When Kristen Wraithwall, a passionate sustainability professional, and her family bought their fixer-upper, they saw possibility where others saw work.
“It was very much a fixer-upper,” Kristen recalls. “During the walkthrough, we knew all our systems needed upgrades and felt pretty intimidated by the process.”
Their real estate agent gave them a crucial tip, “There’s a lot of SMUD rebates.” Kristen, who had worked in sustainability but was coming from a renting situation, had heard of the rebates at a high level but hadn’t fully explored them. “That night, we looked at all the rebates on the SMUD website, and it was actually the deciding factor in buying our home — they made it possible for us to afford all the upgrades — and purchase our home,” she said.
This month, SMUD announced new, higher rebates for residential heat pumps to help customers transition to clean, efficient electric heating and cooling technology, while offsetting the recent reduction of federal and state tax credit and incentive programs. That means up to $4,000 for heat pump water heater conversions, up to $3,000 for upgrading your HVAC system and $1,000 for switching from older electric systems.
“These rebates demonstrate our commitment to making clean energy affordable and accessible for every Sacramento family,” said Lora Anguay, Chief Zero Carbon Officer. “Heat pumps are a reliable technology that reduce carbon emissions, boost energy efficiency and deliver about $500 a year in real savings. By increasing our rebates, we’re removing cost barriers and helping our community take part in our shared clean energy future.”
“The rebate helped us be more thoughtful about choosing the right system and made the upgrades affordable when they might otherwise be out of reach,” Kristen shared. “I believe it’s more affordable than many people realize to make these improvements, thanks to the rebates.”
Kristen also drives an electric vehicle — embracing a clean energy lifestyle that cuts costs and carbon. By switching to electric and leveraging SMUD’s rebates, her family now saves nearly $100 a month on energy costs.
The upgrades have made a huge difference. “It feels great to know how much we are saving on our utility bill,” Kristen said with a smile. “My home is fully electrified now, and I love it.”
Kristen’s story is an example of how clean energy upgrades can be accessible and affordable. As a true Clean PowerCity Champion, she actively shares her experience with friends, neighbors and her community — encouraging others to explore SMUD’s rebate programs.
Our heat pump programs are a cornerstone of our 2030 Zero Carbon Plan and goal to electrify 154,000 homes by 2030. Heat pumps are highly efficient compared to traditional gas systems, providing heating and cooling while cutting energy bills, improving indoor comfort and reducing household carbon footprints. Already, more than 23,000 families have made the switch through our Advanced Home Solutions program — each one helping Sacramento inch closer to a carbon-free future.
For Kristen and her family, what started as a fixer-upper became a forever home. With the increase of our rebates, there’s never been a better time for you to save energy and improve comfort, while reducing household carbon emissions.
Ready to find out how much you could save? Discover more and join Kristen on the journey to a clean energy future at smud.org/Rebates.
