How do CenterPoint Energy's furnace rebates work in Minnesota in 2026?
CenterPoint Energy pays its Minnesota gas customers a rebate on a qualifying high-efficiency furnace, boiler or combination system installed in 2026, and furnace rebates step up by AFUE tier. Use any heating dealer you choose, make sure the model is AFUE-verified by AHRI or ENERGY STAR, and apply in the install year.
Key points
- Only for Minnesota homes that get natural gas from CenterPoint Energy.
- You can use the heating dealer of your choice, but a DIY install doesn't qualify.
- Rebates step up by AFUE tier, so check the exact model's AHRI rating.
- Apply in the same calendar year as the install, with a final invoice, not a proposal.
- The federal 25C credit ended after December 31, 2025; utility rebates are separate.
CenterPoint Energy's 2026 heating rebates pay Minnesota customers who get natural gas from CenterPoint for installing a qualifying high-efficiency furnace, boiler or combination system between January 1 and December 31, 2026. You pick the heating dealer, the exact model must be AFUE-verified on the AHRI or ENERGY STAR listings, furnace rebates step up by efficiency tier, and the application has to go in the same calendar year with a final invoice. We leave the dollar amounts out on purpose. They change every year, and CenterPoint's own heating rebate page is the only place to trust them. What doesn't change much is how the program works and the mistakes that get applications sent back.
Does the CenterPoint furnace rebate apply to your house?
Only if CenterPoint Energy is on your gas bill. CenterPoint supplies natural gas in Minneapolis and much of the metro, but not everywhere. In Saint Paul, for example, Xcel Energy supplies the gas, and Xcel runs its own furnace rebate with different rules. Other towns are served by other gas utilities, and homes on propane aren't covered by a gas utility's heating rebate at all. If your gas bill says Xcel, read our Xcel and CenterPoint rebate map instead.
The split in the towns we're asked about most:
| Town | Natural gas utility | Furnace rebate to check |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington | CenterPoint Energy | This program |
| Saint Paul, Roseville, Woodbury | Xcel Energy | Xcel's heating equipment rebates |
| Eagan | Depends on your address: CenterPoint, Minnesota Energy Resources or Xcel | Whichever company bills you |
| Rural homes on propane | No gas utility | None from a gas utility |
Utility lines don't always follow city limits, so the name on your gas bill settles it.
What equipment qualifies for a CenterPoint rebate in 2026?
CenterPoint's heating rebates cover three groups of equipment:
| Equipment | What CenterPoint looks for |
|---|---|
| Forced-air gas furnaces | High-efficiency models, with the rebate stepping up by AFUE tier |
| Gas boilers | Standard and condensing boilers, each with its own efficiency minimum |
| Combination systems | Combination boilers, and furnaces rated as combination systems; these require the dealer to submit online |
A few rules apply across the board. Equipment has to be installed between January 1 and December 31, 2026. It must be listed and AFUE-verified on the current AHRI or ENERGY STAR listings. Replacements in existing homes get larger rebates than new construction, because CenterPoint wants to retire old, low-efficiency equipment. And you can use the heating dealer of your choice.
If you have a boiler, the same program applies to condensing and standard models, and our boiler service page covers what a replacement involves.
Does a 97% furnace get a bigger CenterPoint rebate than a 96%?
CenterPoint's 2026 furnace tiers start in the low 90s AFUE and step up again at 96% and at 97%. That makes the last percentage point matter more than it looks. A 97% furnace can land in a higher tier than a 96% one.
Two cautions. First, the tier is set by the AHRI-listed AFUE of the exact model and size installed, not the "up to" figure in a brochure. Within one furnace series, some sizes or configurations can rate a little lower than the flagship number. Ask your installer to show you the AHRI rating for the model on your quote, and if the quote lists only a series name, ask for the full model number before you sign. Second, don't pick a furnace for the rebate alone. Our 96% vs 98% AFUE guide walks through what the efficiency difference is actually worth over the years.
If you're coming from an old 80% furnace, the jump to any condensing model means new PVC venting and a condensate drain, and sometimes a liner for a water heater left alone in the old chimney. That's covered on our furnace installation page.
How to claim it, step by step
- Confirm the utility. Check that CenterPoint Energy is on your gas bill.
- Get more than one bid. CenterPoint recommends it, and the choice of dealer is yours.
- Pin down the model. The quote should list the brand, the complete model number and the AHRI certificate number, so you know which tier it lands in before you sign.
