On October 8, the federal government announced a new National Heat Pump Rebate: $2 billion over eight years, aimed at up to 820,000 households switching to cold-climate electric heat pumps. The headlines are big. The details matter more — and some of them argue for patience.
What's confirmed
- Two amounts: up to $10,000 for households below their province's median after-tax income, and $2,000 for other eligible homeowners.
- No energy audits. Unlike the old Greener Homes program, there are no pre- or post-installation audits to book and pay for.
- Approval comes before purchase. You apply online, get a decision — promised within 24 hours — then buy from an eligible-products list of 100,000+ models, install, upload receipts, and get paid (promised within five days).
- It stacks. The federal rebate can be combined with provincial programs, including NB Power's existing heat pump incentives.
- It's not just oil anymore. Homes replacing gas, propane, diesel or electric heating are expected to qualify — a much wider net than the old oil-to-heat-pump program.
What is not confirmed — read this part twice
- The portal is not open. As of late October, the federal page only offers an email sign-up. Officials are targeting a launch in early 2027.
- Retroactivity is being explored, not promised. Ottawa says it's looking at covering installations from fall 2026 — but no rule, start date or paperwork requirement has been published. A heat pump installed today might qualify. It might not.
- New Brunswick's income line isn't published yet. The dollar cut-off for the $10,000 tier hasn't been released for Atlantic Canada, so nobody in Moncton can tell you today which tier you're in.
💡 If your furnace dies before the portal opens
Heat comes first — a frozen house costs more than any rebate. But keep every receipt, invoice and model/serial number. If retroactive eligibility lands, documentation is what will decide who gets paid.
So what should you actually do?
If your system can limp through one more winter, the smart move is to wait for the portal, get the approval in writing, and then buy. Meanwhile, the prep work isn't wasted either way: heat pumps work best in a house that holds heat. Sealing drafts, adding insulation where it's thin, and making sure your electrical panel has capacity for the new equipment all raise the payoff — and they're exactly the jobs worth doing this fall, rebate or no rebate.