Florida · #17 metro by population

Home energy audits in Tampa

Where to get a home energy audit in the Tampa area, what it costs, which rebates are open now and where Florida stands on the federal Home Energy Rebates. Every program links to its official page and was checked on October 12, 2026.

Metro area: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

An energy advisor’s kit on a front-hall bench: infrared camera, pressure gauge with tubing, tape measure, headlamp and a floor sketch
Start here Free Tampa Electric free in-home energy audit
Rebates and incentives open now 8 of 8 All the offers in our research are open.
Federal Home Energy Rebates Not open yet What that means here

Tampa at a glance

Climate zone 2A

IECC 2021 climate zone for Hillsborough County, FL. PNNL ↗

Heating and cooling 434 HDD · 3,928 CDD

Heating and cooling degree days, base 65°F, 1991–2020 normals at TAMPA INTL AP, FL US (USW00012842). NOAA ↗

Homes 1985 median year built

50.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. Tampa city, Florida, 2020–2024 ACS 5-year. Census ↗

Radon EPA zone 2

moderate potential: predicted average 2–4 pCi/L (Hillsborough County, FL). EPA says not to use the zone to decide whether to test: high levels turn up in all three zones, so test every home. Radon testing guide · EPA ↗

What energy costs here

State Electricity¢ per kWh · July 2026 Natural gas$ per therm · 2025 average Heating oil$ per gallon · week of Oct 5, 2026 Propane$ per gallon · week of Oct 5, 2026
Florida 15.0¢ $2.46 $25.48 per thousand cu ft Not reported $4.86
  • Electricity: EIA’s average residential price, July 2026 (preliminary; released September 24, 2026). The U.S. average was 18.3¢ per kWh. EIA ↗
  • Natural gas: EIA’s 2025 average residential price per thousand cubic feet, which EIA says includes taxes and delivery, divided by 10.36 therms per thousand cubic feet (EIA’s 2025 average heat content of 1,036 Btu per cubic foot). A full-year average is used because summer months run far higher. EIA ↗
  • Heating oil and propane: EIA’s weekly residential prices, excluding taxes, for the week of October 5, 2026. EIA surveys them only in some states. EIA ↗

Utilities in the Tampa area

Utility efficiency programs follow the company that delivers your power or gas, so check your bill before you book anything.

Electric

  • Tampa Electric (TECO) About 870,000 customers across 2,000 square miles of Hillsborough County and parts of Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties. Source ↗
  • Duke Energy Florida About 2.0 million customers over roughly 20,000 square miles of west central Florida, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater (2026 Ten-Year Site Plan). Source ↗
  • Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) Electric cooperative headquartered in Dade City (Pasco County). A customer testimonial on its homepage refers to WREC service in Pasco County. Its exact territory and programs were not researched. Source ↗

Natural gas

  • Peoples Gas Statewide gas utility (500,000+ customers, an Emera company). Its site lists Tampa and St. Petersburg among its local areas (under 'Appliances and Sales'). Gas is available only at some addresses; check by ZIP code. Source ↗

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater side (Pinellas) is mostly Duke Energy Florida and Tampa/Hillsborough is TECO, but parts of Pinellas and Pasco are TECO too, so confirm by address. The brief's 'TECO Peoples Gas' now brands itself 'Peoples Gas'. Duke-run program pages on duke-energy.com blocked automated access, so Duke details come from Duke's newsroom and its PSC-filed 2026 Ten-Year Site Plan.

How to get a home energy audit in Tampa

4 programs in our research, open ones first. Prices are as each program publishes them. If you want a full diagnostic audit outside these programs, look for a certified auditor: how to find one and what audits cost.

Tampa Electric free in-home energy audit

Tampa Electric

Open open (no end date published)
Free

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Who qualifies
Tampa Electric residential customers.
What you get
A TECO energy analyst inspects the home, identifies savings, recommends TECO programs and gives year-round tips. TECO says team members hold AEE (ANSI-accredited) certification. The audit is also the gateway to TECO's ceiling insulation and duct repair programs, which require a pre-approval inspection.
How to book
Call 813-275-3909 weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tampa Electric Online Energy Audit (personalized or simple)

Tampa Electric

Open open (online tool)
Free Online tool

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Who qualifies
The personalized audit is for TECO customers who log in. The simple audit needs no account.
What you get
A report based on actual usage (personalized) or estimated usage from a home profile and weather (simple), with ways to cut energy costs.
How to book
Online from TECO's Energy Audit page.

