Short answer
As of October 2026 we found no open water heater rebate for most Cleveland homeowners. The Illuminating Company's $500 heat pump water heater rebate ran only until May 2024. Enbridge Gas Ohio lists energy tips and an income-eligible weatherization program, not appliance rebates. The federal 25C tax credit ended for installs after 2025.
Key facts
- FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities, including The Illuminating Company, offered a $500 rebate on ENERGY STAR heat pump water heaters under a plan that ran until May 2024.[1]
- The Ohio Consumers' Counsel lists Enbridge Gas Ohio's efficiency offerings as online energy saving tips and the income-eligible Housewarming weatherization program.[2]
- The federal 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.[4]
Who supplies energy in the Cleveland area?
Rebates come from the utility that serves your address, so start there. In much of Cuyahoga County:
| Service | Usual provider | Water heater rebate found (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | The Illuminating Company (a FirstEnergy utility), named on Euclid's aggregation page[6] | None open. The $500 heat pump water heater rebate ran until May 2024[1] |
| Electricity (parts of Cleveland) | Cleveland Public Power, a city utility | Not verified. Ask the utility |
| Electricity (Cuyahoga Falls) | Cuyahoga Falls Electric System | No. Its $100 appliance rebate covers only refrigerators and washing machines[5] |
| Natural gas | Enbridge Gas Ohio, named on Euclid's gas aggregation page[7] | None listed. Income-eligible Housewarming weatherization only[2] |
| Federal tax credit (25C) | IRS | Ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025[4] |
Your bill names your actual utilities. If you are in a city with an aggregation program, the delivery utility is still the one that would run any rebate.
What happened to the Illuminating Company rebate?
In June 2023, FirstEnergy announced that its three Ohio utilities, Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison, were offering energy efficiency programs again. Residential customers could get $500 for an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater. The programs ran under the companies' electric security plan until May 2024[1].
We found no current heat pump water heater rebate from The Illuminating Company in the sources we checked. Pages that still quote the $500 figure are usually out of date. Confirm on the utility's own site before you buy a unit because of a rebate.
Does Enbridge Gas Ohio offer a water heater rebate?
The Ohio Consumers' Counsel's fact sheet on Enbridge's efficiency programs lists two things: online energy saving tips, and the Housewarming Program, an income-eligible weatherization program run with CHN Housing Partners that covers items such as weather-stripping, insulation and door sweeps[2]. It does not list a water heater rebate[2].
Watch for out-of-state figures. Enbridge also serves customers outside Ohio. Rebate dollar amounts posted online under the Enbridge name may belong to those other programs, and an out-of-state program does not apply to an Enbridge Gas Ohio account.
Why Ohio has so few rebates
Ohio House Bill 6 (2019) ended the state's mandated utility energy efficiency programs. AES Ohio, for example, says its programs ended on December 31, 2020, in compliance with HB 6[3]. Since then, any program is voluntary or part of a utility's rate plan, which is why the FirstEnergy rebate had an end date[1].
Ohio's federally funded home energy rebate programs had not been confirmed open to homeowners when we checked. If you qualify by income, ask the Ohio Department of Development whether anything has launched.
Is a heat pump water heater still worth it without a rebate?
That depends on your electric rate, your gas rate and where the unit would go. Without a rebate or the federal credit, the payback rests on operating savings alone. See heat pump water heaters for space and temperature needs, which matter in an unheated Cleveland basement.
One rule change is coming regardless. The U.S. Department of Energy's consumer water heater standard takes effect for units made on or after May 6, 2029[8]. See DOE water heater rules for what changes and what does not.
How to check before you buy
- Find the electric and gas utility names on your bills.
- Read each utility's own residential programs page, not a third-party rebate list.
- If you are income-eligible, ask about Enbridge's Housewarming Program[2].
- Ask your plumber whether any rebate applies. Get the program name in writing, then confirm it yourself.
When to call a pro
- Switching from a gas tank to a heat pump unit: it may need a new circuit and a condensate drain.
- Switching to tankless gas, which can need a larger gas line and new venting.
- Any replacement in Cleveland, which needs a plumbing permit. See Cleveland water heater permits.
- A unit that is leaking or more than 10 years old, where planning ahead beats an emergency swap.
More questions
I saw an Enbridge water heater rebate online. Does it apply in Cleveland?
Probably not. Enbridge runs gas utilities in several states, and rebate figures posted under its name may come from programs outside Ohio. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel lists no water heater rebate for Enbridge Gas Ohio. Check any offer on the Enbridge Gas Ohio site itself before you count on it.
Can I still claim the 30% federal tax credit on a heat pump water heater?
Not for a unit placed in service in 2026. The IRS says the 25C credit does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Some cost pages have not been updated and still mention it.
What if my electricity comes from Cleveland Public Power?
We have not verified any water heater program from Cleveland Public Power. Call the utility or check its own website before you buy.
Sources
- FirstEnergy's Ohio electric companies resume energy efficiency programs (June 22, 2023), FirstEnergy Corp.. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Enbridge's efficiency programs (fact sheet), Ohio Consumers' Counsel. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Mandated end of energy efficiency programs, AES Ohio. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D and others under Public Law 119-21, Internal Revenue Service. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- New energy efficient appliance rebates, City of Cuyahoga Falls. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Electric aggregation program, City of Euclid. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Natural gas aggregation, City of Euclid. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Consumer water heaters, U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed 2026-10-06.
Water Heater Facts is an information and referral service run by Strive LeadGen LLC. We may be paid by contractors when we connect a homeowner with one; that never changes what we publish. Found an error? Tell us. We review safety and legal reports within 2 business days and all others within 7 days.