Home Assistance Program
Better manage the electricity costs for your home or social housing property with help from the Home Assistance Program.
What is the Home Assistance Program?
Out-of-date household items can make electricity bills more expensive for your home or social housing property. The Save on Energy Home Assistance Program offers free energy-efficiency upgrades for income-eligible homeowners and tenants, and eligible social housing providers, as well as an in-home energy assessment to help uncover more ways to save.
How to get started
To sign up or learn more about the program:
Provide us with information and get a call back from the program service provider within two business days.
What upgrades are available through the program?
- ENERGY STAR®-certified LED light bulbs
- Smart Power Strip
- High-efficiency showerheads (standard and handheld)
- Aerators (kitchen and bathroom)
- Drying racks
- Energy-efficient refrigerator
- Window air conditioner
- Additional attic or basement insulation*
- Weatherstripping around doors and windows*
- Smart thermostats*
*for homes heated by electricity
Program Eligibility
To be eligible, you must be a resident of an eligible non-profit housing property, OR be an individual who owns, rents or leases their residence, is listed as the primary or secondary utility account holder, and meets one of the following criteria:
- Has an annual household income for the previous year that does not exceed the program eligibility limits.
| Number of people in the home | Gross annual household income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $32,843 |
| 2 | $40,886 |
| 3 | $50,266 |
| 4 | $61,028 |
| 5 | $69,217 |
| 6 | $78,065 |
| 7 or more | $86,914 |
- Received one of the following eligible types of assistance in the past 12 months.
- Received a Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) grant or were part of the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) within the last 12 months.
- Qualified to participate in a natural gas low-income Demand Side Management (DSM) program during the past 12 months.
Learn more about the program
Frequently asked questions Click here for more information on the Home Assistance Program
Finchview Villa residents are resting easier since new energy-efficient
light bulbs, a new ENERGY STAR® freezer and five ENERGY
STAR® refrigerators were installed in the non-profit apartment
complex for seniors near Ottawa.
The upgrades helped lower the residence’s annual energy costs by
approximately $2,600, keeping overall operating costs in check.
By lowering energy costs, the residence is helping to make rent
more affordable for the seniors living there.
Program
Home Assistance Program
Benefits
- $2,600 in annual energy savings
- Lower energy costs for the residence
- Peace of mind for seniors
An energy audit at Aventine Co-op Homes in Kitchener, Ontario,
an electrically-heated town home complex, identified a wave of
upgrades to help individual members save on their energy bills and
live more comfortably.
“The audit was a great catalyst,” said Paulette Clamp, Aventine’s
Administrator. “We realized that switching to energy-efficient
light bulbs was just one of many things we could do to help our
members. Since the audit, we’ve installed new heaters, as well as
patio and garage doors in most of the units to stop energy from
leaking out. We’ve also started circulating notices and flyers with
tips on saving energy.”
A free energy audit had a transformative effect on Aventine Co-op
Homes and its members. Small changes led to bigger ones and to a
whole new mindset about energy efficiency.
Program
Home Assistance Program
Benefits
- Greater in-home comfort
- Energy savings for co-op members
- Incremental investments in energy upgrades
- Energy efficiency awareness amongst members
When offered the opportunity to reduce operating costs at
the Sudbury YWCA’s 10-unit transitional housing unit, and its
emergency shelter for women and children, Executive Director
Marlene Gorman didn’t think twice. Through the Home Assistance
Program, she installed energy-efficient light bulbs and ENERGY
STAR® refrigerators.
The savings made enough of a difference that the not-for-profit
organization looked at other energy-saving measures to increase
residents’ comfort and sense of security.
Now, with the money it’s saving on energy, the YWCA Sudbury can
put more of its budget towards the day-to-day needs of women and
children in crisis.
Program
Home Assistance Program
Benefits
- Increased sense of safety for residents
- Lower operating costs
- Improved in-suite comfort for residents
Looking for additional support? Consider the following programs:
Be aware
Save on Energy does not call homeowners to solicit participation in its programs. If you receive an unprompted call or home visit from a group claiming to be Save on Energy, please let us know by emailing saveonenergy@ieso.ca.