SRP AC Rebates: What Phoenix-Area Homeowners Can Claim

Which SRP rebates apply to an AC replacement?

Start with your bill. Mesa, Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert all have both SRP and APS customers, so a neighbor's rebate may not be yours. If your account is with APS, read the APS rebates guide instead.

For SRP customers, SRP's residential rebate page lists rebates for energy-efficient air-conditioning equipment, home energy assessments, smart thermostats and insulation. It states that eligible new AC equipment may qualify for up to $1,125.^[1] That figure applies to equipment that meets SRP's requirements.

Third-party pages often carry older or conflicting numbers. Treat SRP's live page as the only authority, and look for its update date before you rely on any amount.

Does the SRP Cool Cash rebate still exist?

"Cool Cash" is the name SRP has associated with its AC rebate program.^[5] Many searchers still use it, but the AC rebate now appears under SRP's residential rebates, listed by equipment type.^[1]

Confirm the status on SRP's page the day you shop. Some older articles reference deadlines that have already passed, so a result that mentions a 2025 cutoff shouldn't guide a 2026 purchase.

Can you get SRP rebates for insulation and ductwork?

Insulation, yes. SRP's announcement says insulation rebates can cover up to 75% of professionally installed work, up to $600.^[5] The work must be done by a participating program contractor who is BPI-certified and licensed in Arizona, and air sealing is required unless documentation shows it isn't needed.^[2]

Ductwork is different.

SRP's rebate pages list assessments, AC equipment, thermostats and insulation, but not a duct rebate.^[1] SRP does call duct sealing an important way to cut cooling energy use.^[4] That's advice, not a rebate.

Side by side

Insulation versus ductwork

Insulation

• Rebate listed by SRP
• Participating BPI-certified contractor
• Air sealing required unless documented as unnecessary

vs

Ductwork

• No duct rebate listed
• Duct sealing is advice only
• Budget for it on its own

If your ducts are leaky, see ductwork repair, sealing and replacement and budget for it on its own.

Why sequence matters

Phoenix-area homes average a 1985 build year, so many attics have thin insulation and tired ducts. A new unit sized for a leaky, under-insulated house may be larger than the house needs once those problems are fixed.

Fix insulation and ducts first, then size the AC.

An SRP home energy assessment reviews equipment, insulation, ducts and thermostats together, which makes it a sensible first step.^[3] If the assessment feeds a rebate, you have six months after it to apply.^[3]

What steps keep you from losing the SRP rebate?

SRP, not your installer, decides whether equipment qualifies. A friendly quote doesn't guarantee money back. Follow this order.

1. Confirm SRP is your electric utility. Check the bill. Why first: it keeps you from chasing a rebate you can't claim.
2. Read SRP's current eligibility rules. Note the page's update date. Why now: amounts and requirements change, and old pages linger.
3. Get qualifying model numbers in writing. Include efficiency rating and compressor type. Why before signing: "high efficiency" is not a qualification.
4. Settle who files and who pulls the permit. Put both in the contract. Why: "we handle it" should name a person and a deadline.
5. Complete any insulation or assessment steps first. Why: they affect sizing and may be separate rebate tracks.
6. Install, then submit within SRP's window. SRP's announcement says rebates must be submitted within six months of installation.^[5]
7. Keep every copy until payment arrives. Why: if SRP asks questions, your records answer them.

Before you sign a contract

Ask whether the quoted price assumes the rebate. Some contractors subtract it upfront, others leave you to apply, so comparing quotes only works when both are on the same basis.

Pro tip

Ask each contractor whether the quote already subtracts the rebate, so you compare prices on the same basis.

If a salesperson arrives at your door promising rebates, Arizona gives you three business days to cancel a home sale (A.R.S. 44-5004).

After installation

Get an itemized invoice listing model and serial numbers, install date and system capacity. Ask for a copy of any submission or confirmation, not just a promise.

Sample document

Itemized invoice to request

Invoice

Sample

• Equipment modelListed
• Serial numberListed
• Install dateListed
• System capacityListed

Illustrative figures, not a quote.

Keep the contract, permit record if one exists, and invoice.

How do permits and contractor licensing fit in?

Permit rules differ by city, and rebate pages ignore this. Here is how a like-for-like replacement is treated in four places.

A Scottsdale homeowner will have a permit record, while a Phoenix homeowner usually won't. For other cities, ask your contractor or the city.

SRP's terms are what say whether a permit is part of the rebate, so check them rather than assuming. Details are in our permits guide.

Hire an Arizona Registrar of Contractors licensee whose class (R-39, R-39R or CR-39) covers the work, and look them up at roc.az.gov/before-hire. See how to verify a license.

Get a written contract showing the license number and start and completion dates, and make checks payable to the company named in it. A license isn't proof of insurance, so ask for liability coverage documents. For insulation, SRP's rules go further and require a participating, BPI-certified contractor.^[2]

Are there tax credits or other incentives beyond SRP?

Possibly, but they're separate. A federal tax credit has its own eligibility rules and doesn't combine with an SRP rebate into one benefit.

Federal HVAC credit rules have changed recently, so check the IRS and energy.gov pages for 2026 status before counting on it.

Manufacturer or contractor promotions are another track. Check SRP's terms for stacking rules before assuming they combine. When you're ready to compare installers, start with the AC replacement and installation page.

SRP rebate FAQ