Ontario Energy Rebates 2026: Home Renovation Savings Guide (Verified)

Ontario Energy Rebates 2026: Home Renovation Savings Guide (Verified)

Short answer (checked October 28, 2026): Ontario's main open retrofit rebate program for homeowners is Home Renovation Savings, run jointly by Enbridge Gas and the IESO's Save on Energy. A cold climate air source heat pump earns $1,250 per ton, up to $7,500, if the home is heated with electricity, oil, propane or wood, but $500 per ton, up to $2,000, if Enbridge gas heats it. Ground source pays up to $12,000, solar plus battery up to $10,000 and bundled insulation up to $7,700. Oil-heated homes under the income limits can get a heat pump installed at no cost through the Energy Affordability Program. The federal Greener Homes grant and loan are closed.

Two rules decide more claims than any dollar amount. Heat pumps, attic insulation and solar need written pre-approval and a participating contractor before installation, and the bundled path needs a home energy assessment before any work starts. Do the paperwork in the wrong order and the rebate is gone, whatever the equipment.

Every figure on this page comes from the program's own pages (homerenovationsavings.ca, saveonenergy.ca, enbridgegas.com) or from Natural Resources Canada, and each was checked on October 28, 2026. This guide is general information, not financial advice. Program rules and amounts change during the year, so confirm the current terms on the official site before you sign a contract.

Ontario's 2026 Program Status Board

Searches for Ontario rebates still surface programs that closed months or years ago. This is where each one stood when we checked:

The practical reading: for a project you start now, plan around Home Renovation Savings, check whether your household qualifies for the Energy Affordability Program, and treat any federal program as finished unless you already hold an approval.

The Two Paths: Bundled Upgrades vs Single Upgrades

Home Renovation Savings has two tracks, and the program describes them by whether an energy assessment is needed.

Path 1: Do two or more upgrades, with a home energy assessment. You book an initial assessment with a registered energy advisor before any work starts, get a report, complete at least two recommended upgrades, then have a follow-up assessment with the same advisor. The program pays $600 toward the two assessments after successful completion, and a $500 bonus if you complete three or more qualifying upgrades (for post-renovation assessments dated on or after January 5, 2026). This path covers wall, foundation and floor insulation, windows and doors, air sealing and heat pump water heaters, and it pays more for attic insulation than the single path does.

Path 2: Do one or more upgrades, with no assessment. Heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage, attic insulation, smart thermostats and appliances sit here. No energy advisor is involved, but the larger measures still run through a participating contractor and a pre-installation application.

The choice is not purely about convenience. A homeowner planning attic insulation plus new windows gets more on the bundled path ($1,500 for the deepest attic tier instead of $1,250, plus $100 per window opening that the single path does not pay at all), less the cost of booking the assessment. A homeowner who only wants a heat pump has nothing to gain from the assessment, because heat pumps are only on the single path.

Bundled Path: Every Amount and the Fine Print

These are the amounts the program lists for the assessment path, with the qualifying condition for each tier:

The headline "up to $7,700" for insulation matches the program's top attic and wall tiers plus its "up to $2,300" foundation figure and the exposed floor: $1,500 + $3,600 + $2,300 + $300. One basement route to the $2,300 is $1,500 basement wall, $500 slab and $300 header. The program does not show how crawl space amounts combine under that foundation figure, so check the program terms if your home has both a basement and a crawl space. Very few houses will qualify for all four. A typical attic-plus-basement project at the top tiers comes to $3,000, before the assessment rebate.

Two details on this path catch people out. First, the program itself recommends making air sealing your third upgrade or later, because the air tightness result can vary and a missed target could leave you one qualifying upgrade short. Second, the follow-up assessment must be done by the same registered energy advisor who did the first one, so pick a service organization you can reach again months later.

Payment comes after the advisor files the paperwork: within 60 days by cheque, or within 30 days if you choose Interac e-Transfer, according to the program's FAQ.

Heat Pump Rebates: How the Per-Ton Math Works

The heat pump rebate is the headline item, and its value depends on what heats your home today and on one rating from the equipment's specification.

