Electrify New Mexico

Whether you own or rent, have one project or want to transform an entire house, this website will guide your path to an energy efficient, climate friendly, cost-effective and healthy place to live.  

Electrify Everything

Electric appliances for cooking our food, heating our homes and water, drying our clothes and transporting us have made remarkable advances.  They offer superior efficiency, precision, comfort, and health benefits at the same or lower cost as gas appliances.

And because electricity generation grows cleaner every day, switching to electric cuts climate and air pollution too.

Click below to see some possible upgrades.

WORTH A LISTEN: Volts Podcast “So you want to electrify your home” with Cora Wyent of  Rewiring America

Meet some of our Colorado neighbors who have already electrified!

Disclaimer: We are not tax professionals.  Please contact the Internal Revenue Service or your tax adviser before you make any decisions regarding tax credits described in this website.

What To Know Before You Start

Image of different programs stacked on top of each other. From the top, image of electric plug in a house, utility and coop rebates, New Mexico state tax credits and rebates and the IRS Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.

There are tax credits and rebates to lower your costs, and these can be stacked, or combined together, for greater savings.

Eligibility for the different programs depends on your household income, household size and location.

Not all products qualify for all of the tax credits and rebates. For example, some heat pumps and heat pump water heaters that qualify for PNM rebates do NOT qualify for federal or state tax credits.

 

Click here to learn more!

 

Electrification takes time. Between few knowledgeable installers, a lack of Energy Auditors and annual limits on tax credits, it may take several years. If the Inflation Reduction Act is not repealed, federal incentives last until 2032.  However, we understand that heat pump prices may go up next year by 30% in part because manufacturers will be required to use new refrigerants starting Jan. 1, 2025.

 

Key actions to do now: (1) seal leaks, insulate & upgrade your house’s “envelope.” This will reduce the size/cost of any subsequent heat pump; (2) research heat pump water heaters and heat pumps before your existing units fail; (3) try an induction burner to avoid harmful fumes from gas.

 

Heat pumps heat & cool. Cold climate heat pumps do not need electric strips or gas backup, but are more expensive. Switching from propane or electric heating to a heat pump lowers energy costs. Gas-to-heat-pump switch increases electricity usage. Solar helps. Get 3 quotes & tax-eligibility certificate.

 

To save upfront costs, installers suggest dual fuel systems (heat pump/gas furnace/coil) that get utility/gas rebates, but may not qualify for tax credits. No NM tax credit for dual fuel. Federal credit requires 97% efficient furnace. Insist on an itemized receipt (breaks out labor/equip & install cost of each component). Get a system AHRI certificate  or at least manufacturer’s certificates for the components showing tax credit eligibility.

 

If you have at least 100 amps, you may not need to upgrade.  A heat pump or other installer may say you need an electric panel (breaker box) upgrade to 200 amps. This can be very expensive and may trigger an even more costly service upgrade that could delay your projects for months or years. Learn about strategies to avoid an upgrade here.

 

 

Resources for low-income residents and renters and landlords.

What To Electrify or Upgrade


Meet the new generation of electric equipment that will keep you comfortable, healthy and save you money. Click below on the squares below to learn more.

Windows & Weatherization
Induction Cooking
Heat Pumps
Heat Pump Hot Water Heater
Heat Pump Dryer
Other Appliances
EVs & Chargers
Solar & Storage
For Renters & Landlords
New Electric Homes
Energy Management
Low-Income Resources

Where To Start

1. To see what is possible, take a look at these five case studies from Rewiring America that illustrate how people at different income levels and house/apartment sizes might map out electrification projects.

2. Take yourself on a tour of your residence.

    • Most houses leak energy. Fixing high-heat-loss windows, leaky doors, or inadequate insulation can save you lots of money in equipment and heating and cooling bills.  An Energy Audit and Weatherization should be your first  first steps. Write this at the top of a list.
    • Make a list of your appliances and their ages (how to find an appliance’s age; typical appliances’ lifespans). When might your appliances need replacing? Rewiring America says: Electrify when they die! Make a replacement timeline. 
    • Panel/Wiring Upgrades. Read about your home’s electric system in the What to Know Before You Start section above. Write “electric panel/wiring upgrade” near the top of your list if you think you will need these. Also write “240V” by the appliances that might need a 240V outlet or write “120V” if you’ve already decided to use a 120V version or want to discuss this with a contractor.

