General FAQs
The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program (EAP) is an electricity conservation program offered by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and delivered province-wide by its trusted program delivery partner.
The EAP is designed for income-eligible electricity customers to help reduce their energy costs and increase their home comfort by providing no-cost energy-efficient upgrades for their homes.
Two levels of support are available. Participants most in need may qualify for Comprehensive Support and receive a free in-home energy assessment conducted by an energy expert that will help identify energy-efficient upgrades available for their homes, such as replacement appliances and weather stripping. Moderate income-level participants may qualify instead for an Energy Saving Kit customized to meet their energy needs that could include items such as, energy-saving LED lighting, timers and a clothes drying line, all for self installation.
Yes! The Energy Affordability Program is offered by the IESO and all energy-saving upgrades are completely free of charge. The IESO is responsible for overseeing energy-efficiency programs in Ontario, including programs such as this one.
If you live in Ontario and are responsible for paying your electricity bill as a homeowner or as a renter, you may be eligible for the Energy Affordability Program. Residents of social housing also may be eligible.
Eligibility for the Energy Affordability Program is based on household income and how many people live in your home, or on an individual’s receipt of a qualifying eligible benefit. There are two levels of support available. Additional eligibility details can be found at SaveonEnergy.ca/EAP.
Please note that Ontario residents served by Cornwall Electric are not eligible for the EAP as they are not connected to the IESO-controlled grid. Please contact Cornwall Electric to determine if there are any other programs available in your service territory.
You may benefit from the Energy Affordability Program if you are income-eligible or have received a qualifying assistance benefit in the past 12 months, and have products in your home that are not energy efficient, such as light bulbs and appliances.
If you require direct financial assistance with your electricity bill, you may qualify for additional programs through the Ontario Energy Board. To learn more, visit www.oeb.ca/rates-and-your-bill/help-low-income-consumers.
To find out more about the Energy Affordability Program, please call 1-844-770-3148.
You can also visit the EAP website at SaveonEnergy.ca/EAP
The Home Assistance Program has been replaced by the new Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program (EAP). The EAP offers the same free in-home energy assessments and energy-saving products with no-cost installation previously offered by the Home Assistance Program. It also offers expanded eligibility and an opportunity for moderate income-level participants who do not qualify for a free in-home energy assessment to receive an Energy Saving Kit with energy-efficient measures they can install in their homes.
A number of electricity-bill support programs are available. Please visit the OEB website for more information and to determine eligibility. In addition, income-eligible customers can continue to apply for the Energy Affordability Program and will be contacted to schedule an in-home assessment; should your region be restricted, you will be placed on a waitlist and contacted once direct customer engagements resume.
Program participants waiting for deliveries will be contacted in the coming weeks to schedule the installation of their energy-efficient products, as regional public health measures permit. The delivery of some products has been affected by supply chain delays.
Comprehensive Support FAQs
During the in-home energy assessment, an energy expert will ask you to sign a Participant Agreement and will verify the documents used to prove your program eligibility.
With your permission, the expert will then install qualifying measures in your home, such as ENERGY STAR® certified LED lightbulbs, efficient showerheads and faucet aerators, and a clothes drying rack. The energy expert will ask questions about additional appliances and equipment in your home that use electricity, and will provide you with information on how to reduce your electricity use, lower your energy bills and make your home more comfortable.
The age and efficiency of your appliances will also be assessed during the in-home visit, and if applicable, insulation and draft levels will be measured. Photographs of your appliances and interior and exterior of your home also will be taken as part of the assessment. If you qualify for the installation of additional energy saving equipment based on the assessment, an energy expert may return for a second home visit when it best works for you.
Once your in-home energy assessment has been completed, the EAP delivery partner will review the information collected by the energy expert to determine if your home qualifies to have your inefficient appliances replaced with new, ENERGY STAR® certified equipment. If your home is electrically heated, the delivery partner will also assess if your home can benefit from increased insulation in the attic, walls, and/or basement, and comprehensive draft proofing. You will be notified of the energy assessment results by letter or email. If your home qualifies for appliance upgrades or insulation, the EAP delivery partner will work with you to arrange an installation date that works best for you. You may choose to accept or decline any upgrades offered to you.
Free upgrades include ENERGY STAR® certified light bulbs (LEDs), energy-efficient shower heads and faucet aerators, a clothes drying rack and a power bar with a timer. Based on the results of the in-home assessment, you may also qualify for ENERGY STAR® certified replacement appliances such as a fridge, freezer, window air conditioner, and/or dehumidifier. If your home is electrically heated, you may also be eligible for insulation in the walls, attic and basement as needed, as well as comprehensive home draft-proofing, and a cold climate air source heat pump. For a limited time, you may also be eligible for a cold climate air source heat pump if your home is heated with oil.