The rates, as the program lists them:

Three things follow from the way the program measures tons:

• The tonnage is the unit's minimum rated heating capacity at 8.3°C (47°F), not the nominal size on the brochure, and it is not rounded. The program's own example is a unit rated at 3.2 tons: $4,000 in an oil, propane, wood or electrically heated home ($1,250 x 3.2) and $1,600 in an Enbridge gas-heated home ($500 x 3.2).
• The caps arrive at different sizes. A non-gas home reaches the $7,500 cap at 6 rated tons ($7,500 / $1,250). A gas-heated home reaches its $2,000 cap at 4 tons ($2,000 / $500), so going bigger than 4 tons earns a gas-heated home nothing more from this program.
• The fuel gap is widest in the middle. At 4 tons, a non-gas home gets $5,000 and a gas-heated home $2,000, a $3,000 difference. At 6 tons the difference is $5,500.

Neither figure is a reason to oversize. A heat pump should be sized from a heat loss calculation, and our Manual J sizing guide explains what that involves. What the per-ton rule does mean is that two quotes for "a 3-ton system" can earn different rebates, so ask each contractor for the rated heating capacity at 8.3°C of the exact model they are quoting, and the NRCan qualified products listing for it.

Conditions that disqualify more heat pump claims than the amount

From the program's heat pump page and FAQ:

• Pre-approval is mandatory. Your participating contractor submits a pre-installation application; installations done before approval are not eligible.
• Only participating contractors. The contractor must be registered and on the list before installation.
• First-time heat pumps only. If the home already has a space heating heat pump, it is not eligible, and replacing an old heat pump does not qualify.
• Both halves of a mini-split. For mini- or multi-split systems, both indoor and outdoor units must be installed; adding only an indoor unit is not eligible.
• Qualified products only. Air source units and water-to-air ground source units must be active models on Natural Resources Canada's qualified products list; water-to-water ground source units must be on the ENERGY STAR geothermal list and available in Canada.
• Backup heat is allowed but not rebated. The heat pump can run alone or with a backup such as a gas furnace or electric resistance. Gas and propane homes can pair it with a new or existing furnace; electrically heated homes can keep existing electric backup.
• Oil homes must fully offset oil. Oil-heated homes must size the heat pump (plus electric backup if needed) to cover the whole oil heating load. They do not have to remove the old furnace or boiler under this program, but where other laws require it, a TSSA-registered contractor must empty or remove the oil tank.
• Owners apply, not tenants. You must own the home and be the person paying for the heat pump; where an owner has tenants, the owner applies.

Once the post-installation application is approved, the program says the cheque should arrive by mail within 60 days.

Stacking a heat pump rebate

The program's FAQ allows stacking with incentives from other funding organizations, with two limits: you cannot stack with other incentives from Enbridge Gas, Save on Energy or the Government of Ontario, and the total from all sources cannot exceed 100% of the cost to supply and install the heat pump. With the federal grant, loan and direct OHPA intake all closed, price the project on the provincial rebate alone unless you hold another approval in writing.

The one federal program to watch is new. On October 8, 2026, the Government of Canada announced a National Heat Pump Rebate: $2 billion over eight years for up to 820,000 homeowners installing eligible electric cold climate air source heat pumps. The announcement says households below the median income "can receive up to $10,000; other eligible homeowners can receive $2,000," that heat pumps must be on an Eligible Products List, that no energy audits are required, and that approval through an online portal will come before installation. It does not give a date when applications open, and it does not mention provincial programs. ECCC's National Heat Pump Rebate campaign page, checked October 30, 2026, adds that the portal opens in early 2027 and that eligible installations from November 1, 2026 can be claimed once it launches. Because the Home Renovation Savings stacking rule only excludes incentives from Enbridge Gas, Save on Energy and the Ontario government, a federal rebate would not be ruled out by that rule, but the 100%-of-cost limit would still apply and the federal program's own terms are not yet published. Do not put it in a budget until it opens. For the running-cost side of the decision, our heat pump vs gas furnace true cost comparison works through operating costs, and the mini-split installation cost guide covers what the equipment itself tends to cost.

Attic Insulation Without an Assessment

The single-upgrade attic rebate is a separate, simpler offer, worth taking when attic insulation is the only job you plan. A participating contractor must do the work, and 100% of the roof assembly area must be insulated.

The single-path attic maximum was raised during the program: the program's home page shows the old figure struck through, $1,000, beside the current $1,250. Pages that still quote $1,000 as the attic maximum are out of date.

Solar Panels and Battery Storage

The program pays for rooftop solar alone, or solar paired with a battery:

As an illustration with stated inputs: a 6 kW array would earn the $5,000 solar cap ($6,000 at the rate, capped), and a 10 kWh battery $3,000, for $8,000 in total, provided each figure is no more than half of that measure's cost.

