Ontario Energy Affordability Program
Free Heat Pumps Through Ontario’s Energy Affordability Program
Updated August 28, 2026
Income-qualified Ontario households heated with electricity or oil may be eligible to receive a cold-climate air-source heat pump and professional installation at no cost through the Energy Affordability Program.
This is a direct-install affordability program—not a rebate cheque. The program assesses the home, determines eligibility, selects the available upgrades and arranges installation through its authorized delivery network.
Applications must be made directly through the Energy Affordability Program.
$0
Approved equipment and professional installation for eligible participants
Home assessedAn authorized delivery agent evaluates the home and heating needs.
Upgrades selectedThe program determines the available equipment and supporting improvements.
Installation arrangedThe authorized network supplies and professionally installs the approved package.
Included at no cost
What Can the Program Provide?
Depending on your home, heating system and program assessment, qualifying participants may receive:
01
A ducted or ductless cold-climate air-source heat pump.
02
Professional installation.
03
Required auxiliary or backup heating.
04
A ten-year parts-and-labour warranty.
05
A system check and homeowner education after one year.
06
A second follow-up visit after two years.
07
Removal of existing HVAC equipment that is no longer required.
08
Removal of an above-ground oil tank for qualifying oil-heated homes.
09
Insulation and draft-proofing improvements.
10
A programmable or smart thermostat.
11
Additional energy-saving products and appliances.
Program assessed
The final package depends on the home assessment.
All approved equipment and installation are provided at no cost to eligible participants.
The final package is based on the program’s in-home assessment. Qualifying for the program does not guarantee that every available upgrade will be installed.
Start with your current fuel
Which Heating Sources Qualify for a Free Heat Pump?
Current EAP pathway
Electric Heating
Homes primarily heated with electricity may qualify. This includes homes using:
- Electric baseboards.
- An electric furnace.
- An electric boiler.
- Other eligible electric-resistance heating.
Both homeowners and renters may apply for the electric-heating offer. Rental properties require the necessary property-owner permission before permanent upgrades can be installed.
Current EAP pathway
Heating Oil
Income-qualified homeowners using oil as their primary heating source may qualify for a no-cost cold-climate heat pump.
The current program specifies that oil-heated applicants must own their home and have an above-ground oil tank. Oil funding is a limited program offering and remains subject to availability.
Different rebate pathway
Propane and Wood
The Energy Affordability Program does not currently identify propane- or wood-heated homes as eligible for its no-cost heat-pump installation.
These homeowners may still qualify for Home Renovation Savings rebates of up to $7,500 for a cold-climate air-source heat pump or up to $12,000 for a ground-source system.
Weatherization or rebate pathway
Natural Gas
Natural-gas-heated homes do not currently qualify for a free heat pump through this program.
Income-qualified Enbridge Gas customers may instead qualify for free insulation, draft proofing and a smart thermostat through the coordinated Home Winterproofing Program.
Natural-gas homeowners can also explore the general Home Renovation Savings heat-pump rebate.
Comprehensive Support
Income Eligibility
For Comprehensive Support and major installed upgrades, the current before-tax household-income limits are:
| People living in the home | Maximum household income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $48,220 |
| 2 | $68,193 |
| 3 | $83,518 |
| 4 | $96,439 |
| 5 | $107,823 |
| 6 | $118,113 |
| 7 or more | $127,576 |
Use the combined before-tax income of household members and consult the official program for the documentation it requires.
Income limits are updated periodically. The amounts shown here were verified on August 28, 2026.
Other Ways to Qualify
A household may also qualify for Comprehensive Support if it:
- Lives in eligible social or assisted housing.
- Includes an on-reserve community member.
- Received an eligible government assistance benefit within the required period.
Qualifying benefits can include:
- Ontario Works.
- Ontario Disability Support Program.
- Ontario Electricity Support Program.
- Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.
- Guaranteed Income Supplement.
- Allowance for Seniors.
- Allowance for the Survivor.
- Healthy Smiles Ontario.
- Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program.
Benefit requirements and acceptable documents are determined by the program.
Home and utility account
Property and Account Requirements
Applicants generally must:
- Live in Ontario.
- Be responsible for the home’s electricity account.
- Be listed as the primary or secondary utility account holder.
- Meet the household-income or benefit requirements.
- Permit the required home assessment.
- Live in a property suitable for the offered upgrade.
