HVAC Rebates and Tax Credits in South Carolina: What to Check

HVAC rebates in South Carolina come down to one short list as of October 2026. The federal 25C tax credit has ended, the state's HEAR and HOMES rebates were still being set up and your electric utility is the most likely source of money.

Programs change, so treat everything here as dated information and confirm it with the program before you buy.

Start with your electric bill, not with an equipment brochure. Your provider decides which rules apply, and we cannot tell you which utility serves a given address.

Which HVAC rebates in South Carolina can you use now?

This table summarizes what we found as of October 2026. Amounts below are the programs' figures, not discounts from Aero Air Techs, and the Dominion amounts are as reported by third parties, so read the official page before relying on them.

Program	Who it is for	Reported amount, October 2026	Status and where to confirm
Dominion Energy South Carolina rebates, AC or heat pump	Its residential electric customers	$400 to $500 rebate reported	Confirm on Dominion's rebate page
Dominion electric furnace to heat pump	Its customers with an electric furnace	$650 rebate reported	Confirm on Dominion's electric furnace page
Dominion ductwork improvements	Its customers in existing homes	Up to $300 rebate reported	Confirm on Dominion's rebate page
Santee Cooper Smart Energy heat pumps	Its own customers	$300 to $400 per system rebate listed	Confirm on Santee Cooper's heat pump page
Federal Section 25C tax credit	Nobody for 2026 installs	Ended	Not available after December 31, 2025
State HEAR and HOMES	Income limits apply	Not confirmed	Check energy.sc.gov/rebates

What happened to the federal tax credit?

It is over for new installs. Under 26 U.S.C. 25C(i), the credit does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Before that date, the 25C credit offered up to $2,000 for heat pumps. The IRS FAQ on the change says the same.

Watch for old advice. Many web pages, and some sales pitches, still mention the credit as if it were live. If someone counts a 2026 tax credit in your numbers, ask them to show where it comes from. For anything about your own return, talk to a tax preparer.

Are the state HEAR and HOMES rebates open?

We could not confirm that they are, as of October 2026. The SC Energy Office describes both as still being set up, with a statewide launch targeted for 2026. Income limits apply.

Third-party sites disagree with each other on the status, and some advertise large amounts as if they were available today. Trust the Energy Office page over those. If you can wait on a working system, check that page before you buy, and ask the office whether work finished before launch would count. If your system is down in July, do not plan around a program that has not opened.

What does Dominion Energy South Carolina require?

The rebates are aimed at existing homes and tied to ENERGY STAR equipment. Reports we reviewed, which you should confirm on Dominion's page, describe these rules as of October 2026:

• Qualifying work. ENERGY STAR central ACs and heat pumps, electric furnace to heat pump swaps and ductwork improvements.
• Timing. Equipment must be installed before you apply, and applications are reported as due within 90 days with an invoice.
• Installer. DIY installs do not qualify, and a licensed contractor must do the work.

Ask any contractor for a license number and check it on the SC LLR lookup before you sign. Do that for every bidder, including us. Dominion's rule is the program's rule, and it is worth checking yourself.

What does Santee Cooper require?

Santee Cooper's rebates are for its own customers, so this applies only if its name is on your bill. Its heat pump page lists $300 to $400 per system for qualifying split and packaged heat pumps as of October 2026, with higher program amounts for some hybrid units. Three conditions stand out.

• Installer. A Santee Cooper Trade Ally must install the heat pump. Ask any contractor whether they are on that list.
• Deadline. Its 2026 program manual runs through November 30, 2026, and says funds are limited. Check what the next program year offers if you will miss that date.
• Fuel. The manual says rebates are not available for fuel switching, such as a gas system moving to electric.

Berkeley Electric Cooperative also serves part of this area. Its 2026 programs flyer describes member programs, so call the co-op to confirm what applies. Other providers, including town and co-op systems, set their own rules.

Why do rebate applications get turned down?

Most refusals come down to paperwork or timing, and most of them are avoidable. Program rules differ, so treat this as a list of things to check and not as any program's exact terms.

• The address is outside the territory. The account on the application has to match the utility paying the rebate.
• The equipment was not on the list. A close match is not enough, so check the exact outdoor and indoor model numbers together.
• The system was paired wrongly. Ratings belong to the matched set, and a new condenser on an old coil may not hold the rated SEER2.
• The deadline passed. Reports on Dominion's program mention a window of about 90 days.
• The invoice was vague. A total with no model numbers or install date gives a reviewer nothing to confirm.
• The installer did not qualify. Reports say Dominion needs a licensed contractor, and Santee Cooper names its Trade Allies.

Photograph the data plates on the day of the install. That one habit fixes several of these before they start.

How do you weigh a rebate against the higher price?

Do the sum before you let a rebate choose your equipment. Some programs ask for a higher efficiency tier, and that tier may cost more than the rebate pays. Ask for two prices on one quote: the model at the rebate tier and the model just below it. Subtract the rebate, then compare what is left.

Look at the rest of the job too. If the ducts leak, the better use of the money may be sealing them first, and reports say Dominion's list includes ductwork improvements in existing homes. A smaller, well-sized system on sound ducts can beat a higher-rated one on bad ducts in a Charleston summer.

What if your utility is not named here?

Call it. Berkeley Electric Cooperative serves parts of this area, and co-ops often run their own efficiency programs. Their offers can change from year to year, so ask for the current terms in writing. Municipal utilities, such as Orangeburg's Department of Public Utilities, set their own rules too. Your bill names the right office, and that is the only one that counts.

Does a rebate change what to buy on Sullivan's Island?

It should not change the basics. A rebate is a few hundred dollars, and the wrong unit on a salt-exposed lot costs far more over its life. On Sullivan's Island, put corrosion protection, correct sizing and placement first, then check whether that model qualifies.

Rated efficiency sets eligibility, so a model number matters. Ask for the exact indoor and outdoor model numbers on the quote, because a heat pump is rated as a matched pair. Oceanfront homes also need a check on flood rules before equipment goes back in the same spot, since each town sets its own. Our notes on coastal corrosion AC repair cover what salt does to a coil.

Our short version before you sign for new equipment

Do these in order, and you will avoid most rebate problems.

1. Read your bill and find your electric provider.
2. Open that program's page and note its date, amounts and deadline.
3. Get the model numbers on a written quote, then confirm that exact match qualifies.
4. Ask who files the paperwork. Many programs leave the application to the homeowner.
5. Keep the itemized invoice and the install date.
6. Apply right away. Do not let a 90-day window run out over a missing receipt.

Do not let a rebate decide the repair-or-replace question either. A few hundred dollars rarely turns a poor replacement into a good one. If a sound system needs only a repair, the repair may still be the better spend. If the ducts leak, a duct repair may do more for your bill than a higher-rated unit.

We quote before work begins, and we can walk you through heat pump installation or AC replacement options so you can check them against a program. We are based in Charleston, and Sullivan's Island sits inside the area we serve. Confirm the rebate with the program itself, since it has the final word.