Heat pump rebates in Canada

How to claim heat pump rebates without losing one

Most lost rebates come from doing things in the wrong order. The same seven steps work in every province:

1. List every program that applies to your address. Our rebate finder does this in about a minute, including city programs.
2. Check for pre-approval or registration. B.C.’s Energy Savings Program issues a code that is valid for three months; Nova Scotia’s Moderate Income Rebate needs written approval before you start.
3. Book any required assessment first. Assessment-based programs only pay for work done after the first EnerGuide evaluation.
4. Hire an installer the program accepts. In Ontario the program-qualified contractor submits the heat pump application; in B.C. it must be a Home Performance Contractor Network member.
5. Confirm the model and the sizing. Get the model numbers in writing and ask for a heat load calculation. Check the model against each program’s product list (below).
6. Keep everything. Invoices, proof of payment, nameplate photos and any contractor forms.
7. Claim inside each window. LogisVert gives you 9 months after installation; B.C.’s Home Renovation Rebate gives six months from the invoice date.

Which heat pump rebates stack, and which exclude each other

Stacking is normal in Canada, but every province has at least one rule that stops two programs paying for the same equipment. Examples from the official program terms:

• Ontario: rebates from Enbridge, Save on Energy or the Ontario government can’t be stacked on the same heat pump, and incentives from all sources can’t exceed 100% of the cost. City loans such as Toronto’s HELP can generally be combined.
• British Columbia: you can’t claim the Home Renovation Rebate and the income-qualified Energy Savings Program for the same upgrade.
• Nova Scotia: an upgrade rebated under the Home Energy Assessment program can’t also be covered by HomeWarming, but the Moderate Income Rebate is designed to sit on top of it.
• Federal: the National Heat Pump Rebate ($2,000, or up to $10,000 below the median income) is described as stackable with provincial programs, but it isn’t open yet and its rules aren’t final.

Worked examples are in can you stack heat pump rebates?, and the timing question in should you install now or wait for the federal rebate?

Eligible models: which product list applies?

Nearly every rebate ties eligibility to a list of approved models, and the lists aren’t the same. Ask your installer to confirm the exact outdoor and indoor model numbers against the list for each program you plan to claim. Most programs want a cold-climate air-source heat pump.