 Dear Friend,
As temperatures warm up, you might be getting ready to crank up the AC and want to find ways to bring down your energy bill. I want to share a game-changing new initiative that I announced last month to help families across Michigan save money on monthly utility costs, protect our clean air and water, and upgrade their homes.
The new Michigan Home Energy Rebates Program (MiHER) will help up to 15,000 households across Michigan make home energy efficiency upgrades, from improved insulation and air sealing to high-efficiency heating and AC. In Michigan, 86% of the energy used in our homes goes toward heating, cooling, cooking, and refrigeration. That’s why MiHER offers households up to $14,000 in rebates so they can replace old or broken-down appliances with new heat pumps, electric stoves, and water heaters to reduce energy use.
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MiHER will help ensure more Michigan families, especially those struggling with high energy bills, get the resources they need to lower their energy costs while cleaning the air they breathe and the water they drink. It will also support and sustain thousands of good-paying, blue-collar jobs in energy efficiency and home construction in your community.
I encourage you to see if you are eligible to make your home more energy efficient with MiHER and check out other ways you can save on energy costs this summer below.
Let’s continue working together to build a stronger, cleaner, and more affordable Michigan, one home at a time.
Sincerely,
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
 Michigan Home Energy Rebates (MiHER)
Home energy rebates are now available to Michigan residents to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes, helping reduce energy costs and make our state cleaner and more affordable.
This program is part of a broader effort that includes raising Michigan’s five-year housing production goal by over 50% and investing federal funds to lower energy costs for 28,000 low-income households through the Solar for All and Home Energy Rebate Programs. Together, these initiatives will reduce housing and utility costs for Michiganders and bring us closer to achieving the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.
To find out if you qualify and how to apply, visit the official MiHER website:
The amount of funding a home is eligible for varies depending on: your household's income, identified energy efficiency upgrades for the home, estimated energy savings, rebate limits (established by the U.S. Department of Energy and EGLE), the selected upgrades being installed, and total project cost. See how much you could save on energy-efficient appliances and upgrades with the Michigan Home Energy Incentives Calculator created by Rewiring America.
If you are not eligible for MiHER, I encourage you to apply for other energy efficiency funding, such as the IRA tax credits or utility rebates programs. Similar to MiHER, these initiatives offer financial support to households seeking energy efficiency upgrades. Additionally, these alternatives offer wide eligibility, with the IRA tax credits and many utility programs being available to all households regardless of income level. Find other programs, including rebates, at the Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy’s website.
Additional resources
Michigan Solar for All
The MI Solar for All Program aims to bring solar energy to low-income communities, delivering economic and environmental benefits while ensuring equitable access.
Solar for Savings is the first grant program under the MI Healthy Climate Challenge, funding MI Solar for All pilot projects to reduce energy costs, enhance resiliency, and expand access to solar for low-income households.
Application timeline:
Applications will be accepted until all funding is allocated or until 5:00 p.m. EST on July 30, 2025.
Tips to Beat the Heat and Save Money on Energy This Summer
- During extreme heat, close curtains and shades on windows during the day to keep the sun from heating the inside of your home.
- During moderate temperatures, use fans and open windows.
- Make sure your windows are closed when your AC is on.
- Set your air conditioner to a comfortable temperature and set it higher during the hours when you’re not home.
- Keep your AC system free of leaves and other debris, have the system serviced regularly, replace your air filter monthly or as needed, and shut off vents to unused or unoccupied rooms to help reduce your cooling costs.
- Consider serving cool foods like sandwiches, salads, and cold side dishes so you don’t have to use your oven or stove when it’s excessively hot outside or use a crock pot or outdoor grill. If you do cook in the kitchen, use an exhaust fan to blow hot air out.
- Use dishwashers, ovens, washers and dryers, and other energy-intensive appliances during the morning or later in the evening to save money. The state’s two largest electric utilities, DTE Electric, and Consumers Energy, institute higher rates during summertime peak weekday hours, so customers who use energy-intensive appliances during morning or late evening hours will pay less to use them.
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