Cold-climate heat pumps are generally installed in eligible single-family homes where they can support whole-home heating and cooling.
Cornwall Electric service area
The standard EAP offering does not cover customers served by Cornwall Electric because it is not connected to the IESO-controlled grid. Cornwall-area oil-heating households should contact the official program or EnviroCentre to check for any separately funded option.
Six program-managed steps
How to Apply
1
Apply Directly to the Program
Complete the official Energy Affordability Program application or call its delivery team.
Phone: 1-844-770-3148
2
Provide Eligibility Documents
The program may request:
- Proof of household income.
- Proof of participation in an eligible benefit program.
- A current electricity bill.
- Proof of home ownership for the oil-heating offer.
- Information about the home’s heating system and oil tank.
Protect sensitive information according to the program’s document instructions. Never respond to unsolicited door-to-door rebate offers.
3
Complete the Home Assessment
An authorized delivery agent will assess the home, existing equipment, insulation and heating requirements.
The assessment determines whether a heat pump is suitable and which additional upgrades the home needs.
4
Review the Offered Upgrades
The program will explain which measures have been approved. Participants can accept or decline the upgrades offered.
5
Program-Managed Installation
The Energy Affordability Program arranges equipment and installation through its own authorized delivery network.
Homeowners do not purchase a system independently and then request reimbursement.
6
Follow-Up Support
Approved heat-pump installations include a ten-year parts-and-labour warranty and follow-up visits at approximately one and two years.
Who does what?
This Program Is Separate From Handy Bros.
Energy Affordability Program
Manages the no-cost installation
The Energy Affordability Program manages its own eligibility assessments, contractors, equipment and installations.
If you qualify for EAP, apply directly through Save on Energy and follow the instructions provided by its authorized delivery agent.
Handy Bros.
Supports a different rebate pathway
Handy Bros.’ status as an approved Home Renovation Savings contractor does not mean Handy Bros. administers or installs projects under the Energy Affordability Program.
If you do not qualify for EAP, Handy Bros. can discuss equipment that may qualify for the general Home Renovation Savings rebate after you complete that program’s approval process.
Ontario delivery route
Ontario’s Oil-to-Heat-Pump Funding
Federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability funding is being delivered in Ontario through the Energy Affordability Program.
The direct federal application portal is no longer the application route for Ontario homeowners. Ontario applicants should use the active Save on Energy application.
Although the federal announcement described up to $25,000 in combined program funding plus an additional $250 payment, the live Ontario program presents the offer as a no-cost, program-managed installation. Homeowners should not expect a $25,000 rebate cheque.
Program questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the heat pump really free?
For approved participants, the program states that qualifying equipment and installation are provided at no cost.
The program—not the homeowner—selects the upgrades available following the home assessment.
Will I receive a rebate cheque?
No. This is primarily a direct-install program. The Energy Affordability Program arranges and pays for the approved equipment and installation.
Can renters qualify?
Renters in electrically heated homes may apply, subject to program eligibility and property-owner permission.
The current oil-heating offer is limited to homeowners with an above-ground oil tank.
Can I choose my own contractor?
The program uses its own authorized delivery agents and installation network. Applicants must follow the contractor and equipment process established by the program.
Does the heat pump include backup heating?
Yes. The program states that the installed solution includes the auxiliary heating required to maintain comfort during extremely cold conditions.
Can propane- or wood-heated homes qualify?
Not for the current EAP heat-pump offer. Propane- and wood-heated homeowners should investigate the general Home Renovation Savings rebate.
Can natural-gas homes qualify?
Natural-gas-heated homes do not currently qualify for an EAP heat pump. Income-qualified Enbridge customers may qualify for free weatherization through the Home Winterproofing Program.
Can I apply for both EAP and Home Renovation Savings?
Do not assume the incentives can be combined for the same equipment. The program administrators determine whether previous or overlapping funding affects eligibility.
Apply to the Energy Affordability Program first if you believe you meet its income requirements, since it can potentially cover the full installation cost.
Primary sources
Official Application and Program Information
Another Ontario pathway
Not Eligible for the No-Cost Program?
Ontario homeowners using electricity, oil, propane, wood or natural gas may still qualify for a Home Renovation Savings heat-pump rebate.
Disclaimer: Eligibility, available equipment and approved upgrades are determined exclusively by the Energy Affordability Program and its authorized delivery agents. Funding and requirements can change. Always confirm the current official rules before making purchasing or installation decisions.