Duke Energy Florida Home Energy Check

Duke Energy Florida

Open open (promoted by Duke on 2026-06-24 and 2026-08-05; no end date published)
Free

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Who qualifies
All Duke Energy Florida residential customers, including renters and apartment residents, who have not had a Home Energy Check in the past two years.
What you get
An energy audit done online, by phone or in person (a walk-through), with personalized recommendations. Duke also provides a kit of easy-install energy-saving measures. Completing a check makes the customer eligible for Duke's home improvement rebates, which Duke describes as 'up to $3,800'.
How to book
Sign up through Duke Energy's Home Energy Check page on duke-energy.com, which is linked from Duke's June 24, 2026 news release. duke-energy.com blocked automated access, so the booking page itself was not read.

Peoples Gas Online Energy Audit (personalized or simple)

Peoples Gas

Open open (online tool)
Free Online tool

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Who qualifies
The personalized audit is for Peoples Gas customers who log in. The simple audit needs no account.
What you get
The personalized audit gives a report based on your home's actual gas use, plus alerts. The simple audit estimates use from a home profile and local weather. Both point to natural gas appliance options.
How to book
Online at the Peoples Gas Energy Audit page. There is no appointment.

Rebates and incentives now

8 offers in our research for the Tampa metro; 8 are open as of October 12, 2026. Many require the program’s own contractor or an audit first, so read the terms before you buy.

Insulation and air sealing 2 open of 2

Tampa Electric Ceiling Insulation rebate

Tampa Electric

Open open (no end date published)

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Amount $0.16 per square foot per R-11 of insulation installed

Who qualifies TECO residential customers. A pre-approval attic inspection by a TECO energy analyst is required (call 813-275-3909), and the rebate certificate is valid for one year. Owner-installed and participating-contractor work both qualify. Apply within 90 days.

Tampa Electric Ductwork (duct repair) program

Tampa Electric

Open open (no end date published)

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Amount A TECO-approved contractor seals the duct leaks 'for only $125' per heating and cooling unit (customer price; extensive repairs cost extra).

Who qualifies TECO residential customers. A pre-approval inspection of the duct system by a TECO energy analyst is required.

Heat pumps 1 open of 1

Tampa Electric Heating & Cooling rebate

Tampa Electric

Open open (no end date published)

Official page ↗ · verified October 19, 2026

Amount $40 for systems rated SEER 16.00 / SEER2 15.20 (geothermal EER 14.0+); $550 for SEER 17.00 / SEER2 16.20 (geothermal EER 15.0+). Paid per condensing unit and matched to the invoice if the system costs less than the rebate.

Who qualifies All TECO residential customers replacing an old system with a new ducted heat pump, straight-cool/natural-gas-heat system (new furnace required; propane doesn't qualify) or geothermal system. Ductless mini-splits are not eligible. A contractor with a Tampa Electric vendor number deducts the rebate on the invoice, or homeowners can use the page's 'self-install option'. Apply within 90 days of installation.

Appliances and equipment 2 open of 2

Tampa Electric ENERGY STAR smart thermostat rebate

Tampa Electric

Open

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Amount Up to $22

Who qualifies TECO customers buying a new ENERGY STAR smart thermostat. Apply within 90 days of purchase. Not compatible with TECO's Energy Planner rate.

Peoples Gas residential energy conservation rebates

Peoples Gas (Peoples Gas System, an Emera company)

Open open (no end date published; Peoples Gas may change or end it without notice)

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Amount Replacing electric with natural gas / replacing gas with gas: tank water heater $550 / $350; ENERGY STAR tank water heater $650 / $400; tankless water heater $700 / $550; cooking $300 / $100; clothes drying $300 / $150; gas furnace $725 / $500; gas space conditioning $500 per ton / $150 per ton. The rebate cannot exceed the total cost of equipment, installation, piping and venting.

Who qualifies Peoples Gas residential customers. Equipment must be installed within one year before applying. Used, refurbished or thrift-store appliances, propane conversions, point-of-use tankless units (minimum 5 gpm), fireplaces, fire pits, grills and portable heaters do not qualify. For electric-to-gas conversions the invoice must say 'electric to gas'. CLEAResult may verify the installation by smartphone.

Income-qualified offers 1 open of 1

Tampa Electric Neighborhood Weatherization

Tampa Electric

Open open (no end date published)

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Amount Free installed items (six LED bulbs, water heater pipe wrap, low-flow showerheads and aerators, weatherstripping, caulking and more) plus a free energy audit. Participants may also qualify for free duct sealing and ceiling insulation.

Who qualifies TECO customers living in one of the communities TECO has identified. Call 813-275-3909 to check. TECO refers others to YOU THRIVE's Weatherization Assistance Program.

