Figuring out HVAC rebates is hard. There’s a lot of content out there that isn’t consistent, and it’s hard to tell what’s legitimate. To complicate an already tough situation, often times, the official program websites by the government or their delivery partners are lengthy, and difficult to understand. Fortunately, we’ve broken down the current landscape of rebates in Ontario to help you decide if now is the right time to take advantage of moving to a higher efficiency and greener heating solution like a heat pump. While the specific program details are below, if you’d like more general information about how rebate programs and heat pumps work, please see our blog post here.
1) Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP)
This is a joint effort between Enbridge Gas and the Independent Electricity System Operator that’s delivered through the IESO’s Save on Energy brand.
Who is it For? Anyone connected to the Ontario grid or Enbridge Gas. See below for a note on exclusions.
Exclusions: Residents of Cornwall, Ontario who are Enbridge Gas customers are fully eligible, however those who heat with electricity, oil or propane are not eligible. This is because Cornwall is connected to Hydro-Québec’s grid and the program is funded by Ontario electricity ratepayers and Enbridge customers.
What are the Rebate Amounts?
| Enbridge Gas customers heating with gas: |
Homes heated with electricity, oil or wood: |
| $500/ton for cold climate air source heat pumps |
$1,250/ton for cold climate air source heat pumps up to $7,500 |
| $3000 flat rate for ground source heat pumps |
$2,000/ton for ground source heat pumps up to $12,000 |
Unless you have the space for a ground source heat pump (commonly referred to as a geothermal system), look only at the air source heat pump numbers. This is a significantly more common and less expensive option. Although requirements will vary depending on the size and age of your home among other factors, most homes will require 2 to 3 ton air source heat pumps, so use that as a baseline when calculating rebate eligibility.
How Does it Work? The program has two paths:
- 1st path. Requires an energy assessment, and two or more upgrades to insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, or a new heat pump water heater.
- 2nd path. Does not require an energy assessment, and requires only one or more upgrades including heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage, attic insulation, smart thermostats and appliances. This is a key benefit over predecessor programs which can save you time if you need to replace failing heating or cooling equipment in a hurry and saves you that additional cost.
Official website: https://www.homerenovationsavings.ca/
How to Get Started: Contact your local ClimateCare and have a Comfort Advisor visit your home. This free consultation will assess your home’s heating and cooling needs by doing a detailed heat gain/loss calculation, provide you equipment options that meet your needs and budget, and answer any questions you may have.
2. Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP)
This program is run by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and co-delivered by provincial partners. In Ontario, they are Enbridge Gas and the IESO. Note that while this program is fully operational in Manitoba, it is not yet finalized in Ontario as of the date of publication. Here’s what you can expect when the program goes live:
Who is it For? Low-to-median income households and renters.
What are the Rebate Amounts? Up to $25,000 in total value.
How does it Work? Unlike previous grant programs where you paid your contractor and then waited for a rebate check, this program operates primarily on a direct-install model so there’s no cost to the participant.
Official website:
https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/home-energy-efficiency/canada-greener-homes-initiative/canada-greener-homes-affordability-program
How to Get Started: Contact your local ClimateCare and have a Comfort Advisor visit your home. This free consultation will assess your home’s heating and cooling needs by doing a detailed heat gain/loss calculation, provide you equipment options that meet your needs and budget, and answer any questions you may have.
3. The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA)
This program is federally funded created by National Resources Canada (NRCan). In Ontario, the administration and installation delivery is handled by the provincial electrical grid operator – the IESO. The IESO administers the OHPA program directly through Ontario’s existing Energy Affordability Program (more on this below).
Who is it For? Homeowners or renters heating with oil.
Exclusions: Residents of Cornwall, Ontario who are Enbridge Gas customers are fully eligible, however those who heat with electricity, oil or propane are not eligible. This is because Cornwall is connected to Hydro-Québec’s grid and the program is partially funded by Ontario electricity ratepayers and Enbridge customers.
What are the Rebate Amounts? Up to $25,000 plus a $250 sign-up bonus ($15,000 of which can come from federal NRCan funds, plus up to $10,000 from electricity ratepayer funds.
How does it Work? The delivery process for this rebate program is fully managed to deliver a $0 out-of-pocket system. Because this program blends both federal funding from NRCan, and provincial funding, the path will depend upon whether or not the home in question is in Cornwall (see exclusion note above).
Path A: Ontario grid customers:
- Check eligibility and gather proof. You must meet specific income eligibility guidelines. You must also prove you’ve bought at least 500 liters of heating oil in the last year.
- Submit the application through IESO’s Energy Affordability Program (EAP) portal.
- Complete a free energy assessment. Once you’re pre-approved, and authorized Save on Energy energy expert will arrange a home visits to evaluate your current setup and measure for a heat pump.
