Find answers to the most asked Small Business Program questions
Program Basics
Under the new program, small businesses may receive up to $3,000 for eligible lighting upgrades, as well as up to $2,500 for eligible non-lighting upgrades (refrigeration upgrades and smart thermostats) at no cost.
The Small Business Program offers lighting upgrades to qualifying businesses, as well as non-lighting upgrades (refrigeration upgrades and smart thermostats), whereas the former Small Business Lighting program offered only lighting upgrades.
There is no cost to receive an assessment, or to have eligible lighting upgrades of up to $3,000 and non-lighting upgrades of up to $2,500 installed.
If you wish to install additional upgrades that exceed the $3,000 available for lighting and $2,500 available for non-lighting, you will be responsible for paying for the costs of these upgrades, including their installation. Please refer to the Eligible Measures List for information about the upgrades for the Small Business Program. Please call 1-833-825-7283, or email Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca for more information on the incentives available.
Yes. Businesses may receive incentives for eligible upgrades in addition to the $3,000 available for lighting upgrades and to the $2,500 available for non-lighting upgrades, where applicable. Please refer to the Eligible Measures List for information about all of the available incentives in the Small Business Program.
No. The $3,000 available for eligible lighting upgrades and the $2,500 available for eligible non-lighting upgrades can only be used for equipment in their respective categories.
Qualified Save on Energy representatives will conduct a free assessment of your business to identify all eligible upgrades for your business. You will have an opportunity to review these upgrades and to then agree to or reject any of them after the assessment and before the upgrades are installed.
No. Only one assessment is conducted to identify both lighting and non-lighting upgrades. Your Save on Energy representative will work with you to schedule a date and time to complete your assessment.
When you agree to have upgrades offered through the Small Business Program installed at your business, you also consent to have your old equipment removed and disposed of by qualified Save on Energy representatives. Your old equipment will be decommissioned, and any environmentally harmful substances will be recycled or disposed of in a responsible manner in accordance with legal requirements. In some cases, your old equipment may be modified to install the upgrade. For example, we will upgrade your refrigerator by replacing its fan motor and we will upgrade your lights while retaining the existing light fixtures.
No. Only qualified Save on Energy contractors are permitted to install eligible equipment under the Small Business Program.
Please call 1-833-825-7283, or email Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca. If you are inquiring by email, please provide your business name, business address and a brief description of the equipment you are inquiring about.
Please complete the web form, call 1-833-825-7283, or email Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca. If inquiring by email, please provide your business name, business address and a brief description of the equipment you are inquiring about.
Eligibility
The following businesses may be eligible to participate in the Small Business Program:
Please refer to the Program Requirements for additional information. To determine if your business is eligible, please call 1-833-825-7283, or email Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca. If you are inquiring by email, please provide your business name, business address and a brief description of the equipment you are inquiring about.
Participants of the Save on Energy Small Business Lighting program may qualify for non-lighting upgrades and additional lighting upgrades. To confirm if you are eligible, please call 1-833-825-7283, or email Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca. If inquiring by email, please provide your business name, business address, and a brief description of the equipment you are inquiring about and confirm if you previously participated in the program.
Yes. Past participants that had their lights installed on or after April 1, 2019 may qualify for additional lighting upgrades at no-cost by topping up the value of lighting upgrades you previously received through the program, such that the total value of lights that you receive through the program does not exceed $3,000. For example, if you previously received $2,000 of lights, you may qualify to receive up to an additional $1,000 of lights installed at no-cost by reapplying to the Save on Energy Small Business program. Past participants that had their lights installed before April 1, 2019 may qualify to receive up to $3,000 of lights at no-cost by reapplying to the Save on Energy Small Business Program. If you are interested in reapplying for additional lights, please call 1-833-825-7283, or Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca. If inquiring by email, please provide your business name, business address, and a brief description of the equipment you are inquiring about and confirm if you previously participated in the program.
Once the assessment of your business has been completed, you will receive a work order describing the eligible equipment upgrades. You will have an opportunity to review these eligible upgrades and agree to or reject any of them after the assessment and before they are installed. You will also need to review and sign the program Participant Agreement that sets out the program terms before proceeding with an installation. Your Save on Energy representative will provide you with the required documentation to participate in the program, and will inform you if further information is required to complete the assessment and the installation of your upgrades.
Business tenants are responsible for obtaining the appropriate consent(s) from their landlord and/or building owner to participate in the Small Business Program. You must obtain these consent(s) before signing the work order and the Participant Agreement.
The Small Business Program offers turn-key, direct installation services for eligible lighting and non-lighting upgrades to qualifying small businesses at no cost. This includes a free assessment from qualified energy experts, project management of equipment installation, as well as clean up after installation and disposal of any equipment that is replaced.
The Retrofit program offers incentives for energy-efficient lighting, HVAC and manufacturing equipment upgrades. Applicants are required to submit an application and receive pre-approval for their projects in order to participate in the Retrofit program. For more information on the Retrofit program including how to apply, please visit saveonenergy.ca/retrofit.
Yes, eligible businesses can participate in the Small Business Program and the Retrofit program. For information about the Retrofit program, including requirements for participating, please visit saveonenergy.ca/retrofit.
Eligible Equipment and Upgrades
Energy-efficient refrigeration measures, smart thermostats, and lighting occupancy sensors have been added to the Small Business Program that were not offered in the former Small Business Lighting program. Please refer to the Eligible Measures List for all eligible equipment.
Timing
Assessments and equipment installations are typically done between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. For more information, call 1-833-825-7283, or email Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca. If inquiring by email, please provide your business name, business address and a brief description of the equipment you are inquiring about.
Your Save on Energy representative will work with you to schedule a date and to discuss timelines for installing the equipment upgrades you’ve agreed to. Note that installations are not done on the same day as the assessment. Where possible, installations will be completed in one business day. Your Save on Energy representative will let you know if additional days are required to complete the installation.
Eligible businesses are currently required to sign a work order and Participant Agreement by December 31, 2024, and to have all installations completed by June 30, 2025. We recognize that you may need time before deciding whether to participate in the Small Business Program. Your Save on Energy representative will work with you to address any questions you may have before you agree to the installation.
Applicants who are on the waiting list will be contacted in the coming weeks to schedule appointments as regional public health measures permit. Please call 1-833-825-7283, or email Info@SmallBusinessProgram.ca if you have applied or been placed on a waitlist and have not heard back from a Save on Energy representative within three business days.
Health and Safety
Save on Energy is committed to ensuring the safety of our customers and communities. For information about how Save on Energy is following the province’s COVID-19 health and safety requirements, please visit the Save on Energy health and safety web page for more information.