What it used to be
For years, Nova Scotia's home heating rebates had a real claim to being the most generous in Canada — a byproduct of the province's high electricity rates and unusually large share of homes still heated with oil. Stackable grants, interest-free loans, and a dedicated Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA) top-up made the province a genuine leader.
What changed, and when
- December 31, 2025: The core Home Heating System Rebates Program closed to new applications.
- July 2, 2026: The federal OHPA program — which added up to $15,000 combined for oil-to-heat-pump conversions — closed to new applicants after available funding was fully allocated.
Nova Scotia moved first here, ahead of most other provinces making similar cuts. That timing matters: a lot of "current" rebate content published in 2024 and 2025 is now describing a program that simply doesn't exist anymore, and it hasn't been updated.
What's actually left in 2026
Efficiency Nova Scotia still offers up to $5,000 to any homeowner, up to $15,000 for moderate-income households, and free installation for income-qualified homes through HomeWarming. Insulation, air sealing, and smart thermostats remain free. Solar still pays $0.60/watt. Halifax adds its own Solar City financing program on top.
It's a real program. It's just not the program most content online is still describing.
More rebate reality checks
- Alberta's Heat Pump Program Got 16 Applications. One Was Approved.
- Canada's Home Energy Rebate Report Card: Every Province Graded
- "Holding My Money Hostage": Inside the Mass Save Complaints
- Which Provinces Are Advancing on Electrification — and Which Gave Up
- California's Solar Rebate Is Famous. It's Also Closed.
- The $100 Alberta "Energy Rebate" Isn't What You Think
- 41 Massachusetts Towns Are Locked Out of Mass Save