Other incentives 2 open of 2

Tampa Electric Prime Time Plus

Tampa Electric

Open

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Amount Automatic monthly bill credits that TECO says 'can add up to hundreds of dollars per year', plus a free ENERGY STAR smart thermostat

Who qualifies TECO residential customers who enroll eligible HVAC, water heaters, pool pumps or Level 2 EV chargers for occasional power pauses. Minimum of 400 kWh/month delivered consumption to receive credits.

Duke Energy Florida home improvement rebates (Residential Incentive Program)

Duke Energy Florida

Open open (Duke promotion dated 2026-08-05)

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Amount 'Up to $3,800 in rebates' after a free Home Energy Check (Duke, June 24 and Aug. 5, 2026). Per-measure amounts were not verified because duke-energy.com blocked automated access.

Who qualifies Duke Energy Florida residential customers who have completed a Home Energy Check. Measures named by Duke include attic insulation, HVAC, duct repair and energy-efficient windows. The 2026 Ten-Year Site Plan also lists home energy management systems.

Statewide rebate programs and federal options: rebates and programs.

Heat pumps in Tampa → What one costs to run against gas here, each heat pump rebate with the equipment rule that decides which models qualify, and the certified systems and brands that suit the climate.

Federal Home Energy Rebates in Florida

The two federal rebate programs, HOMES (whole-home efficiency) and the high-efficiency electric home rebates (HEAR, renamed HEEHR in 2026), are run by each state, so availability depends on the state. DOE rewrote the rules effective May 29, 2026 (Program Notice 26-2 ↗): no more federal rebates for switching from gas, oil or propane to electric equipment, and insulation and air sealing come before heating and cooling upgrades unless a home already meets a state-set level.

Status for the Tampa metro
Not open yet not launched (as of 2026-10-12) Official page ↗ verified October 12, 2026

Program: Florida Energy Saver Program: HOMES (Home Owner Managing Energy Savings) and HEEHR (High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates, Florida's name for HEAR)

Run by: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Office of Energy

The state portal says both programs 'are expected to launch in the future' and that 'additional information on the program timeline will be made available soon'. Homeowners can only register and fill in a profile to be emailed when applications open. Florida has about $346 million in federal funding. Planned HEEHR caps: heat pump $8,000; heat pump water heater $1,750; electric stove/cooktop/range/oven or heat pump dryer $840; panel (load service center) $4,000; insulation, air sealing and ventilation $1,600; wiring $2,500; up to $14,000 per household. It covers 100% of project cost under 80% of area median income (AMI) and 50% at 80-150% AMI. Households over 150% AMI are not eligible. Planned single-family HOMES limits (20-34% modeled savings / 35%+): under 80% AMI $16,000 / $20,000 (up to 100% of cost); 80% AMI and above $2,000 / $4,000 (up to 50% of cost). These pages carry a 2025 copyright and predate DOE's May 2026 program notices, so final terms (for example fuel switching under HEEHR) may change. On June 8, 2026 U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said Florida's funding was approved in January 2025 but has been delayed since.

StateHEAR / HEEHR (electric appliances)HOMES (whole-home efficiency)
Florida Florida rebate guide
Not open yet not launched ('expected to launch in the future'; registration of interest open) Official page ↗ verified October 12, 2026
Not open yet not launched ('expected to launch in the future') Official page ↗ verified October 12, 2026

How the programs work: Home Energy Rebates explained · every state’s status.

Help for lower-income households

Weatherization Assistance Program: Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties

You Thrive Florida (YOU THRIVE), the FloridaCommerce-listed local provider

For low-income homeowners with gross household income no more than 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Priority goes to people 60+, people with disabilities, families with children under 18 and high-energy-burden households. An audit decides the measures: air sealing, attic insulation, duct sealing, and HVAC or refrigerator replacement if testing warrants. It is 'not a window replacement program'. Apply online with full documentation; incomplete applications are denied. Funding-dependent. Phone (FloridaCommerce list): (352) 796-1427.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Weatherization Assistance Program: Pinellas County

Pinellas County Urban League, Inc.

Local WAP provider for Pinellas: (727) 327-0977. FloridaCommerce says WAP applications are available only from the local provider.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Tampa Electric Neighborhood Weatherization

Tampa Electric

Free energy-saving items plus a free audit, and possibly free duct sealing and ceiling insulation, for TECO customers in TECO-identified qualifying communities. TECO says it has served more than 40,000 customers.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Duke Energy Florida Neighborhood Energy Saver

Duke Energy Florida

Free energy-saving measures for low-income customers in neighborhoods that meet income criteria. Measures include air infiltration, water heating, lighting, insulation, duct repair, and heat pump/AC tune-ups, plus smart thermostats. Duke plans about 5,775 homes a year (2026 Ten-Year Site Plan). Duke picks the neighborhoods, so there is no individual application.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Duke Energy Florida Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program

Duke Energy Florida with local agencies

Duke funds weatherization and efficiency measures for low-income customers through local agency partners, about 500 customers a year (2026 Ten-Year Site Plan).

