Free thermostat in Ottawa: do you qualify?
Ontario's Energy Affordability Program installs a programmable or smart thermostat for free in homes heated by electricity or oil, along with other upgrades. Hydro Ottawa lists it on its programs page. You qualify if you own, rent or lease your home in Ontario and your household income is under the limit, or if you get ODSP, Ontario Works or OESP help.
| Household | Income limit for free thermostat and upgrades (before tax) |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $48,220 |
| Family of 4 | $96,439 |
How to apply: call 1-844-770-3148 or use the online form on the Save on Energy program page. The program says it replies within three business days. If your income is over the limit, or you heat with gas, use the $125 rebate below instead. Limits checked September 2026.
How much you get
Eligible brands and models
Ottawa homeowners get a flat $125 off one eligible smart thermostat under Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program, either as an instant discount code used at checkout or as a mail-in rebate after you buy. Six brands qualify: ecobee, Google Nest, Honeywell Home, Copeland Sensi, Mysa, and Sinopé. The rebate is capped at one per household, and current retail prices for each eligible model are compared below.
Compare smart thermostats you can buy
Ottawa's cold, long winters mean the setback-scheduling savings on the heating side matter more here than the summer demand-response angle that drives programs in southern Ontario.
- Ships with a remote SmartSensor to catch cold or hot rooms
- Pairs with central air, gas furnaces, and most heat pumps
- Learns your schedule after about a week
- Farsight display shows time, weather, and temperature from across the room
- Comes with a Smart Room Sensor to balance uneven rooms
- Uses your phone location to know when to ease off
- App stays out of your way with a clean, basic layout
- Installs without an added C-wire in most homes
- Built for electric baseboard and in-floor heat, not just forced air
- Canadian company, Matter-compatible
- Handles electric baseboard and in-floor radiant heat well
- Wi-Fi direct, skips the extra hub other ecosystems need
Prices are approximate manufacturer list prices and change — check the brand's site for current pricing.
How to claim it
- Before buying: apply for the $100 instant rebate through the program portal, then purchase at a participating retailer
- After buying: purchase any eligible model, then submit your receipt for a $100 mail-in rebate
Smart Thermostat installers in Ottawa
Real companies based in Ottawa, pulled from their current Google reviews. We're not paid to list anyone here.
Common questions
Is there a way to get a smart thermostat for more than $125 back in Ottawa?
The provincial $125 rebate is the main lever in Ottawa. Peak Perks is a separate province-wide Save on Energy program for homes with central air or a heat pump: enroll an eligible smart thermostat and get a $75 prepaid card, then $20 a year for staying in, in exchange for small thermostat adjustments on peak summer days.
Which thermostats qualify for the Ottawa rebate?
The Home Renovation Savings Program covers specific models from six manufacturers: ecobee, Google Nest, Honeywell Home, Copeland Sensi, Mysa, and Sinopé. Check the current model list on the program site before buying, since not every thermostat a brand sells is on it.
Is there a free thermostat in Ottawa?
Only through the income-based Energy Affordability Program. Everyone else can get $125 back from Home Renovation Savings plus $75 from Peak Perks.
Does Hydro One or Hydro Ottawa give a smart thermostat rebate?
Not their own. The $125 rebate is provincial (Home Renovation Savings), and Peak Perks is run by Save on Energy for customers of any Ontario utility, including Hydro Ottawa and Hydro One.
Your utility: Hydro Ottawa
Hydro Ottawa's old peaksaver PLUS program, which used to hand participants a free thermostat and an in-home energy display, is no longer listed on Hydro Ottawa's programs page (checked September 2026). We found no confirmed current smart thermostat demand-response incentive on Hydro Ottawa's site as of this writing, so don't count on utility money beyond the $125 provincial rebate below. Call Hydro Ottawa directly if you want to double-check before buying. For more, see the City of Ottawa Climate Change Master Plan. Hydro Ottawa.
What to do next
- Check if you qualify for the free Energy Affordability Program first (call 1-844-770-3148 or apply online).
- If not, buy an eligible model and upload your receipt to Home Renovation Savings within 60 days.
- If you have central air or a heat pump, enroll the thermostat in Peak Perks for $75.
See your city's rebates → Compare top-rated local installers, ranked by Google reviews. Free for homeowners.
All Ottawa rebates → · Ottawa heat pump rebates → · Eligible thermostats compared → · Ontario thermostat buying guide →
Sources, checked September 26, 2026: HRS smart thermostat rebate, Peak Perks, Energy Affordability Program.
View all Ottawa rebate programs → or check the official Home Renovation Savings Program site → for the current source of truth.