Charlottetown – Making the switch from home heating oil to a heat pump will save Canadians thousands of dollars each year on their energy bills. By driving down both energy bills and harmful pollution, the benefits of switching to a heat pump are clear, and the Government of Canada has been bringing these benefits to Canadians through the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and Bobby Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, on behalf of Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Steven Myers, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI), announced that Canada and PEI are fully co-delivering the strengthened OHPA program.
Low- to median-income households in PEI that heat with oil can apply to receive a free heat pump, which will heat and cool their entire home. The Government of Canada’s OHPA investment of up to $15,000 per eligible homeowner will not only provide thousands more dollars to Prince Edward Islanders to switch to a heat pump but will also allow for additional measures such as switching to electric water heaters, supplemental electric resistance heaters, electrical upgrades, and the safe removal of oil tanks.
Eligible applicants also receive an upfront, one-time payment of $250 from the federal government. As of July 5, a total of 7,403 heat pumps have been installed under the plan nationally and 10,568 Canadian households have received upfront payments.
The federal government currently has co-delivery arrangements in place with Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia and looks forward to co-delivering the program with other provinces and territories soon.
In jurisdictions without federal-provincial/territorial co-delivery arrangements, oil-heated households have been and will continue to be able to apply for up to $10,000 in federal OHPA funding through the national portal managed by Natural Resources Canada. The Government of Canada is currently working with other provinces and territories to deliver new, strengthened OHPA co-delivery agreements to make heat pumps even more affordable for even more Canadians across the country.
In addition to the OHPA program, in June 2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada announced up to $16.8 million from Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund to support low-income homeowners’ transition from home heating oil to more-affordable low-emitting heating technologies, like electric heat pumps in Prince Edward Island. The Governments of Canada and PEI are working closely together to finalize the delivery of this funding.
“Making the switch to more energy-efficient heating systems can help Canadians save thousands on their energy bills, reduce their energy use, and decrease their carbon footprint. That’s why we are strengthening the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program and ensuring that families are supported in making the switch from heating oil to an efficient heat pump.” – Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
“Installing a heat pump in your home is one of the best ways to save on your monthly energy bills while reducing emissions. This announcement builds on the success we are already seeing across Atlantic Canada, making life more affordable while protecting our environment and growing our economy.” – Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Associate Minister of National Defence