Header image: illustration of the type of work described, not a photo of a CG Service Pros project.
Austin Energy pays rebates for attic insulation in apartment units through its Multifamily Rebate Program. To qualify, the property generally has to be at least 10 years old, meet the program's minimum number of rental units under one owner or manager, comply with the city's ECAD ordinance, and get written approval from Austin Energy before any insulation goes in. The rebate is paid per square foot and scales with how much R-value the project adds.
Winter is a good time to start. The approval steps take time, attics are easier to work in when it is cool, and the insulation keeps paying off through the summer.
Who qualifies for Austin Energy multifamily insulation rebates
Austin Energy's multifamily guidelines set the property rules. According to the current guidelines posted on austinenergy.com, the property must:
- Be at least 10 years old, based on the certificate of occupancy.
- Be owned or managed entirely by the same company or individual.
- Meet the minimum unit count on one property, or with contiguous duplex or triplex units under the same owner. Mid-rise and high-rise properties are eligible. Austin Energy sets the minimum in its guidelines, so confirm the current number before you plan.
- Comply with the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance for multifamily properties, unless exempt or outside Austin city limits.
- Not be listed on the City of Austin Code Department's Repeat Offender Program.
Why this matters: if any one of these fails, the project stops before anyone looks at the attic. Check them first.
A note on timing: Austin Energy says offerings and requirements can change without notice, and it updates the guideline document from time to time. Before you budget, check the current guidelines on the program page, or ask us to confirm which version applies to your property. The rules below come from the guidelines posted on austinenergy.com.
Standard or Income Qualified
Austin Energy runs two multifamily paths. Standard rebates are designed to pay up to 80% of the cost of the measures installed. The Income Qualified path carries a higher cap, and the program's eligibility table lists it for 501(c)(3) nonprofit properties and for some for-profit properties with individually metered units. Austin Energy decides which path a property fits, so ask during the first contact rather than assuming. Our Austin Energy multifamily rebate guide covers the program's other measures and the application steps.
What the insulation rebate covers
The program summary describes the attic insulation measure this way: insulation must be installed between the roof and a mechanically cooled space, in rental units only. The rebate is calculated in dollars per square foot, and the amount depends on the installed R-value, measured as the difference between the existing insulation and the final level, in a range from R-10 to R-30.
In plain terms, a thin or patchy attic that gets brought up to a high R-value earns more per square foot than an attic that only needs a top-off. Current per-square-foot amounts are in the Multifamily Program Rebate Summary on austinenergy.com. We do not quote them here because they can change.
A few things the measure does not cover:
- Attics over spaces that are not mechanically cooled.
- Common-area attics, since the measure description says rental units only.
- Work already installed before approval. Austin Energy states that installed equipment and retrofits do not qualify retroactively.
The approval steps, in order
The guidelines spell out what has to happen before and after installation. This is where most delays come from, so it helps to see the whole sequence.
| Step | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Contact request | The owner or manager submits Austin Energy's Contact Request Form. | Starts the file with an Austin Energy representative. |
| 2. On-site assessment | Austin Energy staff assess the property before work starts. | Confirms eligibility and the baseline insulation level. |
| 3. Project proposal | The contractor prepares a proposal with scope and estimated cost, approved by Austin Energy and signed by the owner. | The rebate is tied to this scope. |
| 4. Letter of intent | Austin Energy issues a letter of intent (LOI) approving the scope and rebate. | No installation can start before the LOI. |
| 5. Installation | The work must be finished within 120 days of the LOI, including any corrections. | Plan crews and resident access inside this window. |
| 6. Inspections | In-progress and post-installation visits verify the work. Residents must get at least 24 hours notice before an Austin Energy inspection. | Missed notices delay the final visit. |
| 7. Final invoice and payment | A signed, itemized final invoice closes the project. | Rebates are paid only after approval and inspection. |
Two other rules in the posted guidelines. An application has to qualify for at least $200 in rebates. Incomplete applications are placed on hold and can be cancelled after 90 days.
