Huron-Bruce MPP arrives in snowy Tiverton to announce new energy efficiency program

It was a typical Bruce County winter day, as Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and Ontario associate energy minister Sam Oosterhoff stood amidst the cold and snow, Thursday afternoon in Tiverton, announcing a new energy efficiency program to help homeowners save money.

Thompson said the Home Renovation Savings Program is part of a new $10.9-billion, 12-year investment in energy efficiency, the largest in Canadian history.

“The Ontario government’s new energy efficiency programs are a significant step forward in ensuring that Huron-Bruce residents have access to the resources and support they need to reduce their energy consumption, and that will result in lower utility costs,” she said.

“By enabling investments in energy efficiency solutions, we are, ultimately, giving people a chance to save money for other household priorities, all while encouraging smart investments that will have positive impacts in Ontario for generations to come.”

The new Home Renovation Savings Program will launch Jan. 28, and offer rebates of up to 30 per cent for home energy efficiency renovations and improvements, such as 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,” said Oosterhoff. “This new program will put more money back into the pockets of the residents of Huron-Bruce, covering up to 30 per cent of the costs on energy efficiency products, with a turn-around time of 60 days for rebates.”

He encouraged homeowners to sign up in advance for the Home Renovation Savings Program at saveonenergy.ca/For-Your-Home/Home-Renovation-Savings.

Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig welcomed Thompson and Oosterhoff to snowy Tiverton. He said this program is good news for residents of the Municipality of Kincardine who want to update their homes to make them more energy efficient.



Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and Ontario associate energy minister Sam Oosterhoff announce the new Home Renovation Savings Program in snowy Tiverton, Thursday afternoon

The Ontario government’s Affordable Energy Act, which came into force Dec. 4, 2024, ensures the new Home Renovation Savings Program and other program offerings, will be expanded to homeowners who heat their homes with propane and oil, instead of being restricted to those who heat with electricity, as it was under previous governments, states a press release from Thompson’s office.

The province is also expanding the popular Peak Perks program with a new one specifically targeted at 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, 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 agriculture 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 megawatts (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.

For more information, visit saveonenergy.ca.



Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig (left) welcomes Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and Ontario associate energy minister Sam Oosterhoff to snowy Tiverton for the announcement of the new Home Renovation Savings Program; the home behind them is undergoing renovations