Ontario Home Energy Conservation Incentive Program
Financed by the Green Investment Fund, the Home Energy Conservation Incentive Program in Ontario targets homeowners who use electricity, wood, oil, propane, and natural gas for heating. The program is run by Union Gas and Enbridge Gas Distribution in cooperation with Save On Energy and the provincial government. The main goal is to minimize pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce electricity/energy bills, and increase energy efficiency.
How the Program Works
Customers who purchase and install 2 or more energy-efficient devices and upgrades are offered up to $5,000 in the form of cash back. Rebates are offered for central air conditioners, air source heat pumps, appliances, and doors and windows. When it comes to appliances, rebates are usually offered for Energy Star certified models. Customers who opt for a water heater or a heating system also qualify for rebates. The same goes for attic, exterior wall and basement insulation and high-efficiency furnaces and boilers. Homeowners who choose to install an Energy Star air source heat pump are also offered a rebate for replacing appliances and systems that use wood, propane, oil, or natural gas. Additional electrical incentives are also offered to customers who install Energy Star clothes washers, dehumidifiers, freezers, and refrigerators.
Thermostats and Savings
Customers who purchase and install a Smart Thermostat are offered a $100 rebate under the program. Only thermostats purchased before December 31, 2018 qualify for a rebate. There are two ways to receive an inventive, by check or bill credit, depending on whether the homeowner is an Enbridge Gas customer. And there are different purchase options to look into if you choose Ecobee 3 Light or Ecobee 3/4, including Lowe’s, Home Depot, Best Buy, and Ecobee. The purchase options for Honeywell Lyric are Walmart, Rona, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and Best Buy. Examples of qualifying thermostats are also Nest Thermostat, Honeywell Lyric T6, Trane Thermostats, and Nest Thermostat E.