The Ontario government has announced a new rebate program that could save property owners up to 30 per cent on energy-efficient renovations—and it includes cottage owners.
The home renovations savings program is part of a $10.9 billion investment the provincial government is rolling out over the next 12 years.
“As the demand for electricity continues to rise, we’re giving families and small businesses more ways to save money and energy as we launch the largest energy efficiency program in Canadian history,” said Stephen Lecce, the Minister of Energy and Electrification, during a press conference.
The program, which launches on January 28, includes the following rebates:
- $600 for a home energy assessment
- $100 for each new window and door installed
- Up to $8,900 for insulation
- Up to $250 for air sealing
- $75 for a smart thermostat
- $500 for a heat pump water heater
- Up to $7,500 for a cold climate air source heat pump
- Up to $12,000 for a ground source heat pump
- Up to $5,000 for rooftop solar panels
- Up to $5,000 for battery storage systems
All rebates will be paid within 30 to 60 days of an approved application, according to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification. The program will also expand later in 2025 to include energy-efficient appliances such as fridges and freezers. For Ontarians, the program will fill the gap left by the federal government’s Greener Homes Grant, which stopped accepting applications in March 2024.
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Lecce pointed out that Ontarians will now be able to benefit from the rebate while also cutting their heating bill by up to 50 per cent with a heat pump.
The program is similar to a previous provincial rebate program introduced by the Liberal party that the Conservatives cancelled in 2018. Lecce said, however, that this new program is different as it has a longer commitment period and is open to more property owners.
The ministry also confirmed that the rebates will be available for secondary residences, such as cottages. More information on eligibility criteria will be released later this month, but property owners can start signing up for the program at saveonenergy.ca.
Along with the home renovations savings program, the government said it will also expanding its peak perks program to target small businesses, such as convenience stores and restaurants. The businesses will receive $75 for enrolling in the program and $20 per year for each smart thermostat installed.
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These two new programs will run alongside the province’s 12 existing programs. The government estimates that within its projected 12-year timeframe, these programs will reduce the province’s peak electricity demand by 3,000 megawatts, the equivalent of taking three million homes off the grid. This reduction could be much needed as the Independent Electricity System Operator estimates that Ontario’s electricity demand will increase by 75 per cent by 2050—the equivalent of four and a half cities the size of Toronto.
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