Michigan Home Energy Rebates (MiHER)
A comprehensive guide to income limits, grant allocations, and measure-level caps for the HOMES and HEAR programs across Grand Traverse, Benzie, and Kalkaska counties.
Total Allocation
$211 Million
Statewide IRA Funding
Target Reach
15,000
Michigan Households
Max Combined Grant
$34,000
For Households ≤ 80% AMI
Eligibility Ceiling
150% AMI
> 150% AMI Ineligible ($0)
Check Your Program Eligibility, Grant Caps & 20-Year Utility Savings
Select your county, household size, gross annual income, and current utility profile to dynamically determine your MiHER tier, maximum rebate grants, and compounding utility savings.
1. Household Profile
HUD AMI Benchmarks2. Utility & Heating Profile
20-Year Forecaster$14,000 Max
Space heat pumps up to $8,000 at 0% co-pay
$20,000 Max
Deep energy retrofits (≥35% savings)
Combined Max Potential Grant
By stacking distinct HEAR & HOMES measures
$34,000
Grant + Utility Savings Combined Total
$34,000 (Upfront Grants) + $39,196 (20-Year Projected Utility Savings)
Combined Total Value
$73,196
20-Year Utility Bill Savings Trajectory
40% estimated energy reduction • 3.5% annual utility inflation
County-Specific Income Thresholds (HUD AMIs)
To prioritize capital for households facing the highest relative energy burdens, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) restricts MiHER grants to households earning at or below 150% of Area Median Income (AMI). Income limits are derived from HUD Fair Market Rent Area (HMFA) benchmarks and scale according to household size. Households exceeding 150% AMI are strictly ineligible.
Low-Income Threshold Ceiling (80% AMI) by County
Households at or below these limits qualify for 100% HEAR coverage & $20k HOMES max
Regional HUD Baseline Differences
Grand Traverse County maintains the highest economic baseline due to Traverse City's commercial footprint, establishing a 4-person 80% AMI threshold of $91,100.
Conversely, rural interior counties such as Benzie ($76,400) and Kalkaska ($69,300) operate under significantly lower statutory limits for identical family sizes.
Complete Income Limit Tables by County
| Household Size | Low-Income Tier (≤ 80% AMI) 100% HEAR Cost / Up to $20k HOMES | Moderate-Income Tier (80.1% - 150% AMI) 50% HEAR Cost / Up to $4k HOMES | Ineligible Tier (> 150% AMI) No Program Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | ≤ $63,800 | $63,801 - $119,600 | > $119,600 |
| 2 Persons | ≤ $72,900 | $72,901 - $136,700 | > $136,700 |
| 3 Persons | ≤ $82,000 | $82,001 - $153,750 | > $153,750 |
| 4 Persons (Standard MFI Benchmark) | ≤ $91,100 | $91,101 - $170,850 | > $170,850 |
| 5 Persons | ≤ $98,400 | $98,401 - $184,500 | > $184,500 |
| 6 Persons | ≤ $105,700 | $105,701 - $198,200 | > $198,200 |
| 7 Persons | ≤ $113,000 | $113,001 - $211,850 | > $211,850 |
| 8 Persons | ≤ $120,300 | $120,301 - $225,500 | > $225,500 |
Get My $34,000 Grant + $39,196 In Utility Savings With No Money Out Of Pocket!
Your progress stays saved as you explore. Zero upfront out-of-pocket costs with instant compounding utility bill reductions.
What You Get!
MiHER operates across two primary grant pathways: HEAR (point-of-sale equipment discounts) and HOMES (whole-building modeled energy savings incentives). Understanding measure-level statutory limits ensures maximum capital deployment.
HEAR Measure-Level Caps
$14,000 Max CapPoint-of-sale discounts on high-efficiency electrical equipment
Low-Income (≤80% AMI): 100% of approved costs up to measure caps.
Moderate-Income (81-150% AMI): 50% of approved costs (capping HEAR at $7,000 total).
HOMES Performance Grant Tiers
$20,000 Max CapSubsidies based on modeled whole-building energy reduction
Low-Income (≤80% AMI): Covers 80%-100% of costs (up to $20k for deep retrofits).
Moderate-Income (81-150% AMI): Capped strictly at 50% of costs (up to $4,000 max).
The $34,000 Stacking Architecture
While federal guidelines prohibit combining HEAR and HOMES grants on the exact same individual upgrade measure (e.g., you cannot claim both for a single heat pump unit), households can stack distinct complementary measures on the same home.
Step 1: HEAR Grant
Up to $14,000
Heat Pump + Panel + Wiring
Step 2: HOMES Grant
Up to $20,000
Attic Air Sealing + Ductwork
Combined Maximum
$34,000
Zero Out-Of-Pocket Potential
Do I Qualify For $0 Out-Of-Pocket?
Because federal statutes derive low-income boundaries strictly at the county level rather than evaluating regional economic zones, neighboring families with identical gross incomes experience drastically different benefit levels depending on which side of a county line they reside.
Case Study: A 4-Person Household Earning $75,000 / Year
Evaluating how identical earnings dictate co-payments across tri-county borders
Grand Traverse
80% AMI Ceiling: $91,100
Benzie County
80% AMI Ceiling: $76,400
Kalkaska County
80% AMI Ceiling: $69,300
* Note: Households classified into moderate-income tiers due to local county thresholds can bridge financing gaps through Michigan Saves, the state's green bank, alongside utility rebates from Consumers Energy or DTE.
Income Verification & Pre-Approval
To participate in MiHER, households must receive official income qualification through CLEAResult’s portal prior to initiating physical work. Retroactive applications are strictly prohibited.
Slow: May Take A Few Days
Requires submitting full financial records for all adult household residents. Documentation includes:
- Most recent IRS Form 1040 (with Schedule C/SE)
- W-2 and 1099 annual wage statements
- Consecutive pay stubs with year-to-date earnings
- Social Security, Pension, or Unemployment benefit letters
Instant Approval!
Bypasses manual paystub reviews if an occupant participates in any approved assistance program:
Lock In Your Irreplaceable $34,000 Federal Grant + $39,196 In Lifetime Utility Protection — 100% Covered With Zero Money Out Of Pocket!
This non-transferable state-administered allocation is strictly quota-limited by county HUD benchmarks. Once regional funds for Grand Traverse County are committed to certified contractor retrofits, this $0-copay federal window permanently closes.