The condition that is easiest to miss is the trade-off with net metering. The program says participants who take its solar and storage incentives cannot join a net-metering agreement with their local distribution company; the incentives are for load displacement, meaning the solar electricity is used to meet the home's own consumption. You choose one or the other. A battery must also be paired with a new solar system, sized for it, and designed mainly to store solar output rather than grid electricity. Nothing should be bought or installed before written pre-approval from the program and from your local utility.

Whether the trade-off is worth it depends on how much of the solar output your home uses as it is produced. Our home battery value guide and the Ontario electricity rates explainer cover the inputs.

Appliances and Smart Thermostats

These are the smallest rebates and the only ones you claim yourself after buying:

For appliances, the program requires an existing electric appliance that needs replacing, a new (not used or refurbished) eligible model, and an application with the receipt within 60 days of purchase. The smart thermostat rebate rose from $100 to $125; it can be taken as a $125 code at checkout or as a rebate after purchase (again within 60 days), and it is not available if the address already received a smart thermostat rebate, discount or device from Enbridge Gas, Save on Energy or this program.

Who Qualifies, and Who Does Not

The program's eligibility rules, in plain terms:

• Ownership. You must own the home. Tenants cannot apply; a landlord can, for a rented-out home.
• Home type. Single detached, semi-detached, row house or townhome, or a mobile home on a permanent foundation. Stacked townhouses are excluded from the attic offer, and condominium apartments are not on the list of eligible home types.
• Not a new build. A home occupied for six months or less does not qualify.
• Energy supply. Either an Enbridge Gas residential customer whose home is primarily heated by a gas furnace or boiler, or connected to the Ontario electricity grid and heated with electricity, oil, propane or wood. A gas fireplace does not count as primary heating.
• Not every gas or electricity customer. Homes heated by natural gas from a utility other than Enbridge are not eligible. Cornwall Electric customers are on the Hydro-Québec grid; the program's FAQ says those who heat electrically "are not eligible to participate unless they are converting to or from Enbridge natural gas for home heating", and its heat pump page says Cornwall customers qualify for that rebate only if Enbridge natural gas primarily heats the home.
• Past programs. Taking part in HER, HER+ or another Enbridge or Save on Energy program does not bar you, but you cannot get a second rebate for the same upgrade. New windows rebated under HER+ cannot be rebated again here; a heat pump water heater or air sealing still can.
• More than one property. Owners can apply for each property they own, as long as each one meets the criteria.

Oil-Heated Homes: The Free Heat Pump Route

Oil heat is where the federal and provincial picture shifted in 2026. The federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program stopped taking applications on July 31, 2026. In Ontario, the federal money now flows through co-delivery instead: NRCan lists Ontario as a co-delivering province, where eligible homeowners can get free direct installation of a heat pump system valued at up to $25,000 (up to $15,000 federal and up to $10,000 provincial) through the IESO.

That route is Save on Energy's Energy Affordability Program, which is still advertised as taking oil-heated homes "for a limited time". What it involves:

• Income test. The program's comprehensive support is for households under these before-tax income limits for the previous year, or for people who received certain benefits (such as Ontario Works, ODSP, the Ontario Electricity Support Program, LEAP or the Guaranteed Income Supplement) in the past 12 months.

• No cost to you. An energy advisor assesses the home for free, and eligible participants receive a cold climate heat pump and its installation at no cost, along with insulation and draft-proofing where needed. NRCan says no funds are paid to applicants except a $250 bonus cheque.
• Above-ground tanks only. The program's FAQ says only homeowners with above-ground oil tanks are currently eligible for the oil stream; the tank removal is included.

An oil-heated household above those income limits has the Home Renovation Savings route instead: $1,250 per rated ton up to $7,500 for an air source heat pump, sized to offset the full oil load. For a sense of the running-cost stakes, our winter heating cost guide walks through the U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2026-27 forecast, in which heating oil is the costliest of the four main fuels. Our dual-fuel backup heat guide covers what to keep as backup.

