The calculator
Run the xcel rebate eligibility checker
Pick the services you're considering, your utility, and a few qualifying conditions. The checker matches your scope against the active 2026 Xcel programs and flags Power Ahead Colorado and the City of Golden Rebate Match where applicable.
Your project
Three or more measures qualify for the Whole Home Efficiency Bonus (25% on all standard rebates, within two years of enrolling).
Pairs insulation + air sealing with a heat pump install for the Combo Bonus (envelope work first, within two years of the heat pump by invoice dates). Xcel publishes the current bonus amount on its own program page.
According to Xcel Energy, the participating-contractor symbol marks a program that requires customers to use an Xcel Energy participating contractor to install the equipment or make the improvement.
How this works
How does the xcel rebate eligibility checker work?
The checker matches your selected services and qualifying conditions against the 2026 Xcel rebate programs documented in our August 2026 verification of the Xcel program pages. It names the programs your scope may qualify for; it does not estimate an amount. Actual payouts depend on the specific scope, R-value targets met, and program funding levels at the time of project completion. Xcel issues rebates as checks after application — budget for the full invoice up front.
Calibrated against the Xcel Insulation and Air Sealing program documentation as of June 2026. Re-verify with your participating contractor before scoping a project.
According to the Colorado Energy Office, “the HEAR single-family program is now closed for both Region 1 (the Front Range) and Region 2 (All Other Counties).”
Get a quote
Get a Quote Based on Your Numbers
We've Got It. Here's What Happens Next.
We've got your info and are routing it to a local pro. When they call, here's what to look for in the quote you receive: (1) R-value target — the 2021 IECC sets a ceiling minimum of R-60 in Climate Zone 5 (Table R402.1.3); R-49 qualifies only where uncompressed insulation extends full-height over the top plate at the eaves. (2) Air sealing scope — insulation and air sealing work together; sealing the leaks first is what lets the insulation do its job. If a quote skips both, get another quote. The federal IRA Section 25C tax credit ended December 31, 2025, and Colorado's HEAR single-family program is now closed for both Region 1 (the Front Range) and Region 2. Xcel Energy programs are the ones still paying on Denver-area insulation projects in 2026.
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Frequently asked
What do Denver homeowners ask about this calculator?
Should I use this calculator if my home was built after 2010?
Possibly — but interpret the output cautiously. Post-2010 Denver homes were built to the code edition in force at the time, which set a lower ceiling minimum than the R-60 the 2021 IECC requires — so a newer home can be code-legal as built and still sit short of today's target. Most calculator scenarios assume pre-1990 baselines and may overstate the project value for newer homes. If your bills are normal and your comfort is fine, the honest answer is usually: hold the money. The 10-15 year mark is when even code-compliant homes start showing settled batts.
Do you handle new construction insulation?
We focus on retrofit insulation for existing Denver homes. New construction insulation typically goes through your general contractor or builder, and the process is different — pricing structures, code compliance steps, and project timing all work differently for new builds. If you're working on a new build, we can refer you to a partner with new-construction experience.
Does this checker include the federal IRA Section 25C credit?
No — it expired December 31, 2025, accelerated by the One Big Beautiful Bill (Public Law 119-21). Colorado's HEAR single-family program is also closed, in both Region 1 (the Front Range) and Region 2. Xcel Energy programs are the ones still paying in 2026.
Why does the Whole Home Efficiency Bonus require 3+ measures?
Xcel structures the bonus to reward whole-home retrofits over single-measure jobs, since envelope improvements interact (insulation works better with air sealing, both work better with HVAC tuning). Three measures bundled within two years qualifies; a single attic top-up does not.
What does the Combo Bonus pair with?
Rebate-qualifying insulation and air sealing installed before a qualifying space-heating heat pump, within two years of each other by invoice dates. Designed to encourage envelope improvements before electrification — better for the homeowner (smaller heat pump suffices), better for the grid. The qualifying heat pump must follow the envelope work; confirm current program status with your participating contractor before scoping. Xcel publishes the current bonus amount on its own program pages.
How do Xcel's income-qualified programs work?
Eligibility is set out on Xcel's own program pages. Worth checking even if you're unsure.
When does Power Ahead Colorado launch?
Confirm current status directly at drcog.org or poweraheadcolorado.org — published terms have changed as the program has moved toward launch. The published incentive policy funds heat pump and heat pump water heater incentives. It appears in this checker as a coming-soon flag only; DRCOG's Building Decarbonization newsletter is the notification path.