Rebates and Tax Credits

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE:

Consumers Energy Rebates, DTE Rebates, & Energy Tax Credits

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You have questions. We have answers (more than most contractors anyway). Since 2009, we’ve helped homeowners in Michigan get hundreds of thousands of dollars in rebates and home energy tax credits.

Start Here with Home Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Michigan

Rebates, tax credits, and tax deductions: What’s the difference?

When you invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy for your home, you can benefit from incentives offered by both the government and utility companies. Here are some key differences between rebates, tax credits, and tax deductions:

Rebate: A rebate is a cash payment that you receive from your utility company or the state after you complete a qualifying project. You can get rebates for installing insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, solar panels, and more. Rebates are usually processed within a few weeks of your project.

Tax Credit: A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of federal income tax that you owe or an increase in your refund. You’ll need to file IRS Form 5695 with your tax return to claim these credits.

Tax Deduction: A tax deduction is a reduction in your taxable income based on your expenses. You can deduct certain costs related to your home, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, and home office expenses. You need to itemize your deductions on Schedule A of your tax return to claim these deductions.

Can I claim DTE Rebates, Consumers Energy Rebates, or both?

So ... What's the first step?

The first step is to give us a call at (248) 291-7815 or send us a message.

You'll find lots of information on this page, but the main thing to know is that we'll take care of everything.

We'll make sure that your project scope includes all of the technical details needed to maximize your rebates and tax credits. When your project is complete, we'll help process the paperwork needed to get you every dollar you deserve.

Do You Have Questions About Rebates or Tax Credits?

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Consumers Energy Rebates

Rebates from Consumers Energy generally range between $500 and $800.

Consumers Energy offers rebates for adding insulation, installing a new heat pump, and other upgrades that help you save energy and money at home. Here’s what you need to know.

Am I eligible for Consumers Energy rebates?

Customer: You must be a residential gas customer of Consumers Energy.

Contractor: You’ll need to work with a Trade Ally contractor like Ecotelligent Homes. We first became a Trade Ally with Consumers Energy back in 2010. As a multi-year winner of their Excellence in Energy Efficiency Award, we stand out as one the best contractors in their network.

Tech Specs: You can leave the technical details to us. When we recommend an insulation project or new heat pump, we’ll make sure that every “t” is crossed and “i” dotted to max out your Consumers Energy rebates. You can check out the details on their website.

Timing: If you work with Ecotelligent Homes, we handle the paperwork for your rebates from Consumers Energy. If for some reason you wanted to process your own paperwork, you’d need to submit it to Consumers Energy within 30 days of installation or by December 31 of the year of installation, whichever comes first.

How much can I get from Consumers Energy rebates?

DTE Rebates

How to qualify for DTE rebates?

You can get rebates from DTE for making your home more energy-efficient. Here’s what you need to know:

Gas Customer: You’ll need to be a DTE residential natural gas customer

Trade Ally Contractor: You’ll also need to hire a Trade Ally contractor, such as Ecotelligent Homes. We’ve been working with DTE since 2010, and we’re proud to be one of the best contractors in the network.

The Project: You don’t need to worry about the technical details. We will recommend the best insulation or heat pump for your home and make sure it meets the utility standards. You can also see the details on their website.

Paperwork: We will take care of the paperwork for you. If you want to do it yourself, you have to send it to DTE within 30 days of installation or by the end of the year, whichever is sooner.

What rebates are available from DTE?

Home Energy Tax Credits in Michigan

There’s no state tax credits for making your home more energy efficient in Michigan, but you can get quite a bit back from the federal government - up to $3,200 a year for insulation and a new heat pump.

Heat pump tax credit?

Starting in 2023, homeowners can claim a tax credit of up to $2,000 for installing an energy-efficient heat pump. This credit covers the cost of the heat pump installation, including any necessary electric system upgrades to prepare your home for the heat pump.

Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters are exempt from the annual limit of $1,200 and the $600 limit on qualified energy property, unlike other energy-efficient improvements. This means that if you have already reached the tax credit limit for insulation ($1,200) and have installed a new heat pump ($2,000), you can claim a total tax credit of $3,200 in the same year.

Our team will make sure that your heat pump meets all the necessary criteria to be eligible for the heat pump tax credit. If you’d like to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at 248-291-7815.

If you’re considering another contractor, make sure to inquire whether the recommended heat pump meets or exceeds the highest efficiency tier set by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) for the year you plan to install the system. You can also check the CEE Directory of Efficient Equipment for a list of qualifying heat pumps.

Is insulating your home tax deductible?

You can get a tax credit of up to 30% of the expense (capped at $1,200 per year) for adding insulation to your attic, walls, or floors starting in 2023. Plus, you can get an extra $150 tax credit if you start with a home energy audit.

When working with Ecotelligent Homes for insulation installation, we’ll ensure that your project meets the criteria necessary to qualify for the insulation tax credit.

Be cautious when choosing an insulation contractor. In order to claim the insulation tax credit, the materials used for insulation and air sealing must comply with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards, which were applicable two years before the installation. For example, if you insulate your attic in 2025, the insulation materials must conform to the IECC standard of that year.

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