Tacoma Power is passing along some more ways for customers to save on their home-energy costs.

The utility has been offering customer incentives for items like heat pumps for years. Recently, U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland met with Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) officials to highlight new opportunities for homeowners to save money on purchases of heat pumps through the Inflation Reduction Act. Among other things, the federal legislation helps improve energy efficiency in homes. For customers of Tacoma Power, that includes:

• Energy-efficient home improvement credit. From 2023 to 2032, this tax credit is for 30 percent of the total cost of improvements and has a $1,200 annual limit ($2,000 if for a heat pump). A previous credit that will expire in 2022 was 10 percent with a lifetime limit of $500. Heat pumps are hailed for their efficiency and savings on energy bills. Other eligible upgrades include biomass heaters, doors, windows, and air-sealing materials.
• High-efficiency electric home rebates.Lower and middle-income homeowners can get up to $1,750 for a new heat pump water heater and $8,000 for a heat pump for space heating and cooling. It may be mid-2023 before rebates are in place.
• Residential clean energy credit. Now extended through 2034, it’s for installing clean household energy such as solar, wind, or geothermal, and will be 30 percent for 2022 through 2032, then 26 percent for 2033-34.
• State rebates. $1,600 for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation; $4,000 for upgrades to electrical panels and service, and $2,500 for electrical wiring.

Also part of Strickland’s meeting with TPU officials, including director Jackie Flowers, was discussion of Tacoma Power’s Income-Qualified Rental Program, which introduces new incentives for energy efficiency in rental homes.

Additional information about Tacoma Power’s incentives is available at MyTPU.org/Incentives. Customers who need help with their energy bills can contact TPU at 253-502-8600 and cservice@cityoftacoma.org

COUNTY OFFERS HELP WITH HEATING BILLS 

Pierce County residents can benefit from the Energy Assistance Program (EAP). Part of the county government’s Human Services department, it pays heating bills for eligible applicants. The help is based on household income and fuel use for the past 12 months.

Appointments for applying for EAP can be made at 253-798[4328. Additional information is available at 253-798-4400.