JCP&L Clean Comfort Heat Pump Rebates: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
If you are a JCP&L electric customer in an existing single-family home that heats with natural gas, oil or propane, JCP&L's Clean Comfort program can pay a substantial share of a heat pump installation. As of October 2026, the program's rebate form lists up to the lesser of $10,000 or 50% of project cost for a full switch to a cold-climate air-source heat pump, and up to the lesser of $12,000 or 60% for income-qualified households. The work must be installed between 1 February 2026 and 30 June 2027, and the paperwork is detailed. This guide explains who qualifies, what the rebate tiers look like, and how to apply without losing the rebate to a missing document.
What Clean Comfort is
Clean Comfort is Jersey Central Power & Light's residential building decarbonization program, run through its energysaveNJ program site. Its purpose is to help households move from fossil-fuel heating and appliances to efficient electric equipment. The heating side of the program centres on heat pumps, but the program also covers related measures such as heat pump water heaters and, in some cases, electrical panel work done alongside other qualifying upgrades.
It sits alongside, not inside, other New Jersey programs. If you are a PSE&G electric customer, a different utility program applies. The rules below are specific to JCP&L.
Who qualifies
According to the 2026 rebate application, the main eligibility rules are:
- You must be a New Jersey residential customer of JCP&L. Your gas provider can be a different company.
- The home must be an existing single-family home. Equipment installed in newly constructed homes is not eligible.
- If you are replacing heating, the existing system must run on a fossil fuel. The form lists natural gas, oil and propane.
- The equipment must not already have received incentives from another efficiency program for the same units.
- Installation must be done by a qualified contractor, and the invoice must be dated within the program window of 1 February 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Homes that already heat with electric resistance heat, or new builds, should look at other options rather than assume Clean Comfort applies.
Rebate tiers at a glance
The figures below come from JCP&L's 2026 Clean Comfort rebate application, as of October 2026. Program terms can change, so confirm the current form before you sign a contract.
| Project type | Standard customers | Income-qualified customers |
|---|---|---|
| Full displacement: cold-climate air-source heat pump replaces the fossil-fuel system | Lesser of $10,000 or 50% of project cost | Lesser of $12,000 or 60% of project cost |
| Partial displacement: heat pump works alongside the existing system (dual fuel) | Lower tier, up to $5,000 or 50% of project cost | Up to $6,000 or 60% of project cost |
Two points matter here. First, the rebate is capped by a percentage of project cost, so on a smaller project the percentage limit, not the dollar figure, may decide what you receive. Second, the larger full-displacement rebate comes with a condition: the existing fossil-fuel heating equipment must be decommissioned.
Income-qualified rebates
The enhanced tier is for low- to moderate-income households. The rebate form describes eligibility up to 400% of federal poverty guidelines, with automatic qualification for households enrolled in programs such as SNAP, LIHEAP or Lifeline. Qualification can also be based on census tract. JCP&L may ask for proof of income.
Equipment requirements
The program is strict about what counts as a qualifying heat pump. For the cold-climate tier, the 2026 form requires that:
- The unit, ducted or ductless, is on the NEEP (Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships) cold-climate heat pump list or meets the current NEEP specification at the time of installation, and you submit a copy of the NEEP listing.
- The system is sized to cover 100% of the home's heating load, based on a Manual J load calculation, for full displacement.
- Equipment meets the efficiency ratings listed on the form, and AHRI certificates are provided.
Sizing is where projects most often go wrong, and not only for rebate reasons. A heat pump sized for the coldest days, from a real room-by-room calculation, is what keeps a New Jersey home comfortable in January. A rule-of-thumb quote based on the old furnace's size is a warning sign.
Full or partial displacement: which makes sense?
The full-displacement tier pays more, but it is not the right answer for every home.
Full displacement suits you if your ductwork is in good shape or your home suits ductless units, your old boiler or furnace is near the end of its life, and you are ready to rely on electric heat all winter. A properly sized cold-climate heat pump is built for that job.
Partial displacement may suit you if your gas furnace is relatively new, you want a backup fuel for the coldest nights, or your electrical service cannot yet support a full electric heating load. The rebate is smaller, but so is the change.
Be honest about the trade-offs. Decommissioning means the old system is gone, so there is no fallback. On the other hand, keeping a fossil-fuel system means continuing to maintain it and, with gas, keeping the service connection and its fixed monthly charges.
How to apply, step by step
- Check your eligibility first. Confirm you are a JCP&L residential customer in an existing single-family home heated by gas, oil or propane.
- Get a load calculation and quote. Ask for a Manual J calculation and confirm the proposed model appears on the NEEP list.
- Take "before" photos. Clear before-and-after photos of the old and new equipment are required. Take them before anything is removed.
- Complete installation within the window. The paid invoice must be dated between 1 February 2026 and 30 June 2027.
- Collect the documents. The form asks for an itemized paid invoice showing equipment, installation dates, prices, and model and serial numbers; AHRI certificates; the NEEP listing; permits; photos; and, for full displacement, a signed Decommissioning Guidance Form with photos of the decommissioning steps.
- Submit the application using the method on the current form. The 2026 form directs applications to energysaveNJ by email, while the program page also lists a mailing address, so check which applies before you send.
Incomplete applications delay processing. Keep copies of everything you send.
Electrical panel upgrades
Some homes need electrical work before a heat pump can be added. The 2026 Clean Comfort form includes rebates for panel upgrades, but only when the upgrade is installed together with other Clean Comfort measures, and amounts differ for standard and income-qualified customers. Check the current form for the figures that apply to you, and ask your installer early whether your panel has capacity.
What the program does not change
A rebate lowers the upfront cost, but it does not change how the system performs or what it costs to run. Running cost depends on your electricity rate, your current fuel price, how well the home holds heat, and how the system is set up. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which once covered heat pumps, is not available for property placed in service after 31 December 2025, so do not count on it for a 2026 installation.
The heat pump installation itself, done well, is what makes the investment work. Summit Air's heat pump installation service starts with a look at your home and your heating needs.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the JCP&L Clean Comfort heat pump rebate?
As of October 2026, the rebate form lists up to the lesser of $10,000 or 50% of project cost for a full switch to a cold-climate heat pump, or up to $12,000 or 60% for income-qualified customers.
What are the program dates?
The paid invoice must be dated between 1 February 2026 and 30 June 2027.
Can I keep my gas furnace as a backup?
Yes, under the partial-displacement tier, but the rebate is lower. The full-displacement rebate requires decommissioning the fossil-fuel system.
Do new homes qualify?
No. The program is for existing single-family homes; equipment in newly constructed homes is not eligible.
Does any heat pump qualify?
No. Cold-climate units must be on the NEEP list or meet the current NEEP specification, and you must submit the listing with your application.
Where do I confirm current terms?
Visit energysaveNJ.com/CleanComfort or call the program at 855-449-3090 before you commit to a project.
Related services
- Heat pump installation
- Ductless mini-split installation
- Financing
Plan your heat pump project with Summit Air
Thinking about a heat pump and wondering how Clean Comfort fits? Book a free consultation with Summit Air Heating & Cooling. We will look at your home and your current system, walk you through full and partial heat pump options, and explain how financing can spread the cost. Contact us to schedule your consultation.
Program figures and terms in this article are as of October 2026. Sources: JCP&L Clean Comfort program page and 2026 Residential Building Decarbonization rebate application (energysaveNJ); IRS guidance on the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. Rebates are set by JCP&L and can change; confirm current terms on the program's own page before you decide.