- The installation. The logistics are handled by the program administrators. An approved contractor will install the cold-climate air source heat pump, performs any necessarily electrical system upgrades, and handles the safe removal of your old oil tank.
- Federal Bonus. Once completed, NRCan will send you the bonus $250 cheque for participating in the program.
If this sounds like a lot to manage, you’re not wrong. This is why rather than going it alone, we recommend involving an expert. Reach out your locate ClimateCare today who can help manage a lot of this process for you!
Path B: Cornwall Electric customers
- Check eligibility and gather proof. You must meet specific income eligibility guidelines. You must also prove you’ve bought at least 500 liters of heating oil in the last year.
- Submit the application through NRCan’s website portal for new OHPA applications. It’s part of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative.
- Get quotes from local contractors. You must upload at least one official quote to NRCan. The quote must list the system’s AHRI number, the indoor/outdoor model numbers, and costs for oil tank removal.
- Get your cheque. Upon reviewing your application and contractor quote, NRCan can approves your grant and mail you an upfront cheque for up to $10,000.
- Do the install. You have exactly 6 months from the day you receive the federal funds to have the contractor install the heat pump (including any necessary supporting electrical system upgrades) and remove the oil tank.
- Sign-off attestation. Once finished, you and your contractor sign a mandatory OHPA Attestation Form confirming the system is running. Upload the signed form and final invoices to the federal portal to close out your file.
The Catch: For any Ontario residents not in Cornwall, you must work with one of the three agencies appointed by IESO to deliver this program. They are Home Inspectors, Clear Results and Eco-Centre. Each has an assigned geographical territory.
Official website:
https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/home-energy-efficiency/canada-greener-homes-initiative/oil-heat-pump-affordability-program
How to Get Started? Contact your local ClimateCare and have a Comfort Advisor visit your home. This free consultation will assess your home’s heating and cooling needs by doing a detailed heat gain/loss calculation, provide you equipment options that meet your needs and budget, and answer any questions you may have.
4. Energy Affordability Program (EAP)
This program is entirely provincial and managed by the IESO under Ontario’s Save on Energy brand. It’s designed to help income-eligible homeowners and tenants lower their monthly utility bills while improving home comfort.
Who is it For? Homeowners or tenants meeting specific income tiers or receiving government assistance.
What are the Rebate Amounts? As there are two tiers of support based on income eligibility, the rebate amounts vary widely. Please see program details below:
How does it Work? There are two tiers of support based on income, household size, and participation in public assistance programs.
Tier 1: Comprehensive support. For lower income households, your energy assessment comes at no cost to you. They will assess your current home and make recommendations around HVAC systems, insulation and draft-proofing, Energy STAR appliances and smart thermostats.
Tier 2: Energy savings kits. For moderate income households, the IESO will send you a free, customized energy savings kit. It can include Energy STAR certified LED light bulbs, high-efficiency handheld showerheads, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, weatherstripping and specialized tools like block heater times.
As of the time of publication these are the income guidelines for the tiers mentioned above. Figures listed are max income levels for each bracket:
| Household Size |
Tier 1: Comprehensive Support |
Tier 2: Energy Saving Kit |
| 1 Person |
$48,220 |
$71,437 |
| 2 Persons |
$68,193 |
$101,027 |
| 3 Persons |
$83,518 |
$123,731 |
| 4 Persons |
$96,439 |
$142,873 |
| 5 Persons |
$107,823 |
$159,737 |
| 6+ Persons |
$118,113 – $127,576+ |
$174,983+ |
For these programs, you can bypass the income verification paperwork entirely if you or someone in your home has received benefits from any of these programs in the last 12 months:
Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) or a Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) grant.
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works.
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or Allowance for Seniors.
Healthy Smiles Ontario Child Dental Program.
Living as a member of an on-reserve Indigenous community.
The Catch: You must work with one of the three agencies appointed by IESO to deliver this program. They are Home Inspectors, Clear Results and Eco-Centre. Each has an assigned geographical territory.
Official website:
https://saveonenergy.ca/en/For-Your-Home/Energy-Affordability-Program
How to Get Started: For Tier 1 support, contact your local ClimateCare and have a Comfort Advisor visit your home. This free consultation will assess your home’s heating and cooling needs by doing a detailed heat gain/loss calculation, provide you equipment options that meet your needs and budget, and answer any questions you may have. For Tier 2 support which doesn’t involve HVAC appliances, please visit the programs official website, linked above, and click on the Apple Now button.
A Quick Overview of all Programs in Ontario
| Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) |
Active |
| Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) |
Active |
| Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA) |
Active |
| Energy Affordability Program (EAP) |
Active |
| Greener Homes Grant (GHG) |
Closed |
| Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) |
Closed |
| Greener Homes Loan |
Closed |
