The $450 rebate most Montgomery County homeowners miss.

Washington Gas — the natural gas utility serving most of Montgomery County — runs an energy efficiency rebate program funded through the EmPOWER Maryland Act. For tankless water heaters, the rebate is worth up to $450 for Maryland customers in 2026. Combine it with other available incentives and you can stack up to $1,400 in total savings.

Who qualifies

You qualify for the Washington Gas tankless rebate if:

• You are a Washington Gas Maryland residential customer (have an active natural gas account)
• You install an Energy Star certified tankless water heater (most Rinnai, Navien, and Rheem units qualify)
• The installation is done by a contractor in the Washington Gas Home Energy Savings Network (we are one)
• The unit meets the minimum Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) threshold — typically 0.87 or higher for the standard rebate
• You file the rebate paperwork within 90 days of installation

That last bullet trips up a lot of homeowners who install first and try to file later. The 90-day window is strictly enforced.

How much you'll actually get

The rebate amount depends on the unit's efficiency rating:

UEF efficiency	Rebate amount	Example units
0.87 – 0.92 UEF	$300	Standard non-condensing tankless
0.93 – 0.95 UEF	$400	Most condensing tankless
0.96+ UEF	$450	Top-tier condensing (Navien NPE-A2, Rinnai RX)

Our standard installs use 0.96 UEF units, so all our customers qualify for the full $450.

How the filing works

Step 1 — Installation by an approved contractor.

Must be a contractor in the Washington Gas Home Energy Savings Network. We're registered. A DIY install or work by an unapproved contractor disqualifies you.

Step 2 — We file on your behalf.

Immediately after install, we submit the rebate application through the Washington Gas contractor portal. We provide your utility account number (we get it from you during consult), the equipment specs, and the signed invoice.

Step 3 — Washington Gas verification.

Washington Gas reviews the application. For customers of contractors already in the approved network (us), this is typically a rubber-stamp process. Processing takes 4-6 weeks.

Step 4 — Check arrives in the mail.

Rebate is paid as a physical check sent to your mailing address on file with Washington Gas. Typical delivery: 6-8 weeks after install.

Stackable with three other rebates

The Washington Gas rebate is just one of four incentives you can stack for a Montgomery County tankless install:

• Washington Gas rebate: Up to $450
• Maryland manufacturer bonus: Additional $100 on select Rinnai/Navien models
• Federal tax credit (IRS 25C): Up to $600 (30% of project cost, capped)
• Montgomery County property tax credit: Up to $250 for energy efficiency improvements

Total stackable: up to $1,400. For an Essential tier install at $3,895, that drops your net to $2,495. See our full rebates guide for detail on each.

The common mistakes we see

Mistake 1 — Filing yourself after a non-approved contractor install.

Washington Gas explicitly requires the install be done by a contractor in their approved network. DIY or big-box-store installs don't qualify regardless of the equipment UEF.

Mistake 2 — Waiting too long to file.

The 90-day window starts at install completion. We file immediately so this is never an issue for our customers — but if you're using another contractor, confirm they'll file promptly.

Mistake 3 — Skipping the federal credit.

The $450 WG rebate gets homeowners' attention, but many then forget to claim the federal 25C credit worth up to $600. It's a separate form filed with your taxes. We provide the documentation package at install.

Mistake 4 — Not knowing about the Montgomery County credit.

The $250 property tax credit is the least-known of the four. It applies to energy efficiency improvements including water heating upgrades. Application goes to the Dept. of Finance. We prep the paperwork.

If you're already past install

If you've already had a tankless installed and are wondering about rebates you may have missed, here's the hierarchy of recovery:

• Federal tax credit: You can claim it for the tax year of install, even years later if you haven't filed yet for that year. Check with your accountant.
• Montgomery County property tax credit: Also filed annually; check if you're within the window.
• Washington Gas rebate: If you're past the 90-day window, unfortunately it's closed.
• Manufacturer rebate: Usually closed after initial install window.

Bottom line

The Washington Gas tankless rebate is straightforward money — but only if your install is done by a network-approved contractor and filed within 90 days. When you work with us, that all happens automatically. When you work with a contractor who's not in the network or won't file paperwork for you, you may leave $450 on the table.