Quick answer: The federal EV charger tax credit expired June 30, 2026, so the money that’s left comes from your state and your electric utility, not the IRS. Utility rebates alone commonly run $200 to $2,000 — Xcel Energy pays $200 in Colorado, PG&E pays up to $2,000 in California — and almost every program requires an ENERGY STAR-certified Level 2 charger to qualify. Check DSIRE.org and your utility’s own site directly, since state and utility rebates can usually be stacked together and change without much notice.
Most homeowners assume EV charger rebates disappeared along with the federal tax credit. They didn’t — they just moved. There’s no longer a single national number to quote, which is exactly why so few people bother to check what’s still on the table where they actually live.
The federal credit is gone — here’s what replaced it
The Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit, known as Section 30C, covered 30% of a home charger’s purchase and installation cost up to $1,000 per location. It expired on June 30, 2026 under the 2025 tax law change, and there’s no indication it’s coming back. If you installed before that date, you may still be able to claim it on your taxes for that tax year — but for anyone buying now, that door is closed.
What’s left is a patchwork of state programs and, more importantly, utility-run rebates — money your local electric company pays out of its own budget, usually to encourage EV adoption or to get your charger enrolled in a demand-response program that helps them manage grid load. These programs vary enormously by provider, which is the entire reason a guide like this can’t give you one number.
What real utility rebates actually pay (examples)
| Utility / Program | Region | Rebate | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG&E Residential Charging Solutions | California | Up to $2,000 | Level 2 charger, can include panel/wiring costs |
| Austin Energy Power Partner EV | Texas | Up to $1,200 (50% of cost) | Wi-Fi-connected smart charger enrolled in demand response |
| SWEPCO | AR / LA / TX | $250 | ENERGY STAR-certified Level 2 charger |
| Xcel Energy CARe | Colorado | Up to $200 | ENERGY STAR-certified Level 2 charger |
| Con Edison SmartCharge NY | New York | ~$400/year ongoing | Off-peak managed charging (rate credit, not an install rebate) |
Two things jump out from that spread. First, the dollar amount alone can vary by 10x depending on your zip code — a Texas or Colorado homeowner and a California homeowner are not playing the same game. Second, the requirement column matters as much as the dollar amount: several of the biggest rebates aren’t just “buy any charger,” they specifically require a connected, ENERGY STAR-certified unit that the utility can enroll in a smart-charging program.
DSIRE (dsireusa.org), the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, is a U.S. Department of Energy-funded tracker and the closest thing to a single directory of what’s currently live — its EV charging incentive listings were last refreshed in late 2025, making it a solid 2026 starting point. From there, always cross-check your specific utility’s own site, since utility rebates frequently run separately from anything the state database lists.
Buy a charger that actually qualifies
Since most programs require ENERGY STAR certification — and the bigger rebates increasingly require a Wi-Fi-connected charger, not a dumb one — the safest move is to buy hardware that clears that bar before you even apply.
ChargePoint Home Flex
- ENERGY STAR certification plus a Wi-Fi-connected app make it eligible for both the basic "certified charger" rebates and the higher-value demand-response programs like Austin Energy's.
- Adjustable 16–50A output in the app lets you match whatever circuit your electrician actually runs, without buying a second unit later.
- Read our full ChargePoint Home Flex review for the six SKU variants and where it beats or loses to competitors.
Installing for a rental property or a small fleet instead of a single garage? A free Amazon Business account unlocks quantity discounts and tax-exempt purchasing once you’re buying chargers, conduit, and receptacles in bulk rather than one at a time.
Emporia Classic Level 2 EV Charger
- The lowest-priced ENERGY STAR-certified charger in our lineup, which matters directly for rebate math — a $200 utility rebate against a $429 charger is a much bigger discount than against a $549 one.
- Wi-Fi app scheduling covers the off-peak charging window most time-of-use rebate programs actually check for.
- See our full Emporia Classic review for the PowerSmart load-management tradeoffs.
The bottom line
The federal EV charger tax credit is gone as of June 30, 2026, but treating that as “no more rebates exist” leaves real money on the table — utility programs alone range from $200 to $2,000 depending on where you live. Start at DSIRE.org, then check your own utility’s site directly, buy an ENERGY STAR-certified (ideally Wi-Fi-connected) charger so you don’t accidentally disqualify yourself, and apply before you assume the paperwork isn’t worth it. For the install project itself, our EV charger installation cost guide breaks down what you’ll pay before any rebate is applied, and our best home EV charger picks cover the full lineup beyond the two ENERGY STAR options above.