Riverside Public Utilities Rebates for AC & Heat Pumps

Riverside Public Utilities rebates help pay for four heating and air upgrades: a new high-efficiency heat pump, a new central air conditioner, a tune-up that includes a refrigerant check, and a Wi-Fi smart thermostat. They're open to RPU residential electric customers. You install first, then apply within 90 days, while funds last.

What Heating and Air Rebates Does RPU Offer?

RPU's Residential Heating and Cooling Rebate Program covers part of the cost of four upgrades for its electric customers. Magnolia Heating & Cooling has served Riverside since 1951, and these are the programs our customers ask about most:

RPU's separate Weatherization program covers attic insulation, attic and whole-house fans, and duct replacement. RPU lists efficiency as SEER, while newer equipment is rated in SEER2, so have your contractor confirm the rating qualifies. Rebate amounts are set by RPU and can change; check the current figures on RPU's page before you plan a project around them.

Who Qualifies for Riverside Public Utilities Rebates?

Only homes that get electricity from RPU qualify, and that means most homes inside Riverside city limits. Some addresses with a Riverside mailing address outside city limits are served by Southern California Edison, which runs its own programs. Your electric bill tells you which utility you have.

A few other rules apply to every RPU rebate:

• Equipment must be new. Used or relocated equipment doesn't qualify.
• New construction doesn't qualify; the programs are for existing homes.
• Rebates go to the electric customer of record. Renters can apply with the owner's signature.
• RPU may verify the installation.
• All programs are subject to available funds and can change or end without notice.

How Do You Apply for an RPU Rebate?

After the work is done, not before. RPU doesn't require pre-approval for these rebates, but it does set a firm window: the application is due within 90 days of the purchase date.

1. Choose equipment that qualifies. For a heat pump or air conditioner, confirm the outdoor unit and indoor coil are a matched pair listed in the AHRI directory at 15.2 SEER or higher.
2. Have it installed and get a detailed receipt. RPU asks for a dated receipt showing the make, model number, serial number, tonnage and efficiency rating.
3. Fill out RPU's rebate application. For heating and cooling equipment, the form asks for your contractor's name and license number.
4. Submit it within 90 days by email or mail, as listed on the form.
5. Watch your bill. Smaller rebates are applied as a bill credit, and larger ones are mailed as a check.

Ask your contractor before the job starts to put those details on the invoice, so you aren't chasing them later.

How Does the RPU Tune-Up Rebate Work?

It covers part of the cost of air conditioning or heat pump maintenance, but only if the visit includes a refrigerant level check. Not every maintenance visit or introductory special includes one, so before you book, ask whether refrigerant is checked and whether that will show on your receipt.

At Magnolia, Maintenance Membership visits include checking refrigerant along with a condenser coil wash, cleaning and vacuuming the blower compartment, and treating the condensate drain.^[4] If you book a one-time visit or a first-time special instead, ask whether the refrigerant check is part of it, because some specials leave it out. The cleaning matters as much as the check: Riverside's summer dust and fall Santa Ana winds coat outdoor coils, and a coated coil works harder for less cooling.

The rebate is modest, but it rewards the habit that keeps a system efficient. Learn more about our preventative maintenance membership.

Is There an RPU Rebate for a Smart Thermostat?

RPU offers one for a Wi-Fi-enabled programmable thermostat, listed in both its heating and cooling program and its weatherization program. A smart thermostat helps most when it's set up to match your schedule, so the system isn't cooling an empty house through a 95-degree afternoon.

Before you buy, check that the thermostat is compatible with your system, especially if you have a heat pump or a zoned home, and keep the receipt. Our guide on how to choose a new thermostat covers compatibility and features.

What Other Heat Pump Rebates Are Still Available in 2026?

Fewer than in 2025. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) applies only to improvements made through December 31, 2025, so a heat pump installed in 2026 doesn't qualify. California's statewide single-family heat pump incentives through TECH Clean California and the HEEHRA program have also been fully reserved, which leaves RPU's program as the main heat pump rebate for RPU customers this year.

Other options to know about:

• SoCalGas rebates cover gas equipment, such as a high-efficiency ENERGY STAR furnace.
• Income-qualified households may get no-cost tune-ups, thermostats, insulation and duct sealing through the Energy Savings Assistance Program, which RPU runs with SoCalGas. You qualify through SoCalGas first.
• Heat pumps can lower bills on their own. In Riverside's climate, a heat pump replaces both the air conditioner and a gas furnace's heating. Our post on whether a heat pump will save you money walks through the math without the rebate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need pre-approval for an RPU rebate?

No. RPU's heating and cooling rebates are applied for after installation. The application must be submitted within 90 days of the purchase date, with a dated receipt.

Can I get an RPU rebate if I'm an SCE customer?

No. RPU rebates are for RPU electric customers only. If Southern California Edison is your electric provider, check SCE's programs instead.

Does RPU give rebates for a new furnace?

RPU's heating rebate is for electric heat pumps. Gas furnaces fall under SoCalGas, which offers rebates on qualifying high-efficiency ENERGY STAR furnaces.

How long does it take to get an RPU rebate?

Timing varies with volume. Smaller rebates show up as a credit on your utility bill, and larger ones are mailed as a check. Keep a copy of everything you submit.

Does my contractor have to be licensed to get the rebate?

RPU's application asks for your contractor's name and license number, so plan on using a licensed contractor. Magnolia pulls permits for its installations. Ask for the make, model, serial number, tonnage and efficiency rating on your invoice so it's ready for the application.

Plan Your Upgrade With Magnolia

Thinking about a heat pump, a new air conditioner or a smart thermostat this year? Magnolia can size the system with a proper load calculation, walk you through which options qualify for RPU rebates, and tell you what to have on your invoice when you apply. Learn more about heat pump installation in Riverside.

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