How much you get
Enbridge Gas customers (switching from gas)
Cold-climate air-source: $500/ton, up to $2,000.
Enbridge Gas customers, ground-source
Flat rebate for ground-source systems.
Electric, oil, propane, or wood heat
Cold-climate air-source: $1,250/ton, up to $7,500.
Electric, oil, propane, or wood, ground-source
$2,000/ton, up to $12,000.
The unit must be on Natural Resources Canada's qualified products list for cold-climate air-source or ground-source heat pumps.
Financing the rest
The Better Homes Ottawa loan can cover the remainder of an electric/oil/propane/wood-to-heat-pump conversion, but it won't finance a like-for-like gas furnace swap, since gas-powered upgrades are excluded from that program. See our full breakdown of the loan for rates and terms.
What you'll actually save each month
Ottawa's winters run long and genuinely cold, which means the electricity math matters more here than in most Ontario cities on this site: a heat pump that runs hard for five or six months needs a real rate to compare against, not a rough guess.
- Electricity (OEB Regulated Price Plan, Nov 2025–Oct 2026): Hydro Ottawa bills most of the city on this provincial rate. Time-of-use: off-peak 9.8¢/kWh, mid-peak 15.7¢/kWh, on-peak 20.3¢/kWh, averaging 12.8¢/kWh. Tiered: 12.0¢/kWh up to the monthly threshold, then 14.2¢/kWh. It's set by the OEB provincially, not by Hydro Ottawa, so it's the same number regardless of which billing plan you're on. (See the OEB rate report →)
- Natural gas (Enbridge Gas): for anyone switching off gas to claim the higher rebate tier, Enbridge's rate depends on delivery zone and changes quarterly, so there's no single figure honest enough to print here. (Check Enbridge's current rate →)
A cold-climate heat pump moves roughly 2.5–3.5 units of heat per unit of electricity it draws (its coefficient of performance). That ratio holds up well until temperatures drop toward the equipment's rated limit, which is exactly where Ottawa's coldest nights (down to -32.2°C on record) start to matter: expect backup heat to carry some of the load on those nights, with correspondingly less benefit from the heat pump's efficiency that particular evening.
Get a number built for your house, not the province: our free assessment tool uses your actual bill and system to estimate real payback.
How to claim it
- Complete the eligibility form on the Save on Energy portal
- Select a participating HVAC contractor
- Get mandatory pre-installation approval before work starts
- Installation is completed
- Contractor submits the post-installation application
- Rebate cheque arrives within 60 days of approval
Heat Pump installers in Ottawa
Real companies based in Ottawa, pulled from their current Google reviews. We're not paid to list anyone here.
Common questions
How much is the heat pump rebate in Ottawa?
It depends on your current heating fuel. Enbridge Gas customers get up to $2,000 for an air-source heat pump or $3,000 for ground-source. If you heat with electric, oil, propane, or wood, you get up to $7,500 (air-source) or $12,000 (ground-source). This is the same structure across all of Ontario.
Is a heat pump worth it in Ottawa's winters?
Yes, though Ottawa is a genuine stress test: the 10-year (2015-2024) average January low is -13.2°C, with a recorded low of -32.2°C, well past the roughly -25°C mark where even a cold-climate heat pump's output starts to taper. It's still the right equipment here, but expect backup heat to kick in on the very coldest nights.
Is there a free thermostat in Ottawa?
Only if your household qualifies for the income-based Energy Affordability Program, which can include a free smart thermostat. Everyone else can get $125 back from Home Renovation Savings, plus $75 from Peak Perks if the thermostat runs central air or a heat pump.
Can I use the Better Homes Ottawa loan for a heat pump?
Yes. It covers energy upgrades like heat pumps. You can take the provincial rebate as well. Check the City's income limits for the 0% rate.
Ottawa gets cold enough that the utility question matters more
Hydro Ottawa, the city-owned utility that bills most of Ottawa, doesn't set your rebate amount; that comes from the province regardless of who's on your bill. But Ottawa's winters mean your new heat pump will actually be working hard for months at a time, drawing real electricity, which makes it worth understanding your bill before you install rather than after. Hydro Ottawa is also the contact if a panel upgrade comes up during a quote. We haven't found a Hydro Ottawa top-up on the provincial rebate. If your installer mentions one, get it in writing before you count on it.
The coldest capital city in the world isn't exaggerating
Ottawa often gets called one of the coldest national capitals on earth, and the 10-year numbers (2015-2024) support it: an average January low of -13.2°C, more than 6 degrees colder than Toronto's over the same stretch, with a recorded low of -32.2°C. That's genuinely past where a cold-climate heat pump is rated to hold full output — on the very coldest nights, expect some backup heat to kick in alongside it. It's still the right equipment for Ottawa; just don't expect zero backup heating on the extremes.
What to do next
- Get two or three quotes from local heating contractors. Ask each one to do a room-by-room heat loss calculation, not a guess based on square feet.
- Make sure the model is a cold-climate air source (or ground source) heat pump on Natural Resources Canada's qualified list. The rebate requires it.
- No home energy assessment is needed for the heat pump rebate. Your contractor installs it, then you apply on homerenovationsavings.ca with your invoice.
- Keep the invoice showing the model number and size in tons. The rebate is paid per ton, so the size matters.
- If you need financing, apply for the Better Homes Ottawa Loan before work starts.
See your city's rebates → Compare top-rated local installers, ranked by Google reviews. Free for homeowners.
All Ottawa rebates → · Ottawa thermostat rebates → · Better Homes Ottawa loan explained → · Ontario heat pump tiers explained →
Sources, checked September 26, 2026: Home Renovation Savings, HRS heat pump rebates, Better Homes Ottawa Loan, Energy Affordability Program, Peak Perks.