New energy efficiency programs coming to Oxford

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Ontario government is launching new energy efficiency programs, including the Home Renovation Savings Program, to help families and businesses in Oxford save money. The programs are part of a new $10.9 billion, 12-year investment in energy efficiency, the largest in Canada’s history.

“These new energy efficiency programs that all Oxford residents have access to will lower energy bills, put more megawatts into Ontario’s energy grid, and ultimately put more money back into your pockets,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. “While the previous Liberal government skyrocketed energy prices, our government is taking a different approach that puts affordability at the forefront.”

The new Home Renovation Savings Program will launch on Jan. 28, 2025, and offer rebates of up to 30 per cent for home energy efficiency renovations and improvements, including new windows, doors, insulation, air sealing, smart thermostats, and heat pumps, as well as rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems for people who want to generate and store energy at home. Later in 2025, the program will expand to include rebates for energy efficient appliances, including refrigerators and freezers.

The government’s Affordable Energy Act, which came into force on Dec. 4, 2024, ensures the new Home Renovation Savings Program, and other program offerings, will be expanded to homeowners who heat their homes by propane and oil, instead of being restricted to those who heat with electricity, as it was under previous governments. The province is also expanding the popular Peak Perks program with a new program specifically targeted to small businesses, including convenience stores and restaurants. Businesses will receive a financial incentive of $75 upon initial enrollment in the program and $20 per year for each eligible smart thermostat connected to a central air conditioning system or heat pump unit.

In addition to the two new energy efficiency programs, the province will continue to support 12 Save on Energy programs, including the highly popularRetrofit Program for business, as well as other programs geared to low-income households, businesses, municipalities, institutions, the agricultural sector, industry and on-reserve First Nation communities.