The second thing that decides it is what you heat with now. Energy Trust's heat pump incentives pay to replace electric heat, not gas. This page covers both tests, the 2026 amounts, the contractor rules, and what our permit file shows. For the permit and its fees, see the Bend HVAC permit guide.
Test 1: which utility
| Your utility | Where the incentive comes from |
|---|---|
| Pacific Power (electric) | Energy Trust of Oregon, including heat pumps |
| Cascade Natural Gas (gas) | Energy Trust, but heat pump incentives are tied to the electric utility; gas customers get thermostat and insulation incentives |
| Central Electric Cooperative (electric) | The co-op's residential efficiency incentives, not Energy Trust's heat pump offers |
Your electric bill says which one you have. Energy Trust's 2026 incentive sheet limits heat pump incentives to electric customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, while insulation and smart thermostats also cover Cascade Natural Gas customers.
Test 2: what you heat with now
Energy Trust's 2026 heat pump incentives (sheet PI 0320I, effective 1 January 2026):
| Measure | Owner-occupied | Rental | Must replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ductless heat pump (HSPF2 8.10+) | $800 | $1,800 | Electric resistance heat in the main living space |
| Ducted heat pump (HSPF2 7.50+) | $1,000 | $3,000 | An electric forced-air furnace as primary heat; no backup gas heat |
| Extended capacity heat pump (CEE Tier 1 Path A) | $1,000 | $2,000 | Central ducted system; no backup gas heat |
| Smart thermostat, gas forced-air home | $250 with a licensed contractor ($100 otherwise) |
The no-gas-backup rule is the catch for a typical Bend house with a gas furnace. A dual-fuel system, a heat pump with the gas furnace kept as backup, does not qualify for the ducted or extended capacity incentive. Replacing the gas furnace entirely with an all-electric heat pump does not fit the ducted line either, which is written for homes that had an electric furnace.
The 2026 limited-time offer
Through 31 December 2026, Energy Trust's special heat pump offer for Pacific Power and PGE customers pays:
- $3,500 for a single-head interior ductless heat pump in a home whose primary heat is electric resistance.
- $4,000 for a ducted heat pump in a manufactured home built in 1985 or later with an electric forced-air furnace.
It is only through participating trade allies, who take the incentive off the invoice. Deschutes County is not on the offer's excluded-county list. To find a participating contractor, Energy Trust gives 1-866-311-1822.
What it means for hiring
- Ask if the firm is an Energy Trust trade ally. Instant incentives come off the invoice only with a trade ally enrolled in Instant Incentives. A contractor that is not a trade ally needs a current Oregon CCB license and cannot claim the higher rental incentives.
- Get the efficiency rating on the quote. The ductless incentive needs HSPF2 8.10 or better and the ducted one 7.50 or better; extended capacity needs the full CEE Tier 1 Path A list, including a COP of 1.75 at 5°F.
- Mind the 60 days. Paperwork has to be in within 60 days of installation.
- The permit is separate. Energy Trust does not pull the City's mechanical permit; your contractor does.
What Bend permits show
| Measure | Bend HVAC and mechanical |
|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 4,427 |
| Firms / active in the last 12 months | 169 / 103 |
| Usual days, issue to final | 28 |
| Share finished | 93.4% |
| Five busiest firms' share | 48.7% |
| Busiest firm, last 12 months | JP Mechanical Inc (142 permits) |
| Firms with an active CCB license match | 69.2% |
| Busiest / quietest month | October (122) / September (83) |
Bend's HVAC market is concentrated: five firms hold 48.7% of permits. Demand peaks in October as heating season starts, so a heat pump booked in September meets the shortest queue and still lands inside the 2026 offer window. Bend records no job value on trade permits, so our file cannot price a heat pump.
Compare Bend HVAC firms by permits →
HVAC firms side by side: compare Bend HVAC contractors. License check: Bend contractor license lookup. Timing by trade: how long a Bend permit takes. What the equipment is: what is a heat pump.
What this does not tell you
Our file shows permits, not incentives, so it cannot say which jobs got Energy Trust money, which firms are trade allies, or whether a house was on gas or electric heat. Central Electric Cooperative's incentive amounts are not covered here; check with the co-op. Amounts are those on Energy Trust's pages on 23 October 2026 and can change by year.
How we know this
Utility guidance is from the City of Bend's How You Can Help page; incentive amounts and rules are from Energy Trust of Oregon's Oregon Residential Incentive Information Sheet effective 1 January 2026 and its special heat pump offer page, all read 23 October 2026. Permit counts are City of Bend residential mechanical permits, October 2023 to September 2026; license status is our match against Oregon CCB records.
Numbers come from City of Bend building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits on homes, data through October 16, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Does Energy Trust of Oregon give heat pump rebates in Bend?
Yes, if your electricity comes from Pacific Power. Energy Trust's 2026 heat pump incentives are limited to electric customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power. If you are a Central Electric Cooperative member, the City of Bend points you to the co-op's own incentives instead.
- Can I get a heat pump rebate in Bend if I have a gas furnace?
Not Energy Trust's standard heat pump incentive. The ducted incentive requires the heat pump to replace an electric forced-air furnace with no backup gas heat, and the ductless one to replace electric resistance heat. A gas-heated home can still get Energy Trust's $250 smart thermostat incentive when a licensed contractor installs it.
- How much is the Energy Trust ductless heat pump incentive?
$800 for an owner-occupied single-family home in 2026 (HSPF2 8.10 or better, replacing electric resistance heat in the main living space), or $1,800 for a rental. Through 31 December 2026 a limited-time offer pays $3,500 for a single-head ductless system replacing electric resistance heat, through participating contractors.
- Do I need a permit for a heat pump in Bend?
Yes. Bend issues heat pump and mini-split installs on a mechanical permit, and the usual one was finaled 28 days after issue. See the Bend HVAC permit guide for fees.
- How long do I have to apply for an Energy Trust incentive?
The application and documents must be submitted within 60 days of installation. With an Energy Trust trade ally, the contractor usually takes the incentive off your invoice and files it.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Austin Energy AC and heat pump rebate: $600 to $950, the 10-year rules, and the participating contractor
- Minneapolis Truth in Sale of Housing: required repairs, permits and the 90-day buyer deadline
- OUC rebates in Orlando: heat pump A/C, insulation and ducts, and the HVAC permit behind them
- Mass Save heat pump rebates in Somerville: $2,650 a ton in 2026, the Community First enhanced offer, the installer rule, and what permits show
For one city
- How You Can Help — City of Bend Environment and Climate (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Oregon Residential Incentive Information Sheet, 1 January 2026 (PI 0320I) — Energy Trust of Oregon (2026-01-01)
- Special offer for ducted and ductless heat pumps — Energy Trust of Oregon (accessed 2026-10-23)