With your consent to perform the in-home energy assessment, the Energy Affordability Program (EAP) collects information relating to the efficiency, age of your home, heat-fuel type (e.g., electricity, natural gas), appliances, heating system equipment, electronics and lighting. This information allows the EAP delivery partner to determine which energy-efficient upgrades are most appropriate for your home. With your permission, the delivery partner or IESO may also refer you to other no-cost energy-affordability programs from which you may benefit.
You will receive communications from the IESO and the program delivery partner about your participation in EAP, such as a customer survey.
If you qualify for new appliances through EAP, you will be offered a new, ENERGY STAR® certified qualified model. When accepting the new appliance, you consent to the removal and disposal of the old, inefficient appliance. The old appliances are decommissioned and any substances that are harmful to the environment are disposed of responsibly. Other materials from the old appliances are then recycled.
Heat Pump
An air source heat pump is an energy-efficient system that provides both heating and cooling. It works by transferring heat from the outdoor air into your home in the winter and removing heat in the summer.
Unlike standard air source heat pumps, cold climate air source heat pumps are specifically designed to perform well in cold climate regions like Ontario. They use advanced technology to maintain efficiency and continue operating in temperatures well below freezing, making them better suited for Canadian winters.
You can learn more about cold climate air source heat pumps by visiting the Air Source Heat Pumps | Save on Energy page.
If your home is electrically heated or uses oil heating, you may be eligible to receive a cold climate air source heat pump through the program.
Cold climate air source heat pumps are installed in single-family homes, where they can effectively support whole-home heating and cooling.
The program also includes weatherization upgrades, such as insulation and draft proofing, to help ensure your home is energy efficient and well-prepared before installing a heat pump.
Final determination is based on your current heating system and the results of an in-home assessment.
Yes. Cold climate air source heat pumps are designed to operate efficiently even in very cold temperatures. Many models can continue to function at outdoor temperatures as low as -20°C. The Energy Affordability Program delivery agents will configure the system to ensure it can effectively handle all weather conditions and keep your home comfortable year-round.
Yes. Eligible participants can receive a cold climate air source heat pump and installation at no cost through the Energy Affordability Program.
Heat pumps provided through the program include:
All equipment and installation are provided at no cost to eligible participants.
Eligibility depends on your current heating system:
To apply, check your eligibility, or learn more about the program, you can:
The program offers cold climate air source heat pumps only. Depending on your home’s current heating setup, you may receive:
The appropriate system for your home will be determined after completing your in-home assessment.
Yes. While cold climate air source heat pumps are designed to handle low temperatures and can meet heating needs for much of the winter, during extreme cold they may not provide enough heat on their own. In those situations, a backup (auxiliary) heating system helps ensure comfort and reliability. The heat pump offering under the Energy Affordability Program already integrates the required back up heating system into the solution.
Energy Saving Kits FAQs
You may be required to provide a copy of your proof of eligibility (e.g., Notice of Assessment or proof of receipt of a qualifying support benefit) before an Energy Saving Kit is assembled and shipped to you. In cases where a physical or electronic copy of proof of eligibility are submitted, the EAP delivery partner will securely destroy all documentation once your eligibility has been verified.
Depending on your household needs and eligibility, your Energy Saving Kit may include free energy-saving measures for self installation, such as energy-saving light bulbs, efficient shower heads, faucet aerators, a clothes drying line and/or weather-stripping.
The Energy Saving Kit is customized based on the number of inefficient light bulbs and the primary heating fuel source for your home and your hot water. If your home and/or hot water are heated by electricity, you may qualify for energy-saving water measures and/or weather-stripping. You may also receive a block heater timer if you use a block heater for your vehicle.
The energy saving measures in the Energy Saving Kit are all suitable for self-installation. After your kit has been delivered by mail, the EAP delivery partner will follow up with you by phone or email to verify that the energy-saving measures in your kit have been installed and are working as intended to help reduce your energy use and costs. The IESO may also follow up to invite you to participate in a survey about your experience with the EAP.
If you received an Energy Saving Kit in 2021, please contact the IESO's EAP Delivery Partner, GreenSaver, at 1-888-855-3106. If you received an Energy Saving Kit in 2022, please contact the IESO's EAP Delivery Partner, Ecofitt, at 1-888-341-9778.