Every rebate on this page is one we checked against the program's own website. We list the amount, who qualifies, and the date we verified it. When a program ends, we say so instead of leaving it up.
As of August 21, 2026, the rebates a Central Illinois homeowner can claim on a new system come from the Ameren Illinois energy efficiency program. Published instant incentives include up to $900 on a qualifying ducted air source heat pump, up to $630 on a ductless mini split, up to $1,150 on a heat pump water heater, $1,500 to $6,000 on a geothermal system, and up to $115 on a qualifying smart thermostat. Income qualified households may also qualify for state weatherization and energy assistance programs.
The federal 25C tax credit that paid up to $2,000 on a heat pump is no longer available for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. If a contractor is still quoting you that credit on a 2026 install, ask them to show you the IRS guidance.
These are instant incentives. A participating contractor takes the discount off your invoice at the time of installation, so you do not file paperwork and wait for a check. You must be a residential Ameren Illinois electric customer and the equipment must meet the efficiency tier the program lists.
Up to $900
Applies to a qualifying ducted air source heat pump installed in an existing home. This is the most common heat pump upgrade in Central Illinois.
Verified August 21, 2026
Ameren Illinois HVAC and Water Heating DiscountsUp to $630
Applies to qualifying ductless mini split systems. Common for additions, garages, sunrooms, and older homes with no duct system.
Verified August 21, 2026
Ameren Illinois HVAC and Water Heating DiscountsUp to $1,150
Applies to a qualifying heat pump water heater replacing an existing electric water heater. Needs enough space and air volume around the unit, which we check during the estimate.
Verified August 21, 2026
Ameren Illinois HVAC and Water Heating Discounts$1,500 to $6,000
The amount depends on system size and configuration. An additional incentive is published for systems installed with a desuperheater.
Verified August 21, 2026
Ameren Illinois Ground Source Heat PumpsUp to $115
Applies to a qualifying smart thermostat. Small dollar amount, but it stacks with an equipment install on the same invoice.
Verified August 21, 2026
Ameren Illinois HVAC and Water Heating DiscountsThese are not equipment rebates you claim at the register. They are income qualified programs run through the state and local community action agencies. If your household qualifies, they can cover work that a standard rebate will not.
No cost to qualifying households
Income qualified households can receive weatherization work such as insulation, air sealing, and heating system safety work at no cost. Applications are handled by your local community action agency, not by a contractor.
Verified August 21, 2026
Illinois DCEO Home Weatherization Assistance ProgramVaries by household
Help with heating and cooling utility bills for income qualified households. Some households also qualify for furnace repair or replacement help through the related emergency component.
Verified August 21, 2026
Illinois DCEO LIHEAPThese programs still show up in older articles and in some contractor pitches. Here is where they actually stand so you can budget honestly.
No longer available for 2026 installations
This is the federal tax credit that covered up to $2,000 for a qualifying heat pump or heat pump water heater. Public Law 119-21 moved the termination date up. The IRS states the credit is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. If your equipment was installed in 2025 or earlier, talk to your tax preparer about claiming it. For equipment installed in 2026, do not budget for this credit.
Verified August 21, 2026
IRS guidance on Public Law 119-21Approved but not yet open to homeowners
Illinois has federal funding approved for these rebate programs, but the application portal is not open to homeowners yet. We will not publish dollar amounts for a program you cannot apply to. When Illinois opens it, this page will be updated with the real amounts and how to apply.
Verified August 21, 2026
Illinois EPA Residential Energy RebatesAs of August 2026, the rebates a Central Illinois homeowner can actually claim come from the Ameren Illinois energy efficiency program. Published instant incentives include up to $900 on a qualifying ducted air source heat pump, up to $630 on a ductless mini split, up to $1,150 on a heat pump water heater, $1,500 to $6,000 on a geothermal system, and up to $115 on a qualifying smart thermostat. Income qualified households may also qualify for the Illinois Weatherization program. The federal 25C tax credit is not available for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025.
No. Public Law 119-21 moved up the termination of the 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. The IRS states the credit is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. If your system was installed in 2025 or earlier, ask your tax preparer whether you can still claim it on that year's return.
For the instant incentives, no. A participating contractor applies the discount to your invoice at the time of installation and handles the program submission. You provide your Ameren Illinois account information and sign the program form. Other programs, like the income qualified state programs, require you to apply directly with the administering agency.
Sometimes. Utility incentives and manufacturer promotions can often be combined on the same install, and a thermostat incentive commonly stacks with an equipment incentive. Two programs funded from the same source usually cannot be stacked. We will tell you what applies to your specific project in writing before you sign anything.
No, and no contractor honestly can. Rebate programs are run by the utility, the state, or the manufacturer, and they set the rules, the funding, and the approval. We tell you which programs your equipment appears to qualify for, we complete our part of the paperwork accurately, and we keep this page current. Final approval and payment come from the program.
We review every program on this page monthly and stamp each one with the date it was last verified. Programs that end are moved to the section explaining what changed instead of being quietly deleted, because homeowners often search for a program by name after it has ended.
This page is general information for Central Illinois homeowners and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Trouble Free Heating, Cooling and Plumbing Inc. is not a tax preparer. Consult a qualified tax professional about any tax credit before you rely on it.
Rebate and incentive programs are administered by utilities, government agencies, and equipment manufacturers. Those organizations set the amounts, the eligibility rules, the funding limits, and the approval decisions. Amounts shown are the maximum published by the program and are not an offer, a quote, or a guarantee of payment. Your actual amount depends on the equipment installed, your utility account, and program approval.
Programs can change or end without notice. We review every listing on this page monthly and stamp each one with the date it was last verified. Always confirm current terms on the program's own website, linked with each listing, before making a purchase decision.
Last full page audit: August 21, 2026.
