Buncombe County is part of a new state energy rebate program- here’s how you can apply
By Katie Myers
July 3, 2025 at 6:04 PM EDT
This coverage is made possible through a partnership between BPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.
Buncombe County is among the first in North Carolina to take advantage of a new state program to help low-income families save on utility bills.
The Energy Saver North Carolina program includes two different rebate programs funded by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act to help pay for energy efficiency upgrades and weatherization.
The program has two components: Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings (HOMES)offers rebates for qualifying households home efficiency improvements, such as air sealing or energy-efficient HVAC units. Second, Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) covers major upgrades for electrical appliances like water heaters and stoves.
Extreme heat is projected to increase across the Southeast, and with it, the costs of air conditioning. Helen Hossley, a special projects manager with the Department for Environmental Quality, told BPR this program will help homeowners reduce home energy costs in the face of more weather variability.
“By investing in electrification and energy efficiency, we're helping to lower the carbon emissions while making homes more resilient to extreme weather,” Hossley said. “We're also creating lower household energy demand to reduce the overall strain on the electrical grid and to make homes more resilient.”
Hossley added that anyone dealing with post-Helene housing issues is especially encouraged to apply.
“Many families in Buncombe County struggle with high utility bills because of their outdated or inefficient home systems,” she said. “And so, when we saw the devastation that Hurricane Helene caused in Buncombe County, and so many of the other Western counties, we knew that we wanted to prioritize it for the program’s rollout.”
Single-family homes making less than 80% of the area median income (AMI) may be eligible for a full rebate on appliances. Eligibility begins at $52,150 for a 1-person household in Buncombe County. Households making 80% to 150% of AMI can qualify for a 50% rebate.
Energy Saver programs are currently open to 15 counties, including Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Halifax, Henderson, Lincoln, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Watauga, and Yancey Counties.
Applicants will need to provide proof of income, past utility bills and other information to qualify. Hossley said that there have already been almost 150 applications to the program in Buncombe County.
The program is expected to expand to more North Carolina counties in the future.
You can find more information about Energy Saver eligibility, and the application process, at the DEQ website. Interested parties can apply by mail, phone, or online at energysavernc.org.
Energy Saver NC also has a team available to answer questions by phone on Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 866-998-8555.
Buncombe County is among the first in North Carolina to take advantage of a new state program to help low-income families save on utility bills.
The Energy Saver North Carolina program includes two different rebate programs funded by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act to help pay for energy efficiency upgrades and weatherization.
The program has two components: Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings (HOMES)offers rebates for qualifying households home efficiency improvements, such as air sealing or energy-efficient HVAC units. Second, Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) covers major upgrades for electrical appliances like water heaters and stoves.
Extreme heat is projected to increase across the Southeast, and with it, the costs of air conditioning. Helen Hossley, a special projects manager with the Department for Environmental Quality, told BPR this program will help homeowners reduce home energy costs in the face of more weather variability.
“By investing in electrification and energy efficiency, we're helping to lower the carbon emissions while making homes more resilient to extreme weather,” Hossley said. “We're also creating lower household energy demand to reduce the overall strain on the electrical grid and to make homes more resilient.”
Hossley added that anyone dealing with post-Helene housing issues is especially encouraged to apply.
“Many families in Buncombe County struggle with high utility bills because of their outdated or inefficient home systems,” she said. “And so, when we saw the devastation that Hurricane Helene caused in Buncombe County, and so many of the other Western counties, we knew that we wanted to prioritize it for the program’s rollout.”
Single-family homes making less than 80% of the area median income (AMI) may be eligible for a full rebate on appliances. Eligibility begins at $52,150 for a 1-person household in Buncombe County. Households making 80% to 150% of AMI can qualify for a 50% rebate.
Energy Saver programs are currently open to 15 counties, including Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Halifax, Henderson, Lincoln, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Watauga, and Yancey Counties.
Applicants will need to provide proof of income, past utility bills and other information to qualify. Hossley said that there have already been almost 150 applications to the program in Buncombe County.
The program is expected to expand to more North Carolina counties in the future.
You can find more information about Energy Saver eligibility, and the application process, at the DEQ website. Interested parties can apply by mail, phone, or online at energysavernc.org.
Energy Saver NC also has a team available to answer questions by phone on Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 866-998-8555.