What Happened to the Federal Programs

Ontario homeowners who remember the federal programs should reset their expectations:

• Canada Greener Homes Grant: closed. NRCan's page now carries a "This program is closed" status and says the program is transitioning to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
• Canada Greener Homes Loan: closed. NRCan says funding is "fully committed" and new applications cannot be approved; approved borrowers keep their funding. The Home Renovation Savings FAQ gives October 1, 2025 as the last day to apply.
• Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP): this is a no-cost direct-install program delivered only through participating provinces and territories. NRCan's list (BC Hydro and FortisBC in British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec) did not include Ontario when we checked, and the federal government says it is not accepting applications from households directly.
• Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA): national intake closed July 31, 2026, with final receipts and attestations due January 31, 2027 for approved applicants. In Ontario, the co-delivered stream runs through the Energy Affordability Program described above.

Our CGHAP application guide covers the provinces where that program does run.

A Sequence That Keeps Every Rebate

Most rejected claims trace back to order, not eligibility. A sequence that respects every rule above:

1. Decide the path first. If two or more envelope upgrades are likely, book the energy assessment before anyone touches the house.
2. Check income programs before rebate programs. If your household is under the Energy Affordability Program limits, start there; it can cover the work outright.
3. Get the model numbers. For a heat pump, the rated heating capacity at 8.3°C and the NRCan listing; for windows and appliances, the ENERGY STAR status.
4. Confirm the contractor is on the participating list before you sign, for heat pumps and attic insulation.
5. Wait for written pre-approval for heat pumps and solar (and your utility's connection approval for solar).
6. Keep the paper trail. Invoices showing model numbers, the pre-approval, assessment reports and receipts, in one folder.
7. Watch the 60-day clocks on appliance and smart thermostat claims.

For the wider picture across provinces, see our Canadian energy rebates overview and heat pump grants in Canada. Related reading: solar incentives in Canada, the home energy audit rebate checklist and the Canada carbon rebate update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a home energy audit to get the Ontario heat pump rebate?

No. Heat pumps are on the no-assessment path. You do need a participating contractor and written pre-approval before installation, and installations done before approval are not eligible.

How much is the Ontario heat pump rebate in 2026?

It depends on your current heating and the unit's rated heating capacity at 8.3°C. Homes heated with electricity, oil, propane or wood get $1,250 per ton up to $7,500; Enbridge gas-heated homes and rentals get $500 per ton up to $2,000. Ground source pays $2,000 per ton up to $12,000 for non-gas homes and a flat $3,000 for gas-heated homes or rentals.

Can I get the rebate if I replace an old heat pump?

No. The program only pays for a first-time space heating heat pump; homes that already have one, and replacements of old heat pumps, are not eligible.

Can I get solar rebates and keep net metering?

No. Homes that take the Home Renovation Savings solar and storage incentives cannot enter a net-metering agreement with their utility. The incentives are for load displacement, so you choose either the rebate or net metering.

Is the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program still open in Ontario?

The national federal intake closed on July 31, 2026. Ontario's co-delivered stream runs through Save on Energy's Energy Affordability Program, which was still offering free heat pumps to income-eligible, oil-heated homes with above-ground tanks when we checked on October 28, 2026.

Can tenants apply for Home Renovation Savings?

No. You must own the home. Where a home is rented out, the owner applies.

Are the old federal Greener Homes programs really closed?

Yes. NRCan marks both the Canada Greener Homes Grant and the Canada Greener Homes Loan as closed; approved loan holders keep their funding, but no new applications can be approved.

Sources and Data Points

1. Home Renovation Savings (Enbridge Gas and IESO): program home page, assessment-path rebates, heat pump, attic, solar, appliance and smart thermostat pages, and help-and-support FAQ. https://www.homerenovationsavings.ca/
2. Save on Energy (IESO): Energy Affordability Program page and FAQ (income limits, oil-heated homes, heat pump at no cost). https://saveonenergy.ca/EAP
3. Natural Resources Canada: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (intake closed July 31, 2026) and the participating provinces page (Ontario co-delivery through the IESO).
4. Natural Resources Canada: Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program, Canada Greener Homes Grant (closed) and Canada Greener Homes Loan (closed) pages.
5. Enbridge Gas: Home Efficiency Rebate Plus page (intake closed February 5, 2024; final applications due December 31, 2025).
6. Government of Canada: National Heat Pump Rebate announcement, October 8, 2026.

EnergyBS reviews public program rules, product specifications, utility rates, and reader-facing cost assumptions. Treat savings figures as estimates until you verify local prices, permits, rebates, and contractor quotes. This guide is educational, not financial advice; confirm program rules on the official site before committing to work.