Residential Electrical Panel Upgrade Grant Program

Subscribe to the Consumer Announcements newsletter* to receive email updates for individuals including consumers, homeowners, renters and the general public.

Overview

The Minnesota Residential Electrical Panel Upgrade Grant Program will provide financial assistance to owners of single-family residences and multifamily buildings to upgrade residential electric panels.

Eligibility

The eligibility requirements of the Minnesota Residential Electrical Panel Upgrade Grant Program are set forth in Minn. Stat. Sec. 216C.45:

• An owner of a single-family building whose occupants have an annual household income no greater than 150 percent of the area median income; or 
• An owner of a multifamily building in which at least 50 percent of the units are occupied by households whose annual income is no greater than 150 percent of the area median income.

Single-family residences are eligible for one of the following upgrades:

• The installation of equipment, devices and wiring necessary to increase an electrical panel's capacity to a total rating:
  • of not less than 200 amperes; or 
  • that allows all the building's energy needs to be provided solely by electricity, as calculated using the National Electrical Code adopted in Minnesota; or 
• The installation of a smart panel with or without additional equipment, devices, or wiring. 

Multifamily buildings are eligible for the following:

• The installation of equipment, devices and wiring necessary to increase the capacity of an electric panel, including feeder panels, to a total rating that allows all the building's energy needs to be provided solely by electricity, as calculated using the National Electrical Code adopted in Minnesota.   
• To be eligible, the owner of a multifamily building in which at least 50 percent of the units are occupied by households whose annual income is no greater than 150 percent of the area median income. 

The electrical work under this grant award must be performed by contractors and subcontractors that meet the requirements set forth in Minn. Stat. Sec. 216C.45.

Grant amounts

The maximum grant amount to an eligible owner of a single-family building is:

• $3,000 for an owner whose annual household income is less than 80 percent of area median income; and 
• $2,000 for an owner whose annual household income exceeds 80 percent but is not greater than 150 percent of area median income. 

The maximum grant amount to an eligible owner of a multifamily building is determined by the number of units containing separate electric panels receiving upgrades in the multifamily building but cannot exceed $50,000 per multifamily building. 

In addition to the eligible applicants, grant awards may be issued to a contractor performing an upgrade or to a third party on behalf of the eligible applicant if that applicant has provided their written approval as outlined at program launch. Grants will not be issued retroactively but only after the launch of the program.

There will be approximately $5.8 million in grants available for eligible applicants. In addition to this state program, the Department of Commerce will also be launching Federal Home Energy Rebate programs which will also contain rebates for electrical panel upgrades.

Minnesota’s timeline 

It is likely that this program will begin at the same time or after the launch of the federal Home Energy Rebate Program, which will be in 2025. Visit Minnesota’s Home Energy Rebates page to learn more about projected timelines.  

For those needing electric panel replacements before program launch, Commerce does not recommend to delay needed repairs. However, program funds will only be available after the launch of the program and will be issued for projects prior to the installation. Grants will not be issued for projects and installations that have been completed prior to the launch of the program in 2025. 

What can you do now?

• Learn more about the Federal High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act that the Minnesota program is tied to here: The Inflation Reduction Act: what you need to know (Clean Energy Resource Teams).
• Learn about Area Median Income: eligibility and rebate amounts vary based on an applicant’s total household income. Check if your total household income is at or below 80% or 150% of Area Median Income (AMI) for your county by using the Commerce-provided Area Median Income Look-Up Table (.pdf) that references HUD income limits by county and household size.

Contact Residential.Rebates.COMM@state.mn.us with questions.

*NOTICE: The Minnesota Department of Commerce is asking you to provide your email address for notification purposes regarding Division of Energy Resources programs. The data will be shared with those employees within Commerce and its contractors whose work assignment requires access the data. You are not required, and may refuse, to provide your email address. If you refuse, Commerce will be unable to provide you with upcoming information about Division of Energy Resources programs. If you supply your email address, Commerce may send you updates via your email. The data you provide may be shared as authorized by law or if a court orders that it be produced.