3. What are your top reasons to electrify?  Here are some examples. On your timeline, highlight the changes that mean the most to you.

    • If you are worried about the health impacts of NOx and other pollutants in your kitchen even when your stove is off, an induction cooktop or hot plate might be your first priority, followed by replacing a gas furnace and gas water heater.
    • Are you concerned about toxic wildfire smoke coming into your house through a swamp cooler? You might explore replacing your swamp cooler with a heat pump for both cooling and heating.
    • High heating bills?  Are you using electricity, propane, wood pellets or a wood stove for spacing heating? Switching to a heat pump as soon as possible will save you money.
    • If you heat with methane (natural) gas it may not make economic sense to switch to a heat pump especially if your furnace is new.  However, in central and northern New Mexico, an economical option is to install a less expensive heat pump and keep the gas furnace for backup on only the coldest days.
    • Are thinking about building an addition and don’t want to add a gas line? Consider adding a mini split heat pump.
    • Do you have a casita or small guest house that needs heating and cooling or another small heating/cool project? Consider adding mini-spit heat pump to the top of your list.
    • Are you looking to reduce building costs? Leave out the gas line and go all electric.
Do you have methane (natural) gas heating, but have one room that is always too cold or hot? A mini-spit heat pump might do the trick and be a small project to test the electrification waters. 
If you were thinking of replacing your swamp cooler with refrigerated air because of warming temperatures or allergies, now is a great time to explore a heat pump and get a great heating system as well.
Your first priority should be to drive electric (50% of your emissions), install an electric heat pump for heating and cooling (25%), install a heat pump water heater (10%), switch to induction cooking (5%), and install a heat pump clothes dryer (3%). And, while electricity providers are still not 100% clean renewable energy, installing solar and storage to power your EV and appliances is also very important. Note: to really cut your emissions ride a bike instead of drive, cut back on flying and eat less meat. 
Explore buying or leasing an electric vehicle and installing an electric charger  at your home, rental or condo.
Power your electrification with Solar and/or electric storage. Check out our pages on how to make the most of state and federal tax credits.
Is your income low to moderate? See if you qualify for these free weatherization and other services first. Then see if you  might qualify for these IRA rebates. If so, you should start to prioritize your electrification goals in case these IRA rebates and other emerging programs can help you with your plans.
As a renter consider putting portable appliances on your list like a heat pump clothes dryer, induction hot plate or, in a year or so, a portable window heat pump. Look for community solar opportunities. You can also consider an EV and work with your landlord or electricity provider to get an EV charger.

 

4. What financial incentives are you eligible for? Are you possibly eligible for low-income IRA rebates that come out in 2024?    These can really cut the costs of appliances like heat pumps and electric upgrades, so you might have to wait for those on your timeline if you qualify. New Mexico will only be issuing IRA rebates to low-income and multi family buildings, NOT middle-income residents. Explore our webpages for other New Mexico incentives.

5.  Timeline in hand, you are ready to put your plan together with Rewiring America’s planning guide.

Resources

Rewiring America:

LoveElectric: Ready to Make a Change?   Colorado-based website filled with info and real world examples of  heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and cooking.

Electrify Now  Oregon-based website includes information, webinars, real case studies on heat pumps, induction stoves, all electric homes,  renewable electricity, and EVs. Estimates how much CO2 is avoided by taking action.

Carbon Switch  Comprehensive Guides on water heaters, lighting, heating and cooling, insulation and stoves.

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership  Air Source Heat Pump Installer and Consumer Resources  – Buying guide, installation guide and information about heat pumps in cold climates.

Internal Revenue Service Credits and Deductions Under the Inflation Reduction Act includes information for individuals and businesses on everything from EVs to Solar and Wind Facilities.

New Mexicans who have Electrified!

Coming soon!  Want to share your story? Email us at stefiwebsite@yahoo.com