If you are replacing an AC or heat pump in 2026, there is no federal tax credit any more. The money that is left comes from your electric utility, and in some states from a federally funded rebate run by the state. None of it is automatic, and most of it has to be lined up before the system goes in.
The short version
- Federal tax credit (25C): ended for systems installed after 31 December 2025.
- Utility rebates: still running. In Florida they range from $40 to $1,000 depending on your utility, the system and its efficiency.
- Florida's federal rebate programme (HEEHR / HOMES): announced but not open yet. You can register for updates.
- The number most programmes ask for: 15.2 SEER2 or higher, proved by the AHRI certified reference number for your exact condenser and air handler pair.
What ended: the federal tax credit
The Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit covered systems placed in service from 2023 through 31 December 2025. If your system went in during 2025 you may still claim it on that year's return. For anything installed now, it does not apply. Our 2026 tax credit guide has the detail and the sources. We can't give tax advice, so check with a tax professional for your situation.
Florida utility rebates right now
These are the residential HVAC programmes on each utility's own site as of the review date above.
| Utility | What it pays | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| FPL | $200 instant rebate on a new central AC or heat pump | 15.2 SEER2 or higher, indoor and outdoor units replaced together, installed by an FPL Participating Independent Contractor, who takes it off their invoice. Single-zone mini-splits excluded. FPL programme page |
| Duke Energy Florida | $300 to replace an AC $500 to replace a heat pump $600 or $1,000 to replace strip heat with a heat pump |
15.2 SEER2 for the AC and standard tiers, plus 7.5 HSPF2 on heat pumps. The $1,000 tier needs 16 SEER2. A free Home Energy Check must happen before the work. Your own licensed contractor is allowed. Whole home must be electric heat and cool. Duke programme page |
| Tampa Electric (TECO) | $40 at 15.2 SEER2 $550 at 16.2 SEER2 |
Ducted systems only, mini-splits excluded. The contractor takes it off the invoice. TECO programme page |
| LCEC (Lee County Electric Cooperative) | No AC or heat pump rebate found | We could not find a current equipment rebate on LCEC's site. Programmes change, so it is worth a call to member services before you buy. lcec.net |
Other Florida utilities, including JEA, OUC and the municipal utilities, run their own programmes. Search your utility's own website rather than a listing site. Third-party rebate sites often show old amounts. While researching this page we found figures for these same utilities that were years out of date.
Florida's federal rebate programme: not open yet
Florida has about $346 million in federal funding for two income-based home rebate programmes, HEEHR and HOMES. The state says they are "expected to launch in the future." When they open, a household can receive up to $14,000, applied as a discount through a qualified contractor. Households earning more than 150% of the area median income won't qualify.
No launch date has been announced. You can register for updates on the Florida Energy Saver Program site, run by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Outside Florida
The same three places apply everywhere:
- Your electric utility. Usually the biggest and most reliable source. Heat pumps are often the best-funded category.
- Your state energy office. Many states run their own version of the same federal home rebate programmes, and some have opened while others have not.
- The manufacturer. Trane and others run seasonal promotions, but they normally need a participating dealer to install. They rarely apply to equipment bought separately from the installer.
One database covers most of it. DSIRE, run by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, lists utility, state and local programmes by ZIP code. Use it to find what exists near you, then confirm the terms on the programme's own page.
The mistake that costs people the rebate
Many programmes need something done before the system goes in. Duke needs its Home Energy Check first. FPL and TECO need the rebate applied by the installing contractor on their invoice. Once the system is in, you usually can't go back.
So the order matters. Find the programme, read its rules, confirm your installer can process it, then buy and install.
When buying the equipment yourself may cost you a rebate
This is worth being straight about. FPL's $200 and TECO's rebates are paid through the installing contractor and credited on their invoice. If you buy the equipment from us and hire an installer for the labour only, ask that installer up front whether they will process the utility rebate on equipment you supply. Some will and some won't.
Duke Energy Florida lets you choose your own licensed contractor, so buying the equipment yourself and installing with your own contractor can still qualify, as long as the Home Energy Check comes first.
For a $200 rebate, buying the equipment yourself often still comes out ahead. For a $1,000 one, do the sums before you decide.
Which of our systems clear the usual bar
Most Florida utility rebates start at 15.2 SEER2, and that rating belongs to the condenser and air handler pair, not the condenser's series name.
- Built to the 15.2 SEER2 tier: Trane 5TTR6 and 5TWR6 systems and RunTru A5AC5 and A5HP5 systems. Some Trane pairs with the Hyperion 5TAM5 air handler rate higher.
- Won't qualify: the 14.3 SEER2 lines (Trane 5TTR4 and 5TWR4, RunTru A5AC4 and A5HP4, Everwell CAC-15). They are good value but sit below most rebate thresholds.
Because the exact rating depends on the pair and the tonnage, check your specific pairing with our AHRI match checker before counting on a rebate. It gives the certified SEER2 and the AHRI reference number the programme will ask for.
What every programme will ask for
- The AHRI certified reference number for your exact condenser and air handler pair.
- Both model numbers, outdoor and indoor.
- An itemised invoice showing what was bought and when.
- Installer details, usually including a Florida license number.
- The installation date, which is not the same as the purchase date.
What we can do, and what we won't
We'll give you everything the paperwork needs: the AHRI reference number, both model numbers, the certified ratings for your pair, and an itemised invoice.
What we won't do is tell you what you qualify for. Terms vary by utility, by year and sometimes by address. The programme administrator is the only one who can confirm it, and they'll answer the phone.
Questions?
If a programme is asking for a number you can't find on your paperwork, send us the model numbers and we'll look it up.
(239) 266-9766 · sales@hvacsupplypro.com · Mon–Fri 8am–5pm ET