Rebates and tax credits in Montana

Money toward an HRV or ERV

Programs that pay toward the unit itself. Some take the money off at the distributor, so ask whether an installer’s price already includes it.

We didn’t find a program in Montana that names HRVs or ERVs. Your electric and gas utilities are still worth asking: search “[utility] HRV rebate” and “[utility] ERV rebate”.

Federal home energy rebates

Federal money that Montana runs. HEAR has a category for “insulation, air sealing, and ventilation” worth up to $1,600 for households under 150% of area median income; each state decides what counts as ventilation. ENERGY STAR’s table for HEAR says this category requires ENERGY STAR certification, and ENERGY STAR’s U.S. criteria for ventilation cover fans, not HRVs or ERVs, so ask the program whether an HRV or ERV counts before relying on it. HOMES pays toward whole-home upgrades modeled to save energy.

Air sealing and insulation

These programs are more common than ventilation rebates, and sealing a house is often what makes it need planned fresh air. If a program is sealing yours, ask whether it requires ventilation afterward and whether it pays for it.

• Residential Natural Gas Insulation, Existing Home Program

  NorthWestern Energy · NorthWestern Energy residential natural gas customers in Montana, existing homes (former Energy West Montana and Cut Bank Gas customers not currently eligible)

  Attic: $0.45 per sq ft (R-11 to at least R-49) or $0.55 per sq ft (R-0 to at least R-49). Basement or crawlspace wall, including rim joist: $0.60 per sq ft (R-0 to at least R-19). Floor over unconditioned space: $0.55, $0.85 or $0.95 per sq ft for R-19, R-30 or R-38.

  Work or purchases on or after August 1, 2026, completed and submitted by June 30, 2027. New materials only; self-install allowed. Funds limited, first come first served. No air sealing, ventilation or ASHRAE 62.2 terms appear.

  Ventilation not mentioned in what we readProgram page: Effective August 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027

State tax credits

We didn’t find a Montana tax credit for ventilation, air sealing or insulation, and couldn’t confirm there is none.

Low-income help

The federal Weatherization Assistance Program can pay for air sealing, insulation and, where needed, ventilation at no cost to households that qualify by income. In Montana it’s run by Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (apply with the joint LIHEAP and weatherization form through the local or Tribal LIHEAP eligibility office).

Before you sign

1. Don’t start work yet. Many programs need pre-approval, a participating contractor or a test first, and work begun early often can’t qualify.
2. Write down your electric and gas utilities. Rebates usually follow the utility, not the town.
3. Read the conditions: a listed contractor, a qualifying model, your heating fuel, income limits, and install and claim deadlines.
4. Ask each installer whether any discount is already in their price, and who files the paperwork.
5. Get it in writing: each rebate, who applies for it, and what happens to the price if it’s denied.

More on costs and how to check: What drives the cost of ventilation and How to compare quotes.

Worth knowing

• Montana's Energy Conservation Installation Credit, which listed heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) among qualifying items (25% of costs, up to $500 per taxpayer), was repealed: tax year 2021 was the last year it could be claimed. The separate Energy Conservation Installation Deduction also ended after tax year 2021. (s20, s21)
• DEQ's incentives page still mentions tax credits for homeowners' energy efficiency projects, without details; the Department of Revenue says the energy conservation credit ended after 2021. (s17, s21)
• NorthWestern Energy's 2026-2027 electric existing-home rebates cover items such as heat pumps, thermostats and water-saving devices; they do not include insulation, air sealing or ventilation. (s18)