The Battery Tax Credit Expired. Here's What Still Pays in 2026.
By the HomeGridHQ Research Team · Updated July 16, 2026 · Sources on every program page
What actually happened
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, terminated the two credits that had anchored home electrification economics for a decade: Section 25D (30% back on solar, batteries, and geothermal, uncapped) and Section 25C (up to $2,000/year for heat pumps). No phase-down, no grandfather window for 2026 installs — if your system wasn't placed in service by New Year's Eve 2025, the federal government's contribution is zero.
Here's the part most coverage missed: state and utility money didn't go anywhere. If anything it got more important, because it's now the only line item between sticker price and what you pay. The catch is that these programs run on fixed budgets, and post-expiration demand is draining them — California's SGIP residential categories are waitlisted and Colorado's Front Range heat pump funds were fully reserved by April 2026. A program that's open this month may not be next month, which is why every figure below carries a verification date.
Battery programs still paying (verified July 2026)
| State | What you get | Status |
|---|---|---|
| California | $200/kWh standard; up to $1,000/kWh equity/fire-risk | 🟡 Residential ratepayer budgets closed to new applicants; RSSE equity budget exhausted - waitlist only |
| Massachusetts | $225-$275 per kW enrolled, paid every year | 🟢 Open |
| Connecticut | Up to $16,000 upfront + ongoing dispatch payments | 🟢 Open |
| New York | $150-$250 per kWh upfront | 🟢 Open - region-dependent block funding |
| Vermont | Up to $10,500 per battery | 🟢 Open to GMP customers |
| Maryland | 30% state tax credit, capped at $5,000 | 🟢 Open - annual program cap, apply early |
| Hawaii | $5,000+ in combined upfront and bill credits | 🟢 Open - capacity-limited by island |
Heat pump programs still paying
| State | What you get | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Up to $8,000 HEAR + $2,250/ton Xcel + $1,000 state credit | 🟡 HEAR: Front Range single-family funding fully reserved as of April 2026; rest of state open |
| Georgia | Up to $16,000 depending on income and energy savings | 🟢 Open |
| Maine | Tiered rebates, largest for income-qualified whole-home conversions | 🟢 Open |
How to play it in 2026
Three moves we'd make, in order. First, check your state's page above — if you're in a capped-budget state with an open program, apply before contracting anything else; the queue position is free. Second, get multiple installer quotes through a marketplace so installers price against each other; without the federal credit softening everything, quote spreads matter more than they did. Third, if your state pays nothing, the math shifts toward portable 240V units — a Delta Pro 3 or F3800 Plus delivers essential-circuit backup at a third of installed-system cost, with no installer, no permits, and no program paperwork at all.
Not sure which path fits your house?
Size your actual load first — it decides whether you're a portable-unit home or an installed-battery home better than any incentive does.
Run the sizing calculator →Frequently asked questions
When exactly did the battery tax credit expire?
December 31, 2025. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, terminated both the 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit (30% on batteries and solar) and the 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (heat pumps, insulation). Systems placed in service on or before that date still qualify on 2025 returns.
Can I still claim the credit if I installed in 2025 but file in 2026?
Yes — eligibility follows the placed-in-service date, not the filing date. A battery commissioned December 2025 is claimed on your 2025 return (filed in 2026) using Form 5695.
Will the federal credit come back?
No one knows, and we don't publish predictions. What we track instead is money that exists right now: ten state and utility programs paying up to $16,000, several of which are burning through capped budgets — which argues against waiting.
Do state incentives cover portable power stations?
Almost never — programs like SGIP, ConnectedSolutions, and Energy Storage Solutions require professionally installed, grid-interactive systems. Portables compete on sticker price instead, which is why brand sales matter more than rebates in that category.