§18795 Home Energy Performance-based, Whole-house Rebates

Summary

Provides $4,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, available through September 30, 2031, for the Secretary of Energy to give grants to State energy offices so they can create and run a HOMES rebate program. Money for each State is set by the State Energy Program formula in effect on January 1, 2022, and a State only gets its share if its application is approved. If reserved funds are not given out, not earlier than two years after August 16, 2022, those unused amounts are reallocated to States already running a HOMES program based on how much they received. The Secretary may use up to 3 percent of the money for administration and technical help. State applications must explain how they will measure and model home energy savings (calibrated to historical use consistent with BPI 2400), use approved open-source measurement software, value savings by time/location or greenhouse gas impact, require a contractor‑issued and third‑party‑certified certificate showing the work and projected savings, pay contractors or aggregators $200 for each retrofit in a disadvantaged community, and prevent a homeowner or aggregator from getting the same upgrade paid by both a HOMES rebate and another Federal grant or rebate. A HOMES rebate must be for whole-house retrofits started on or after August 16, 2022 and finished by September 30, 2031. For single‑family homes, modeled savings of 20–<35% get up to $2,000 or 50% of project cost, and ≥35% get up to $4,000 or 50% of cost. For measured savings ≥15%, States may pay either a per‑kWh rate that equals $2,000 for a 20% reduction for the average State home or 50% of project cost. For multifamily buildings, payments are $2,000 per dwelling unit (max $200,000) for 20–<35% modeled savings, $4,000 per unit (max $400,000) for ≥35%, or the same measured‑savings options as single‑family. For low‑ or moderate‑income households or buildings with at least 50% low‑ or moderate‑income units, modeled 20–<35% gets up to $4,000 per home/unit and up to 80% of project cost, ≥35% gets up to $8,000 and up to 80% of cost, and measured savings use a per‑kWh rate that equals $4,000 for a 20% reduction or 80% of project cost. With the Secretary’s approval, States may increase rebates for low‑ or moderate‑income households. States may use up to 20% of their grant for planning, administration, or technical assistance. The Secretary will publish guidelines for sharing residential electric and natural gas data. Activities funded under the grant are exempt from the spending limits in 10 C.F.R. 420.18. A HOMES rebate cannot be combined with any other Federal grant or rebate for the same single upgrade, including the high‑efficiency electric home rebate program. Definitions (one line each): Disadvantaged community — a community the Secretary finds is economically, socially, or environmentally disadvantaged; HOMES rebate program — the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings rebate program a State creates under its State Energy Program plan; Low‑ or moderate‑income household — a household with total annual income below 80% of the area median income.