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Florida Energy Saver Program HEEHR (when launched)

FDACS Office of Energy

Planned rebates of up to $14,000 for households under 150% AMI. Not launched as of 2026-10-12.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Local energy rules

2 of the 3 rules we found reach ordinary homeowners in some way; they’re listed first.

Affects homeowners

Florida Building Energy-Efficiency Rating Act: disclosure at sale (s. 553.996, Florida Statutes)

Who it applies to Every sale of real property with a building on it, including ordinary single-family homes. It affects homeowners who sell or buy.

Before or when the buyer signs the contract, they must be given information telling them they can get an energy-efficiency rating on the building. The information covers how to analyze the rating, comparisons to statewide averages, ways to improve the rating, and a notice that a rating may qualify the buyer for an energy-efficient mortgage. This is a disclosure of information only. No rating or audit is required.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Affects homeowners indirectly

State preemption of local energy-source and appliance restrictions (s. 366.032, Florida Statutes)

Who it applies to Applies statewide and limits local governments. It affects homeowners indirectly.

Counties, cities and other local bodies may not restrict or prohibit the types or fuel sources of energy that utilities and gas suppliers deliver, or appliances (including stoves and grills) that use them. The only exception is enforcing the Florida Building Code or Fire Prevention Code. In practice no Florida city or county can adopt a gas ban or all-electric mandate for homes.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

No local mandate found

No local building benchmarking or performance standard found (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater)

Who it applies to Not applicable. No local mandate affects homeowners or large buildings.

IMT's January 2026 national comparison of commercial building benchmarking policies lists no jurisdiction in the Tampa metro. City ordinances were not individually checked.

Official page ↗ · verified October 12, 2026

Notes worth knowing

  • TECO's heating and cooling rebate has two very different levels: $40 at SEER2 15.20 versus $550 at SEER2 16.20.
  • Ductless mini-splits get nothing.
  • TECO moved to its PSC-approved 2025-2034 DSM plan on June 1, 2025 (Consummating Order PSC-2025-0137-CO-EG, docket 20240163-EG).
  • Its 2026 Ten-Year Site Plan lists four residential audit types, ceiling insulation, duct repair, ENERGY STAR thermostats, heating and cooling, Neighborhood Weatherization, Prime Time Plus and Energy Planner.

Tampa: common questions

How do I get a home energy audit in Tampa?

Start with Tampa Electric free in-home energy audit. Run by: Tampa Electric. Cost: Free. Who qualifies: Tampa Electric residential customers. How to book: Call 813-275-3909 weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Our research lists 4 audit programs for the Tampa metro, checked October 12, 2026; all of them are on this page.

Are the federal Home Energy Rebates available in Tampa?

Not launched (as of 2026-10-12). Checked October 12, 2026. Nationally, DOE rewrote the rules effective May 29, 2026: federal appliance rebates no longer pay for switching from gas, oil or propane to electric equipment, and homes must get insulation and air sealing before heating and cooling upgrades unless they already meet a state-set level.

Is there help for lower-income households in Tampa?

Yes. Programs for income-qualified households in the Tampa metro include Weatherization Assistance Program: Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties, Weatherization Assistance Program: Pinellas County, Tampa Electric Neighborhood Weatherization, Duke Energy Florida Neighborhood Energy Saver, Duke Energy Florida Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program and Florida Energy Saver Program HEEHR (when launched). Each one’s rules and contacts are listed on this page, with a link to its official page.

Which local energy rules affect homeowners in Tampa?

One rule reaches ordinary homeowners. Florida Building Energy-Efficiency Rating Act: disclosure at sale (s. 553.996, Florida Statutes). Who it applies to: Every sale of real property with a building on it, including ordinary single-family homes. It affects homeowners who sell or buy. State preemption of local energy-source and appliance restrictions (s. 366.032, Florida Statutes) affects homeowners only indirectly.

Can I claim a federal tax credit for an energy audit in Tampa?

Not for an audit done in 2026. The federal credit of up to $150 for a home energy audit was part of the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C), and the IRS says it can’t be claimed for audits paid for or done after December 31, 2025. Public Law 119-21 ended 25C and the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) for 2026 work. An audit done in 2025 is claimed on the 2025 return (Form 5695).

Sources

Every source below was opened and checked on October 12, 2026.

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