Ontario Home Energy Rebates 2026: Every Program

What Changed in 2026

The Ontario rebate landscape has shifted significantly over the last two years. Three changes matter most for homeowners planning a retrofit in 2026:

• HRS replaced Enbridge HER+ and the original Greener Homes Grant as the main rebate path for most Ontario homeowners. The program is run through homerenovationsavings.ca with Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas as co-delivery partners.[1][2][3]
• Federal support pivoted to income-qualified programs. The Canada Greener Homes Initiative now runs two affordability streams: CGHAP for low-to-median income households and OHPA for homes currently heated with oil. Both are administered by Natural Resources Canada.[4][5][6]
• Bill assistance is now easier to find thanks to updates on the Ontario Energy Board, Toronto Hydro, Hydro One, and Hydro Ottawa sites that route OESP and LEAP applicants to local intake agencies.[8][9]

If you last looked at Ontario rebates in 2024, most of the program names you remember are still around, but the entry points and eligibility rules are different. Read each section below before you commit to a contractor, and verify amounts on the official program portal at the time you apply, because rebate tables are updated as the program evolves.[10]

One theme runs through all of these changes. Governments are redirecting rebate dollars toward the retrofits with the largest long-term impact, and toward the households that would otherwise be locked out of efficiency upgrades by upfront cost. That is why the income-qualified sub-cluster has grown while the original broad market-rate grant has narrowed, and why heat pumps are treated more generously than a like-for-like furnace replacement. If you are planning a retrofit, the strategic question is not just "which program has the biggest sticker number" but "which combination of programs matches my income, my fuel, and the upgrades my home actually needs."

Home Renovation Savings Program (HRS)

HRS is the flagship residential rebate program in Ontario for 2026. It is co-delivered by Save on Energy (the retail brand for the IESO, Ontario's Crown electricity system operator) and Enbridge Gas, and applications flow through homerenovationsavings.ca.[1][2][3]

HRS covers a wider range of upgrades than either of its predecessor programs, and rebate amounts are published on the program portal and refreshed as Save on Energy rolls out updates.[10] Because amounts can change, always confirm the current rebate on the official program page before you sign a contract.

Eligible Upgrade Categories

HRS covers the full envelope-and-equipment list that most Ontario retrofits tackle:

• Heat pumps (air-source, ground-source, mini-split, and heat pump water heaters), including cold climate models
• Insulation for attic, wall, basement, and exposed floors
• Air sealing and weatherization
• Windows and doors meeting ENERGY STAR specifications
• Rooftop solar and related clean energy equipment
• Pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide energy assessments

The exact dollar amounts for each measure are posted on the program portal and may differ between the bundled and single upgrade paths. For granular equipment pricing and how rebates interact with total project cost, see our Ontario HVAC replacement cost guide and attic insulation cost guide.

Two Paths: Bundled vs. Single Upgrade

Homeowners choose between a bundled retrofit path and a single upgrade path.[1][2]

Bundled path: Combine two or more eligible upgrades and complete a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide energy assessment. The assessment is rebated and unlocks the highest total rebate amounts. This is the path to choose if you are planning a larger whole-home retrofit. For a breakdown of what the assessment actually involves, see our Ontario energy audit guide.

Single upgrade path: If you only need one measure, such as a heat pump replacement, you can apply without an energy assessment. The process is faster and the paperwork is simpler, but you miss out on the additional rebate dollars that the bundled path unlocks.

Who Is Eligible

• You must own a single-detached, semi-detached, townhouse, or row house in Ontario
• Your home must be an existing, occupied primary residence, not new construction
• Homes heated by electricity, natural gas, oil, propane, or wood can qualify, subject to the specific measure being installed
• Condos, apartments, and most rental properties are not eligible under the residential HRS stream

How to Apply

1. Create an account at homerenovationsavings.ca[2]
2. Choose the bundled or single upgrade path
3. If bundled, book your pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment before any work begins
4. Complete the upgrades with a qualified contractor and keep all invoices and permits
5. If bundled, book the post-retrofit assessment to verify the measures
6. Submit your application and documentation through your account

Timing matters. On the bundled path you must complete the pre-retrofit assessment before any equipment is installed. Installing first voids the bundled rebates on that project. For stacking strategy across multiple programs, see our Ontario HVAC rebate stacking guide.

