What Are The Enbridge Rebates?

Published on February 13, 2020

Are you looking for energy rebates in Ontario? Have you heard of the Enbridge rebates but aren’t sure exactly what they are? Look no further! Whether you’re in the process of renovating, or are planning a future renovation, the Registered Energy Advisors at Barrier Sciences Group have everything you need when it comes to rebates. Plus, they are experts in improving your home’s energy efficiency and saving you money. 

Are There Any Energy Rebates In Ontario? 

Yes! There are energy rebates available in Ontario in 2020, and the program is called the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate. These Enbridge rebates are available to those who are serviced by Enbridge Gas, as well as Union Gas. That’s right – everyone who was once a Union Gas customer is also included in this Ontario rebate program.

The Enbridge rebates, also known as the Home Efficiency Rebate, offer up to $5,000 for energy-saving upgrades to your home. The upgrades you can make to your home include items like insulation, furnace upgrades, water heater upgrades, window and door replacement, and air sealing. Not only will these upgrades help save you energy (and reduce your energy bills), but the rebates offer almost instant savings back in your pocket. 

With the Home Efficiency Rebate, the more you upgrade, the more you save! If you choose to make more than 2 upgrades, you can be eligible for a bonus rebate. As you complete more upgrades to your home, the bonus rebate grows (and your energy savings will grow, too)! 

Additionally, for a limited time you can save even more on specific upgrades. Until March 31, 2020, the Enbridge rebates are offering 2 bonus packages on attic insulation, air sealing, and furnace upgrades. For more information on the bonus rebates, contact our office at 1-866-333-3920, or fill out a contact form on the BSG website. 

How Do I Qualify For Enbridge Rebates? 

In order to qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate, you must be a customer of Enbridge Gas or Union Gas, and your home must be heated by a natural gas furnace or boiler. You must also live in a detached, semi-detached, or row townhome. Unfortunately at this time, condo units or apartment buildings that are stacked on top of each other do not qualify. 

The Home Efficiency Rebate requires participants to have an energy audit completed on their home prior to any upgrades, as well as an additional audit completed post-renovations. You must also complete at least 2 upgrades in order to qualify for the Enbridge rebates. 

Are There Union Gas Rebates? 

In 2019, Enbridge Gas and Union Gas amalgamated. This means that they formed one company called Enbridge Gas Inc., and both Enbridge Gas and Union Gas now fall under the same company umbrella. The great news is that now both natural gas providers are offering one rebate program called the Home Efficiency Rebate. It no longer matters if your home is serviced by Union Gas or Enbridge Gas; you can qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate regardless of which company territory you fall under. 

What Is An Energy Audit? 

Not only is an energy audit the first qualification step in the Home Efficiency Rebate process, but it’s also the most effective starting point when considering any renovations to your home. An energy audit, or sometimes known as an energy assessment, is an inspection of the energy performance of your home. 

A Registered Energy Advisor must complete the energy audit on your home. This is important because an Energy Advisor is licensed, and has passed multiple exams to become certified and trained in completing energy audits. Always be sure to choose a Registered Energy Advisor to complete your energy audit, such as those from Barrier Sciences Group. All of our Advisors are Registered through Natural Resources Canada to perform energy audits. 

An energy audit involves a number of components and diagnostic tools that provide you with the most accurate information regarding the energy efficiency of your home. One of the best diagnostic tools used by a Registered Energy Advisor is a blower door test. A blower door test is a tool that detects how much air leakage is occurring in your home. These numbers help determine how much energy your home is losing through air leaks, and will locate the exact location of the leaks. 

Do I Need An Energy Audit To Receive Enbridge Rebates?

Yes, in order to receive any Enbridge rebates you’ll have to have an energy audit completed on your home. Since an energy audit is the first and last step in the Home Efficiency Rebate, it’s required in order to receive your rebates. 

Is An Energy Audit Free? 

Through the Home Efficiency Rebate, you will receive a rebate to help cover the cost of the energy audits. This means that, like your other renovations, you pay for the energy audit up front but will receive the rebate after all of the paperwork has been submitted. 

The best part is that your Licensed Service Organization, such as Barrier Sciences Group, will submit all of your paperwork for you. All you have to do is wait for your cheque in the mailbox. Between your Registered Energy Advisor and the help of the office staff at Barrier Sciences Group, you’ll have nothing to worry about when it comes to receiving your rebates. 

How Can I Get A Free Energy Audit? 

If you’d like to schedule an energy audit on your home, you can simply call our office at 1-866-333-3920 and we’ll get you scheduled in right away with one of our Registered Energy Advisors. 

Do I Qualify For Rebates After I’ve Made Upgrades? 

In order to qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate, you must have an energy audit completed prior to any renovations. This means that you cannot qualify for upgrades that you have completed in the past. If you plan on completing any renovations in the future, it’s best to contact us right away to schedule an energy audit. This way, you’ll be sure that you can qualify for rebates without having to wait to begin your renovations. After the audit is completed, you’re free to begin renovating! 

Do The Upgrades Need To Be Completed By A Contractor? 

Calling all handy men and women, DIYers and adventure seekers! Unlike provincial rebate programs in the past, the Home Efficiency Rebate allows anyone to complete the upgrades to your home. The only requirement is that you must keep all receipts that you’ve accumulated throughout the renovations, as they must be presented as part of the package submission to Enbridge.

For example, if you want to perform air sealing measures around the windows and doors in your home:

1. Have an energy audit completed to determine which windows and doors are the biggest culprits of air leakage.

2. Purchase caulking and/or weatherstripping to seal around leaks - Be sure to keep your receipts!

3. Seal up the air leaks.

4. Provide the receipts to your Registered Energy Advisor for submission along with the other upgrades you’ve completed. 

As always, it’s important to choose reputable contractors if you are planning on hiring someone to complete the work for you. If you’re looking for referrals, BSG offers a complete list of contractors through Jenny’s List. Jenny’s List is a list of reputable contractors we work with regularly. 

I Have More Questions. Who Can I Contact? 

If you have any questions or concerns, are wondering if you qualify, or simply want to book an energy audit, call our office at 1-866-333-3920. Our office staff are more than happy to help answer any questions you may have regarding the Enbridge rebates. Further, we provide a free over-the-phone consultation to help determine eligibility for the Home Efficiency Rebate, so you’ve truly got nothing to lose. 

Alternatively, you can fill out a contact form on the Barrier Sciences Group website and someone will be in touch with you shortly.