A Minute with Molly: Colorado's new $1,500 Power Ahead heat pump rebate

Hey, Molly here — Home Comfort Concierge at Elephant Energy.

Welcome back to A Minute with Molly, where I break down what's happening in heat pumps and home electrification in a way that actually makes sense (and only takes a minute or two to read).

If you've been looking into heat pumps recently, you've probably noticed there's a new Colorado rebate making the rounds: the $1,500 Power Ahead rebate through DRCOG (Denver Regional Council of Governments).

That's great news—but it's also led to a lot of questions.

Who qualifies? Does it stack with Xcel rebates? Do I have to apply myself? What does "pre-approval" actually mean?

I'll walk through all of that below, along with how our team helps make the process as simple as possible.

What is the Power Ahead heat pump rebate?

Power Ahead is a Colorado rebate program that gives homeowners $1,500 toward a qualifying heat pump installation.

The goal is simple: lower the upfront cost of replacing older heating and cooling equipment with a high-efficiency electric heat pump.

Like many rebate programs, though, there are a few requirements you'll need to meet before your project qualifies.

Program requirements

Not every project qualifies. Here's what you need to know.

Location

Your home must be located in a participating DRCOG jurisdiction across the Front Range.

Eligible counties include:

• Adams
• Arapahoe
• Boulder
• Broomfield
• Clear Creek
• Denver
• Douglas
• Gilpin
• Jefferson
• Parts of Weld County

(You can find the full list of participating counties and municipalities on the Power Ahead website here.)

Project type

• Retrofit projects only
• New construction is not eligible

Equipment

• Must install an ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump (all of the equipment we install is ENERGY STAR® certified, btw)
• Equipment must meet the program's efficiency requirements

Contractor

• Installation must be completed by a DRCOG-approved contractor
• Self-installs and non-participating contractors are not eligible

Timing

• Projects must receive pre-approval before installation begins
• You can't install your system first and apply afterward

Can you stack it with other rebates?

Yes—and this is where things get exciting.

For many homeowners, the Power Ahead rebate is just one piece of the savings. Depending on your home and eligibility, it can often be combined with:

• Utility rebates from Xcel Energy
• Colorado state tax credits
• Other local or income-qualified incentive programs (like United Power, Efficiency Works, and income-qualified EnergySmart for folks in the northern parts of Denver and Colorado).

The key is making sure everything is coordinated correctly.

Some rebates have to be applied before others. Some require pre-approval. Some have specific equipment requirements.

It's a lot to keep track of—which is why many homeowners appreciate having someone guide them through the process.

What rebate stacking can look like

Every home is different, but here are a couple examples to show how incentives can work together.

Example 1: Standard ducted heat pump

Estimated out-of-pocket cost: ~$9,500

Example 2: Ductless mini-split system

Estimated out-of-pocket cost: ~$4,000–$6,000

Examples only. Actual savings depend on your home, equipment, utility provider, and program eligibility.

The takeaway? When rebates are layered correctly, they can significantly reduce the upfront cost of switching to a heat pump.

How Elephant handles the process (so you don't have to)

One thing our customers tell us they appreciate most is that they don't have to become rebate experts before upgrading their home.

Many HVAC contractors work like this:

• You pay the full project cost.
• You submit paperwork yourself.
• You wait weeks—or sometimes months—for reimbursement.

That's not how we do it.

When you're eligible, we apply available rebates directly to your proposal upfront. That means you see your estimated cost after rebates before moving forward, instead of paying the full amount and hoping everything gets reimbursed later.

We also handle the paperwork, including submitting your Power Ahead application once you've signed your proposal.

Here's what that process looks like.

1. Meet with our Home Comfort team

We'll start with a consultation to learn about your home, your current heating and cooling system, and what you're hoping to accomplish.

Our goal is to recommend the right system for your home so that it’s working efficiently and keeps your home comfortable.

2. Review your proposal

We'll build a proposal that includes all eligible rebates upfront, including the Power Ahead rebate if your project qualifies.

That way, you can make your decision based on what you'll actually pay.

3. We submit your application

Once you sign your proposal, we'll submit your project through the DRCOG pre-approval portal.

Approvals are currently taking about two weeks, although timelines may vary as the program gets underway.

4. We schedule your installation

Once your project is approved, we'll schedule your installation and coordinate everything with our team.

5. Enjoy your new heat pump

Then comes the best part—a more comfortable home with efficient heating and cooling, lower energy use, and the peace of mind that all your rebate paperwork has been handled.

Why contractor eligibility matters

One important thing to know about the Power Ahead program is that not every HVAC contractor can offer this rebate.

To qualify, your project has to be installed by a contractor that's been approved by DRCOG. That's intentional—it helps ensure systems are properly sized, installed correctly, and meet the program's efficiency standards.

We're proud to be one of those approved contractors.

And this isn't our first rebate program, either.

Over the past few years, we've helped thousands of Colorado homeowners navigate everything from utility incentives to state rebate programs. We were one of the top participating contractors in Colorado's HEAR rebate program (which is now complete for single-family homes in the Front Range), and we continue to help homeowners maximize savings through Xcel Energy rebates every day.

In other words, we've done this before. A lot.

The bigger picture

Programs like Power Ahead exist for one reason: to make clean, efficient home heating and cooling more affordable for Colorado homeowners.

But the rebate itself is only one piece of the puzzle.

Actually receiving those savings means:

• Knowing which programs you qualify for
• Choosing equipment that meets program requirements
• Completing pre-approval before installation
• Making sure your rebates are stacked correctly

That's a lot to navigate on your own.

We built our process so you don't have to.

You don't need to keep track of rebate deadlines or wonder if you filled out the right forms. You don't need to figure out which incentives stack together or whether your contractor is participating.

You just need to decide whether a heat pump is the right fit for your home (and we can help you with this decision!).

We'll help with the rest.

Ready to get started?

If you'd like to see what rebates are available for your home, here's the process:

1. Schedule a Home Comfort Consultation with our team.
2. We'll build a proposal with all eligible rebates applied upfront.
3. Once you sign, we'll submit your Power Ahead application for pre-approval.
4. After approval, we'll schedule your installation.
5. You get to enjoy a more comfortable, more efficient home.

If you have questions—or just want to talk through your options—our team is always happy to help. Send us an email at hello@elephantenergy.com, or give us a call or text: (720) 418-8663.

Chat soon!

-Molly