In an email to CBC, the federal government’s delivery partners said an announcement regarding the Greener Homes subsidy program “will be made soon.”
The Greener Homes program launched by the federal government in 2021 provides homeowners with up to $5,000 for energy efficiency retrofits and home energy assessments, and up to $600 in home energy assessment cost assistance.
Homeowners must pay that money upfront and then be reimbursed. The $2.6 billion program was scheduled to run until 2027 or until funding is exhausted.
This program was very popular. Enbridge, which runs the program in Ontario, paused accepting applications in January to give it time to assess whether it had enough funds to cover the applications it received.
The utility indicated that news regarding the future of the program will be announced soon.
“We are the delivery agent for the Greener Homes program, so we have to take the lead in communication. [the federal government]” said Leanne McNaughton, head of external communications and media relations for Enbridge Gas.
“There will be an official announcement soon.”
A government official who was not authorized to speak publicly also told CBC that the government plans to release new details about the program’s future early next week.
Enbridge has suspended applications in Ontario, but the program is still accepting applications in other jurisdictions. Ontario accounted for the majority of claims, with 51,321 paid out, and the average payment was her $3,617.
Officials have suggested the suspension of applications may be temporary, but energy efficiency officials say Enbridge’s suspension comes with a halt to the state’s energy efficiency program. ing.
“The suspension of the federal program also means the suspension of Ontario’s provincial programs, which are funded by ratepayers,” said Brent Kopperson, executive director of the Windfall Ecology Center in Durham. It’s unfortunate.”
The center will help people in Toronto and surrounding areas apply for federal and provincial grants worth up to $10,000.
Dylan Trebles is an Ottawa-based registered energy auditor who relies on federal grant programs for much of his business. He said he was looking forward to the federal government’s announcement.
He also said he hopes future programs will provide long-term, sustainable jobs for energy auditors and the HVAC industry. Trebles said the program needs to be rebalanced to help homeowners who can’t afford the upfront costs.
“I think what we need to hear from the government is how they intend to frame this as a program that doesn’t reflect the mistakes of the past,” he said.