Efficiency Vermont has expanded its flood recovery rebates, offering significant financial assistance to eligible households and businesses affected by the flooding during the summers of 2023 and 2024 for heating systems, weatherization and appliances. Homeowners can receive up to $29,500 in rebates, while businesses are eligible for up to $16,000 in cash back on essential equipment and upgrades.
Efficiency Vermont, established in 2000 as the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, is committed to helping Vermonters lower their energy use, reduce utility costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to their website.
Public Relations Manager with Efficiency Vermont Matthew Smith explained in an interview with The Campus how the operations of Efficiency Vermont expand across the whole state.
“Efficiency Vermont is overseen by the state’s utility regulators, just like the electric and gas and telecom companies that work in Vermont. So we work with partners statewide on energy savings goals and emissions reductions goals for homes and businesses. We recognized that flood repair does not just take a year, which is why it was extended,” Smith said.
“I’m grateful to Gov. Phil Scott, the Emergency Board, the PSD [Vermont Public Service Department], and other state partners for making these offers available to those harmed by another year of damaging floods,” wrote Peter Walke, managing director of Efficiency Vermont, in a press release.“These rebates will help Vermonters rebuild homes that are healthy, safe, and more efficient. We’re eager to get these offers out to anyone impacted by these floods to help make their recovery more affordable.”
The funding available for homeowners is comprehensive, covering a number of damages caused by or impacted by the flooding.
Among the rebates for homeowners are a $10,000 rebate for heating and appliance upgrades, up to $9,500 for insulation and air sealing improvements and a maximum $10,000 rebate for any rearrangements or replacements of solar panels.
Homeowners are also eligible for a free, 90-minute consultation with Efficiency Vermont experts to determine their specific recovery needs and interest-free loans going all the way to $30,000.
Rebates for households are limited to Vermont residents and are funded by the federal government through federal flooding relief money, according to Smith.
Only low-moderate income households are eligible to receive the rebates, and eligibility depends per county and per members in household.
Businesses are also eligible for rebates to support flood relief efforts, which includes equipment upgrades and weatherization improvements. These funds come from Efficiency Vermont’s normal funds , which is financed by anyone who pays an electric bill. This charge provides a steady funding source for energy efficiency initiatives.
Business rebates include up to $10,000 to help landlords replace damaged heaters and appliances, $4,000 per piece of kitchen equipment and $9,000 for businesses to improve building envelopes and ventilation systems.
Homeowners and businesses can access these rebates through the Efficiency Vermont website.
“The best place to start is with a Free Virtual Home Energy Visits to assess recovery options,” Smith said. “There is a version of this free consultation for businesses as well. It's about a 90-minute video assessment of a home by an Efficiency Vermont energy expert, providing guidance on each home’s specific needs.”
For those individuals with higher incomes who are not eligible, Efficiency Vermont offers many other rebates that are available for all.
“We have some rebates for renters,” Smith said. “We offer 100 dollars in rebates for air conditioners, other cooling, and for washing and drying machines. We also have free products such as lightbulbs for those who need it.”
Currently, there are no expiration dates for the program, and it will extend into the next year.
Mandy Berghela '26 (she/her) is a Senior Local Editor.
Mandy previously served as a local editor and staff writer. She is a Political Science major with a History minor. Mandy serves as co-president for Southeast Asian Society (SEAS), a member on the Judicial Board, and an intern for the Conflict Transformation Collaborative. In her free time, she enjoys cycling and reading fantasy novels.