What Homeowners Actually Get From HRS

Because HRS rebate amounts are published and updated on the program portal rather than in legislation, the most reliable way to know what you will receive is to log into your account, pick your path, and review the incentive table for each measure before you sign a contract.[2] Contractor quotes should cite specific equipment models so you can verify eligibility line by line, not just accept a lump-sum "rebate estimate."

A realistic approach is to think of HRS in three layers. The first layer is the mechanical upgrade itself, usually a heat pump, heat pump water heater, or a high-efficiency furnace replacement. The second layer is envelope work, including insulation, air sealing, and windows or doors. The third layer is the energy assessment rebate on the bundled path, which helps offset the cost of the pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations. Homeowners who treat the program as "one big heat pump rebate" tend to leave money on the table.

Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+)

Enbridge Gas operated a standalone HER+ program in Ontario for several years. For 2026, Enbridge is now a co-delivery partner for HRS, and the HER+ pages on enbridgegas.com route homeowners to the unified HRS application path rather than a separate Enbridge-only rebate.[3] If a contractor still quotes you a standalone "HER+ rebate" in 2026, verify it on the current Enbridge Gas page before you budget around it. In most cases you are actually being quoted the HRS rebate under an old name, but the application must still flow through homerenovationsavings.ca.

Income-Qualified Programs Sub-Cluster

The largest per-household support in Ontario for 2026 is concentrated in income-qualified federal and provincial programs. These programs do not publish a single flat cap because the rebate amount is driven by the measures completed and the household's eligibility tier.

Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP)

CGHAP is a federal program delivered by Natural Resources Canada for low-to-median income homeowners and renters.[5] It funds envelope and mechanical retrofits, and the per-household amount is determined by the specific measures completed during the project rather than a fixed ceiling. In other words, there is no single "CGHAP cap" the way older programs advertised a flat dollar maximum. The amount you receive depends on which improvements your home actually needs and which ones the program authorizes after its assessment step.

Eligibility is based on household income relative to local median, and the delivery model varies by region because CGHAP works through regional delivery partners. Intake windows can open and close as allocations are used up, which is another reason to apply as soon as you think you qualify. See the official CGHAP page for current intake status in your area.[5]

Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA)

OHPA is for Canadian homeowners currently heating primarily with home heating oil who are switching to an electric cold climate heat pump.[6] It is administered by Natural Resources Canada and has its own income and eligibility criteria that are separate from CGHAP. The program is explicitly designed around the economics of oil-to-electric conversions, which are among the most expensive retrofits a homeowner can undertake, and its funding structure reflects that.

If you heat with oil, OHPA should be your first stop before you even look at HRS. In most Ontario oil-to-heat-pump scenarios, a combination of OHPA for the federal layer and HRS envelope measures for insulation and air sealing is the strongest stack available in 2026. Confirm current eligibility on the official NRCan page before you sign any contracts, because the delivery model and intake windows have shifted over the life of the program.[6]

Energy Affordability Program (EAP)

EAP is Ontario's no-cost upgrade program for income-qualified households, delivered through Save on Energy.[1] It offers two tiers. The basic tier mails an energy-saving kit with efficient lighting, smart power bars, and weatherstripping. The comprehensive tier sends a certified advisor to the home and installs major upgrades at no cost, which can include insulation, weatherization, smart thermostats, replacement appliances, and in some cases cold climate heat pumps.

Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

OESP is a monthly on-bill credit for lower-income electricity customers in Ontario. It is administered by the Ontario Energy Board and delivered through local utilities like Toronto Hydro, Hydro One, and Hydro Ottawa.[8] Unlike retrofit rebates, OESP reduces what you pay on your electricity bill each month. Eligibility is based on household size and after-tax income, and you apply through the OEB's OESP portal or a local intake agency.

Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

LEAP is the emergency stream for Ontario households at risk of disconnection. It provides a one-time grant of up to several hundred dollars toward overdue electricity or natural gas bills for eligible customers. LEAP is administered by the Ontario Energy Board and delivered through partner social service agencies across the province.[9] If you are facing a shutoff notice, contact a LEAP agency before the deadline; the program is designed for exactly that situation.

Toronto HELP and Other Municipal Programs

The City of Toronto's Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is the best-known municipal program in Ontario. It provides low-interest financing to eligible Toronto homeowners to cover the cost of energy efficiency upgrades, with repayment added to the property tax bill.[11] The loan and the HRS rebate are separate tools, so an eligible homeowner can use HELP to finance the out-of-pocket portion of a retrofit while still claiming the HRS rebates on the qualifying measures. For full program terms, see the City of Toronto HELP page.

Other Ontario municipalities operate their own local incentive and financing programs, typically focused on water conservation, solar, or home energy financing. If you live outside Toronto, check your municipality's environment, climate, or sustainability page for current offers, and confirm whether the municipal program is compatible with HRS before you commit.

Small Business Program

Ontario small businesses with 50 or fewer employees have their own set of incentives through Save on Energy's Small Business Program.[1] It typically includes a free on-site energy assessment, rebates for lighting upgrades, and rebates for non-lighting measures such as HVAC controls, programmable thermostats, and refrigeration improvements. The assessment is the starting point: a certified advisor visits your location, identifies the upgrades with the fastest payback, and helps you apply for the eligible rebates.

Programs That Are Closed or Superseded

These program names still appear on contractor websites, forum posts, and older blog content. They are no longer accepting new market-rate applications. Do not budget around them without verification:

The pattern here matters. Ontario and federal governments have a track record of launching rebate programs, running them for a few years, and then shutting them down or pivoting them to a new design. HRS is the current main program, but like its predecessors it can evolve, so apply while it is open rather than waiting for a better year.

Stacking: Which Programs Combine

Stacking is the most common question we get. Here is the general shape for 2026:

For a full breakdown of stacking strategies across rebate programs, see our Ontario HVAC rebate stacking guide. You can also use our rebate checker tool to see which programs apply to your specific situation.

Getting Started: Your Action Plan

Here is the simplest path to claiming your rebates in 2026:

1. Check your household income tier. If you are low-to-median income, start with CGHAP, OHPA (if you heat with oil), or EAP. If you are not income-qualified, start with HRS.
2. Register at homerenovationsavings.ca for HRS and review the current rebate amounts for your situation.[2]
3. Decide bundled or single upgrade. If you are considering more than one improvement, the bundled path almost always delivers more value.
4. Book an EnerGuide energy assessment if taking the bundled path. Do this before any work begins.
5. Get three contractor quotes. Specify equipment models so you can confirm rebate eligibility line by line.
6. Check your municipality for local programs. Toronto HELP is the largest example, and other municipalities offer their own financing and incentive tools.[11]
7. Complete the work, keep every receipt, and submit through your program accounts.

If you are weighing the rent-vs-buy decision on specific equipment, our rent vs. buy water heater guide breaks down the real numbers, and our cost calculator can help you estimate a total project budget before you start.

Related Guides

Exploring specific upgrade types or want to dig deeper into costs? These guides cover the details.

• Heat Pump vs. Furnace Ontario - side-by-side comparison to help you decide
• HVAC Replacement Cost Ontario - full pricing for furnaces, ACs, and heat pumps
• Attic Insulation Cost Ontario - what R-60 insulation costs and why it matters
• Geothermal Heat Pump Cost Ontario - ground-source systems and rebate eligibility
• Windows and Doors Cost Ontario - per-unit pricing and how the HRS envelope rebates apply
• Solar Panels Ontario: Worth It? - ROI analysis for Ontario rooftop solar

Frequently Asked Questions