Austin Energy also limits repeat rebates. Properties that received a rebate within the past 10 years for the same type of retrofit may be ineligible for another one on the same work, though the guidelines allow case-by-case exceptions when the new work shows additional savings.
From the field: "Before the assessment, open a few attic hatches yourself and take photos. Thin spots, crushed batts and old equipment platforms all end up in the scope, and it helps to know about them before the proposal arrives. Also list which attics sit over rental units, since common-area attics do not count for this measure."
CG's field team
On a typical insulation project, our team measures the existing insulation depth, photographs each attic before and after the work, prepares the project proposal, and coordinates inspection dates with Austin Energy. The property usually provides account information, unit access, resident notices and the signed paperwork. Splitting the work this way keeps the file moving, because neither side waits on the other to start.
Why start before winter
The schedule above is the main reason.
The approval takes time. Between the assessment, the proposal, and the LOI, the paperwork has to clear before anyone climbs into an attic. Starting in November or December keeps the 120-day installation window inside the cooler months.
Attic work is easier in cool weather. Summer attics in Central Texas get dangerously hot, which slows crews and limits working hours. Insulation finished in winter is also in place before June, when the air conditioning starts running hard and residents notice the difference most.
Austin Energy's own program page says efficiency upgrades can reduce work orders and help with resident comfort in hot summers and cold winters. That is the case to make to an owner who asks why now. For the financial side, see energy rebates and property NOI.
Who gets paid, and how CG handles it
By default, Austin Energy sends the rebate to the property's electric account holder. The guidelines allow the payment to go to a participating contractor instead, if that contractor is registered as a City of Austin vendor, is registered in Austin Energy's rebate processing system, and has a letter signed by the account holder authorizing the payment.
CG Service Pros collects the rebate directly from Austin Energy at the end of the project. The property signs the authorization letter at the start, and the rebate goes to CG once Austin Energy approves the final inspection and invoice. Whatever the rebate does not cover is the owner's share. We show that amount in the proposal before anyone signs, so the owner knows the net cost up front.
From the field: "Ask for a proposal that shows the total project cost, the estimated rebate and the balance the property pays on separate lines. If an inspection changes the approved rebate, you want to know before work starts how that difference is handled."
CG's project leads
A short checklist before you call
- Certificate of occupancy date (10 years or older).
- Number of rental units and whether they are under one owner or manager.
- ECAD status, or a note that the property is exempt or outside city limits.
- Austin Energy account information for the property.
- Any Austin Energy rebates the property received in the last 10 years.
- A contact who can give access to attics and coordinate resident notices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Austin Energy give rebates for attic insulation in apartments?
Yes. Austin Energy's Multifamily Rebate Program includes attic insulation in rental units. The insulation must sit between the roof and a mechanically cooled space, and the rebate is paid per square foot based on the R-value added.
Do I need approval before installing insulation?
Yes. Austin Energy requires an application, an on-site assessment, and a letter of intent before installation. Work done before approval does not qualify.
How many units does a property need?
Austin Energy sets a minimum number of rental units in its multifamily guidelines, and contiguous duplex or triplex units under the same owner can count together. Check the current guidelines or ask us to confirm the number before you plan, since the program can change.
How is the rebate amount calculated?
It is a dollar amount per square foot that rises with the R-value added, from R-10 to R-30. Current amounts are listed in Austin Energy's Multifamily Program Rebate Summary.
How long do we have to finish the work?
The guidelines require installation, including any corrections, within 120 days of the letter of intent.
Can the rebate be paid to the contractor?
Yes, if the contractor is a City of Austin vendor, is registered in Austin Energy's rebate system, and has a signed authorization letter from the account holder. CG Service Pros collects the rebate directly from Austin Energy at the end of the project.
Next step
CG Service Pros was named Austin Energy's 2024 Contractor of the Year and has handled rebate projects for more than five years, and its clients include the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA). In a single year, the team completed more than 4,500 multifamily units. If your property might qualify, start with a review of the eligibility checklist above. Visit our Austin multifamily rebates page to request a property review, or reach our office at 1606 Headway Cir STE 19056, Austin, TX 78754.
Sources
Program details checked November 2, 2026:
