Enbridge's New HER Program: What Ontario Homeowners Need to Know

Thinking about sprucing up your Ontario home? Great! But before you start picking out paint colors and fixtures, consider this: Enbridge's New Home Efficiency Rebate (HER) program for 2025 could help you save big on energy-efficient upgrades. But with lower rebate amounts and a more complex process, is it worth your while? Let's break it down and see if it's a good fit for your renovation plans.

Enbridge's HER Program: Energy Efficiency Made Easier

The Enbridge HER program is a financial incentive offering rebates of up to $5,000 for specific energy-efficient upgrades. But before you get too excited, let's explore what's covered and what's not.

Upgrades That Get You the Cash

Here's where you can score those rebates:

• Attic insulation (up to $1,500) - Keep the warmth in during those chilly winters.  

• Exterior wall insulation (up to $3,600) - Say goodbye to drafts and uncomfortable rooms.

• Exposed floor insulation ($300) - Warm up those chilly floors and lose less heat. 

• Basement insulation (up to $3,500) - Stop heat from escaping through your basement.

• Air sealing (up to $180) - Seal up any leaks and improve air quality.

• Air Source Heat pumps (up to $2,000) - An efficient way to heat and cool your home.

• ENERGY STAR® certified windows, doors, etc. ($50 each) - Brighten up your space and save on energy bills.

Important Note: Solar panels aren’t currently eligible for rebates under the new program.

Upgrade Combos To Get the Most Out of Your Rebates

Here are some upgrade combinations and their potential rebate amounts:

• Cold Climate Heat Pump + Attic Insulation = up to $3,500 (with a 4 Ton unit)

• Attic Insulation + Basement Wall / Header Insulation = up to $5,000

• Attic Insulation + Basement Wall / Header Insulation + Air Sealing = up to $5,000

How It Works: The HER Program in 4 Steps

1. Home Energy Assessment: Book an assessment with an Enbridge-approved company. An expert will check your home's energy efficiency and make recommendations.

2. Choose Your Upgrades: Pick at least two upgrades from the recommended list and hire a contractor to install them.

3. Follow-Up Assessment: Schedule another assessment within 120 days of the first to confirm the work is done.

4. Apply for Your Rebates: Rebates, including a $600 reimbursement for the assessments, will be sent out starting in January 2025.

Enbridge's HER Program: The Catch

While the new HER Program seems great and these upgrades can certainly improve your home's comfort and reduce energy bills, the process to claim the rebates might not be as straightforward as you'd hope. It’s important to be aware of a few things:

• Tight Timeline: You have 120 days between assessments, so you must be ready to move quickly on your upgrades. 

• Lower Rebates: The rebate amounts are lower than the previous HER+ program.

• Assessment Detail: This assessment will provide recommendations for potential upgrades, but it won't give you detailed quotes or timelines. 

• Limited Choice: Only eight companies can do the assessments, so booking might take some time.

While the potential rebates are tempting, there's a catch: it's a sprint, not a marathon. You have just four months from booking your assessments to complete the entire process, including getting quotes, scheduling contractors, finishing the work and the final assessment. That's a tight deadline.

If you're thinking about applying, be prepared to move quickly. Getting your assessment results can take two weeks, so you can't wait around. Once you have them, you'll need to hustle to find contractors, get quotes, and schedule the work. It's a lot to juggle, but the potential rewards could be worth it if you can meet the tight timeline.

Homes to Zero offers a stress-free way to manage the timeline. Our virtual home assessment has a two-day turnaround and will tell you what your results are likely to be, giving you a head start on the HER rebate process.

Avoid the HER Rebate Catch with Homes to Zero

By working with Homes to Zero for your virtual assessment and coordinating your retrofit, you can bypass the tight timeline and potential stress associated with the HER rebate process. Our team will:

• Conduct a thorough home assessment, giving you in-depth insights into your home's energy efficiency and potential upgrade opportunities.

• Handle the quoting process, connecting you with trusted contractors from our partner network to get competitive quotes for your project.

• Manage the entire project, coordinating with contractors, ensuring timely completion, and overseeing the installation of energy-efficient upgrades.

• Identify additional rebates and incentives, exploring other available ones that can further reduce the cost of your project.

So, if you want to take advantage of the HER program, but are worried about the timelines, we’re offering 50% off our Assessment. Subscribe to our newsletter and receive your discount code. 

Remember, investing in your home's energy efficiency is a long-term investment that can provide significant returns in terms of comfort, savings, and environmental impact. Do your research, weigh the pros and cons, and ask us any questions below before making your decision. 

Have more questions about the program or want to explore other ways to save energy? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!