New Ontario Rebates! 📢

Enbridge launched its new rebate program (called Home Efficiency Rebate).

There’s good news and bad news.

The good: it’s up to $5,000 for energy efficiency upgrades. Similar to previous programs, you need to do energy assessments before starting your project and after it’s done. There is a $600 rebate to help offset those costs.

The list of rebates includes heat pumps, air sealing, insulation, heat pump water heaters, and windows & doors.

The bad: you need to complete two upgrades to qualify, only eight (8) Service Organizations are approved to deliver the program (limiting your options for energy advisors), and the rebate amounts are significantly less than in prior programs.

For example, the air source heat pump rebate depends on equipment size ranging from $500 to $2,000, although the most common heat pumps will be $1,000 (2 tons), $1,250 (2.5 tons), and $1,500 (3 tons).

Basing the rebate on size may result in unintended consequences like contractors quoting larger equipment to offer larger rebates. Oversized equipment leads to poor comfort, IAQ, and humidity. Contractors should prioritize homeowner experiences over rebate amounts. 

What it means for you: homeowners that were already planning on projects that include multiple measures will benefit the most from the program. For example, a homeowner with minimal attic insulation in a leaky house could go through the program by installing attic insulation and air sealing the attic floor. This could be an ideal time to look at other eligible upgrades to add to the project.

For homeowners that just want to access the heat pump rebate, it’s a mixed bag. The most common path will be combining the heat pump rebate with air sealing. For now, Enbridge allows homeowners to DIY air sealing.

But be warned, if you don’t achieve the air sealing target (measured by an air tightness test) then you won’t be eligible for any rebate amount, unless you’re willing to proceed with another project that includes an eligible measure. 

Unfortunately, you won’t know if you pass the air tightness test until the energy advisor completes the post-retrofit assessment, and if you fail then it could require multiple visits from the energy advisor (for an additional fee) to ensure you’re eligible for the program.

You can hire an air sealing contractor to increase the odds of passing the test. The air sealing rebate ($120-180) will only cover a small portion of the costs. Homeowners that want a heat pump rebate might be best to view this program as a “free air sealing and energy assessment” incentive because the additional costs to go through the program are likely to fall within a few hundred dollars compared to avoiding the program and proceeding with heat pump only.

Homeowners are allowed to combine this rebate program with the Canada Greener Home Loan program, which provides interest-free loans (0%) up to $40,000 on a 10-year term for approved energy upgrades.

Jouleia’s Home Expert Service helps homeowners navigate the program and decide on next steps.

Upgrade today if you haven’t already!