Ohio Power is the electric utility that used to be called AEP Ohio. It lists smart thermostat offers, a free virtual walkthrough and a program for customers who qualify by income. We found no heat pump or AC equipment rebate on Ohio Power's program pages as of October 2026. Columbia Gas of Ohio says its home efficiency programs have ended. The one exception is a program for customers who qualify by income. This guide lists each program's terms. It also covers weatherization help in Franklin County from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). The guide ends with where Ohio's federal HEEHR and HOMES rebates stand.
AEP Ohio is now Ohio Power Company
In a news release dated September 24, 2026, the utility said customers would start seeing the Ohio Power Company name beginning Oct. 1. It said the name would appear on the company's website, bills, customer communications and other materials. The same release said the company's website, AEPOhio.com, would switch to OhioPowerCo.com in October.
As of October 2026, the utility's program pages say that Ohio Power Company formerly did business as AEP Ohio. They tell readers to treat references to AEP Ohio on the site as applying to Ohio Power Company. At that time, OhioPowerCo.com redirected to AEPOhio.com. The program links in this guide still use AEPOhio.com addresses. Those addresses may move.
Ohio Power programs for heating and cooling
The table lists the heating and cooling offers we found on Ohio Power's pages. Every amount is as of October 2026.
| Program | What it offers | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Thermostat Marketplace | An instant $75 discount on a new smart thermostat when you sign up for Power Rewards: Smart Thermostat | Customers who sign up for Power Rewards |
| Power Rewards, thermostat bought from another retailer | A $25 digital gift card for a thermostat bought within the current year (limit one per customer per year), then an additional $50 reward for enrolling the device | Customers who meet the Power Rewards rules |
| Power Rewards, thermostat you already own | A one-time $50 digital gift card once enrolled | Customers who meet the Power Rewards rules |
| Power Rewards participation | A $25 digital gift card each year for taking part in at least 75% of peak demand events | Enrolled customers |
| Virtual Home Energy Savings Walkthrough | A free virtual walkthrough; no efficiency items are provided | Eligible residential homeowners or renters billed directly by Ohio Power |
| HELP (High Efficiency for Low-Income Program) | Low- or no-cost upgrades, including heating, ventilation and cooling equipment, as recommended by an energy assessment | Household income at or below 300% of federal poverty level guidelines; applications paused for 2026 |
We found no heat pump or AC equipment rebate on Ohio Power's program pages as of October 2026. We checked its money-saving programs, home savings and electrification pages. Our search does not prove that no rebate exists. Ask Ohio Power before you buy.
How Power Rewards events work
In Power Rewards, Ohio Power can change your thermostat setting during energy conservation events. The program page says Ohio Power may call up to sixteen (16) of these events each year. It says each event will last four hours or less. During an event, a signal will temporarily change your set point by no more than 3 degrees. The page adds that you can override Ohio Power's adjustments at any time.
To qualify, you must be enrolled in a residential rate. You must also have or install an eligible Wi-Fi connected thermostat. The thermostat must control central air conditioning, an electric heating system, or both in your home.
The virtual walkthrough
Ohio Power offers a Virtual Home Energy Savings Walkthrough. The page says the walkthrough is free for eligible Ohio Power residential homeowners or renters who get their electric bill directly from Ohio Power. The walkthrough does not replace anything it finds. The page says it can give you information to help you decide which home improvements would bring the most benefit for your home and energy costs. It also says, "No energy efficiency items are provided through the program."
HELP, Ohio Power's income-qualified program
HELP offers low- or no-cost upgrades to a list of equipment, as the energy assessment recommends. Heating, ventilation and cooling equipment is the first item on that list. To qualify, a household's income must be at or below 300% of the federal poverty level guidelines.
As of October 2026, the page said HELP applications have been paused for 2026. It asked people to check back this fall, when the application for 2027 program assistance will reopen. The page gave no reopening date.
Columbia Gas of Ohio and WarmChoice
Columbia Gas of Ohio says its "residential energy efficiency programs, not including the income-qualified program, have ended." The page does not say when they ended. It adds that income-qualified customers may be eligible for no-cost weatherization services through its WarmChoice® program, which it still offers.
The WarmChoice page says qualified customers may receive these services:
- Attic and wall insulation
- Air sealing
- Natural gas furnace repair or replacement
- Natural gas water heater repair or replacement
The page says you may be eligible if your income is up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The chart shows Columbia Gas's 2026 income limits for each household size.
Columbia Gas of Ohio 2026 WarmChoice income guidelines
| 1-person household, up to | $31,920 |
|---|---|
| 2-person household, up to | $43,280 |
| 3-person household, up to | $54,640 |
| 4-person household, up to | $66,000 |
| 5-person household, up to | $77,360 |
| 6-person household, up to | $88,720 |
| 7-person household, up to | $100,080 |
| 8-person household, up to | $111,440 |
Franklin County weatherization through MORPC
MORPC offers home weatherization and safety services at no cost to income-eligible residents. It says, "These programs are available all year to Franklin County residents." MORPC lists these services at no cost, based on eligibility:
- Repair or replacement of furnaces and water heaters
- Attic and sidewall insulation
- Air sealing
- A full home energy inspection
- Safety checks on appliances
We did not check MORPC's income limits. Ask MORPC whether your household qualifies. MORPC says its Healthy Homes and Repair program serves homeowners in Franklin County who live outside the Columbus city limits. We could not open the City of Columbus's home repair pages. This guide does not cover them.
Status of Ohio's HEEHR and HOMES rebates
The Ohio Department of Development's Home Energy Savings Program page is dated April 25, 2024. It says the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Ohio $249 million through a formula grant under the Inflation Reduction Act. The page covers the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program (HOMES). It says HOMES "is intended for all Ohioans, regardless of income." The page also covers the High-Efficiency Electric Homes Rebate Program (HEEHR). It calls HEEHR "an income-qualified program" and says it is open to people earning less than 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
The page also gives a status update. It says the program application went to DOE on Nov. 12, 2024. It says the department's Office of Energy and Environment is waiting for DOE's approval. The page gives only one launch time frame. It said the launch was expected in the fourth quarter of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025. It said the timing depended on when Ohio received program approval and the release of funds from DOE. Both of those quarters have passed. For HEEHR, the page lists terms that include a $14,000 cap per household and an $8,000 cap for heat pump costs.
DOE's Home Energy Rebates page says, "Home Energy Rebates are now available in select states." We could not confirm Ohio's current status from that page as of October 2026.
Before you buy in Columbus
Programs change. Check with your utility before you sign a contract. If you are still choosing equipment, see our guide to a heat pump or gas furnace in Columbus. It covers local weather data and energy prices. Our guide to SEER2 ratings explains the efficiency minimums for new systems.