New Energy Efficiency Programs Coming to Oxford

Ontario offering rebates for home renovations, including new windows, doors, insulation, smart thermostats and heat pumps

January 7, 2025

WOODSTOCK – 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 January 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.

“As the demand for electricity continues to rise, we’re giving families and small businesses more ways to save money and energy as we launch the largest energy efficiency program in Canadian history,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “Ontario’s new Home Renovation Savings Program will put more money back into the pockets of the residents of Oxford, covering up to 30 per cent of the costs on energy efficiency products. We will expand this program again in 2025, including rebates for energy efficient appliances, to further reduce energy bills and demand on the grid.”

The government’s Affordable Energy Act, which came into force on December 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 popular Retrofit 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.

By 2036, it is forecasted that this expansion of energy efficiency programs will reduce the province’s peak demand by 3,000 MW – the equivalent of taking three million homes off the grid. The province’s $10.9 billion investment is also estimated to result in $23.1 billion in electricity system benefits, thereby saving ratepayers $12.2 billion in electricity system costs by avoiding the build out of new generation.