- Install it in 2026. A licensed heating dealer has to do the install and write the invoice.
- Collect the final invoice. It needs the brand, the complete model number and the dealer's information.
- Submit the same year. Either the dealer files through CenterPoint's dealer-only online form, which CenterPoint says is faster, or you mail the paper application before December 31.
- Wait up to 10 weeks. CenterPoint says that's the processing window once it has a completed application.
What paperwork problems get CenterPoint rebates denied?
These are the problems that sink applications:
- A proposal instead of an invoice. CenterPoint says a proposal or estimate isn't acceptable proof of purchase.
- An incomplete model number on the invoice.
- Mismatched details. The invoice and the application have to agree. If the invoice is missing anything, ask for a revised one.
- The wrong year. A December install needs a December application.
- No AHRI certificate number matching your specific equipment.
- A DIY install. The rebate requires an invoice from a licensed heating dealer.
We help customers with utility rebate paperwork where the program allows it, and CenterPoint's heating rebate is one where the choice of dealer is yours.
Does CenterPoint offer a rebate for adding a heat pump?
CenterPoint also offers a rebate for a ducted air-source heat pump, but only as a dual-fuel setup working with a natural gas furnace of at least 92% AFUE. The heat pump has to be listed as a system and HSPF2-verified by AHRI, and the technician has to program the switchover at 40°F or lower, so the heat pump heats the house above that temperature and the furnace takes over below it. CenterPoint notes that operating costs depend on your electric rate. Our dual-fuel guide covers how that setup behaves through a Minnesota winter.
CenterPoint also lists a thermostat rebate and an on-bill loan option for some upgrades. Check its current page for the terms, and our guide to smart thermostats for Minnesota weather covers picking one.
How much does a high-efficiency furnace cost to install?
The rebate comes off after the fact; the install is priced on its own. Our installed furnace range is $4,500–$9,500: roughly $4,500–$6,000 for an 80% AFUE furnace, which doesn't qualify for a high-efficiency rebate, and $6,500–$9,500 for a 96–98% AFUE model. Every quote is written and flat-rate, sized with a Manual J load calculation, and installs carry a 2-year labor warranty on top of the manufacturer's parts warranty. Our Minneapolis HVAC cost guide shows how older city houses land in that range, and our furnace replacement cost guide covers the rest of the state.
What no longer stacks
Older versions of this kind of guide told you to add a federal tax credit on top of the utility rebate. The 25C credit ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. Minnesota's IRA-funded Home Energy Rebates (HEAR and HOMES) also hadn't launched as of mid-2026, so for a gas furnace the CenterPoint rebate is the program to plan around. Our post on what happened to the IRA HVAC credits covers what's left.
What to do next
If your furnace is near the end, get a written quote that names the exact model, its AHRI-listed AFUE and the rebate tier it lands in, so the paperwork matches when the install is done. If it's still running but acting up, a service call is a $79 trip charge, waived when you approve the repair, and our furnace repair cost guide shows what common repairs run. Call us at 612-429-3465, open 7 days, 7am–9pm.
Questions
Do I have to use a specific contractor for the CenterPoint furnace rebate?
No. CenterPoint's heating rebates let you use the heating dealer of your choice, and CenterPoint suggests getting more than one bid. The install does have to be done by a licensed heating dealer, because the application needs the dealer's invoice. A furnace you install yourself doesn't qualify.
How long does the CenterPoint rebate take?
CenterPoint says to allow up to 10 weeks from the time it receives a completed application. It also says rebates arrive faster when the dealer submits the application online instead of the homeowner mailing a paper form. Give the dealer your email address if you want status updates.
My furnace was installed in December. Can I apply in January?
Not under the 2026 rules. CenterPoint requires the application to be submitted in the same calendar year the equipment was installed. For a late-December install, make sure the application goes in before December 31, and get the final invoice right away rather than waiting for a paper copy in the mail.
Does CenterPoint offer a rebate for a furnace tune-up?
We didn't find one on CenterPoint's Minnesota rebate pages for 2026. Its residential programs cover heating equipment, thermostats, a ducted heat pump paired with a gas furnace, water heaters, insulation and air sealing, among others. Programs change each year, so check CenterPoint's current page.
Sources
- heating rebate page centerpointenergy.com
- ENERGY STAR energystar.gov
- AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance ahridirectory.org