Methodology
WattRebate is a pre-purchase reference—not an application portal. This page shows how we model federal caps, why estimates are not approvals, and what to verify on official sites before you sign a contract or pay a deposit.
Why homeowners use this site
Readers across 50 state guides and 52 utility pages typically follow the same sequence: check launch status and pre-approval on official portals, compare modeled caps in calculators, then use the pre-contract checklist on state pages before committing to a quote. That pattern matches how rebate programs actually work—verification first, subsidy dollars only after official approval.
How we earn trust (and what we will not claim)
- Every guide links out to state energy offices, DOE, ENERGY STAR, IRS, and utility rebate pages—not lead forms or undisclosed installers.
- Federal rules are checked against DOE, ENERGY STAR, and IRS source pages; state pages against program administrators and launch-status pages when published.
- Calculator outputs are labeled as modeled scenarios; we deliberately do not display “approved rebate” totals.
- Last reviewed dates show when page data was refreshed—they do not mean funding is open, your household qualifies, or a quoted amount will be paid.
- Corrections are welcome at support@wattrebate.com; transparency beats overstating certainty.
What is modeled on calculators and tables
- HEAR national maximum rebate caps and income-tier cost-share rules.
- HOMES whole-home efficiency as a verification path rather than a fixed payout.
- 2026 tax-credit timing notes based on current IRS guidance.
- Utility-specific pages from known service areas and official rebate URLs.
- State context: climate, likely upgrade order, and which utilities have dedicated guides.
What you lose by skipping official verification
Signing without confirming the items below does not create eligibility. Use the rebate stacking checklist and HEAR rollout tracker alongside state pages. Funding, waitlists, and equipment lists change between quote day and install day—the cost of skipping verification is often a denied application or a rebate line treated as cash in hand when only an estimate was modeled.
- State program launch status, reservations, and remaining funding.
- Household income qualification and area median income thresholds.
- Approved product lists, contractor rules, and pre-approval before work starts.
- Utility territory, account-holder name, and rate-plan impacts.
- Tax-credit eligibility and placed-in-service dates (including 30C timing for EV chargers).
What WattRebate does not do
- Submit rebate applications or reserve program funding.
- Provide tax, legal, contractor, or financial advice.
- Guarantee eligibility, rebate approval, product qualification, or remaining funds.
- Replace official income verification, approved contractor lists, or utility service-area checks.