside other health and safety repairs.
Available to low-income homeowners throughout King County, outside the cities of Seattle and Bellevue, which run their own programs.
For homeowners living within Seattle city limits who meet income requirements.
If you apply and are accepted into a publicly funded weatherization or electrification program, here is what you can expect during the project phase:
Hanco Electric is a licensed local contractor available to bid on qualifying panel upgrades and circuit work for these programs. See what a 200A upgrade involves →
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