Nelson home energy rebates and loans

Nelson Hydro, the City of Nelson's electric utility, offers low-interest loans for home energy efficiency upgrades under the City's EcoSave Retrofits Bylaw. You can borrow up to $16,000 per household and repay it in monthly installments added to your Nelson Hydro bill. The July 2026 payment table is based on a 3.5% fixed rate with 2-, 5- or 10-year amortization; for example, $16,000 over 10 years is about $158 a month.

What it pays

Up to $16,000 · Loan

Who qualifies

• You own and live in the home within City of Nelson limits and are an account holder on its residential Nelson Hydro account. Residents elsewhere in the RDCK do not qualify.
• Enrolled in pre-authorized payment for your Nelson Hydro bill.
• Nelson Hydro, property tax and other utility accounts in good standing, with two years of credit history with Nelson Hydro or another utility.
• Everyone on the land title must authorize the loan. Commercial accounts and properties are not eligible.

Steps, in order

1. Complete the online program registration form and accept the loan terms and conditions.
2. Once approved, submit a reimbursement form with invoices to have the loan paid out.

Energy assessment

Depends on the project

Run by

Nelson Hydro (City of Nelson)

HomeSave Central Kootenays (formerly the Regional Energy Efficiency Program, or REEP) is run by the City of Nelson for residents of the Regional District of Central Kootenay and its member municipalities. Registration and advice are free: a HomeSave advisor helps you plan upgrades, review quotes and find other rebates. Subsidized EnerGuide evaluations are available while funding lasts.

What it pays

Up to $5,000 · Rebate

• Whole-home retrofit, 20% to 49% EnerGuide score reduction$2,500
• Whole-home retrofit, 50% or greater EnerGuide score reduction$5,000
• Income-qualified retrofit (two or more measures including a heat pump or solar PV), under 50% reduction$2,500
• NDCU retrofit loan (referral by the City)$5,000 to $40,000 at NDCU prime + 0.5%

Who qualifies

• Single-family home, duplex, triplex, row home, townhouse or manufactured home on a permanent foundation anywhere in the RDCK, including its municipalities.
• Year-round primary residence occupied for at least 12 months and served by an electrical utility.
• Owners or tenants can apply; tenants need the owner's signed consent form.
• You must register and be approved before starting work, and complete pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations. Stand-alone natural gas furnace upgrades and mechanical systems under 100% efficiency are not eligible.

Steps, in order

1. Register with HomeSave through the online intake form on the City of Nelson's HomeSave page.
2. Meet with a HomeSave advisor and book a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation; ask about the evaluation subsidy.
3. Submit your pre-retrofit evaluation and cost estimates for approval, then complete the work within 12 months.
4. Submit the post-retrofit evaluation, receipts and a statement of other rebates received to claim the rebate.

Energy assessment

Yes, before work starts

Run by

City of Nelson