Progress on Low-Income Energy Efficiency in Canada
The following timeline covers federal, provincial and territorial energy efficiency policy progress and milestones in Canada, with a focus on energy poverty and low-income energy efficiency. This timeline is non-exhaustive. This timeline was developed in relation to Efficiency Canada’s work on ensuring energy efficiency reaches and benefits all Canadians. Any possible mistakes, omissions, or errors are unintentional. If you would like to let us know of possible mistakes, omissions, or errors, please email us.
To view only Efficiency Canada milestones, click here.
Legend
National updates
Provincial milestones
Efficiency Canada (EC) milestones
1959
- Established in November of 1959, the National Energy Board (NEB) became responsible for oil, gas and electricity exports (Source).
1992
- The Energy Efficiency Act came into effect June 23rd, 1992. The Act would aim to establish minimum energy efficiency standards in order to decrease Canadian energy consumption and provide regulations for energy-using products (Source).
1995
- The Energy Efficiency Regulations came into force in 1995 to reduce energy consumption in Canada, and continue to be a key tool to reduce energy consumption and help reduce GHG emissions (Source).
2007
- The Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act came into effect April 13th, 2007. The Act would govern Nova Scotia’s environmental goals for sustainable prosperity such as emission reduction and energy efficiency programs (Source).
2008
- In 2008, Newfoundland Power teamed up with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to create takeCHARGE, a program designed to help residents reduce their energy use (Source).
2008
- In 2008, roll out of the Good Energy Rebate program began in Yukon. The program offered funding for retrofits and upgrades to buildings and homes (Source).
2010
- In 2010, Efficiency Nova Scotia was established as an independent, non-profit corporation. This is Canada’s first ‘energy efficiency utility’ (Source).
2010
- Released in 2010 by BC Hydro, the Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) helps non-profit housing co-ops access free home energy assessments and energy-saving upgrades. The program aimed to make energy-saving upgrades more accessible to households and families that may otherwise face financial barriers (Source).
2011
- In 2011, FortisBC and BC Hydro released the Social Housing Retrofit Support Program in efforts to increase the energy efficiency of social housing developments and return savings to participating non-profit housing providers (Source).
2013
- The Yukon’s Quick Start Home Energy Kits Program started as a pilot project in May 2013. Four items were included: shower timers, Teflon tape, window film, and weather stripping (Source).
2014
- Since August 2014, within the Canada–United States Regulatory Cooperation Council Joint Forward Plan, Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of Energy have established the goal of aligning new and updated energy efficiency standards and test methods for energy-using equipment (Source).
2014
- The Home Renovation Program (HRP) was introduced by the Nunavut Housing Corporation in 2014. The program would provide assistance to eligible homeowners to complete home renovations (Source).
2014
- In partnership with BC Hydro and FortisBC, the BC government introduced the Energy Savings Kit (ESK) program to help low-income homeowners reduce their electricity and gas bills (Source).
2014
- In September of 2014, the Yukon introduced the inCharge electricity conservation program aimed at helping residents save electricity and money. The program would offer a low-cost energy efficiency product kit and LED lighting rebates (Source).
2015
- In 2015, SaskPower administered a Home Assistance Pilot Program with Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to deliver energy kits to low income households (Source).
2016
- In June of 2016, the Ontario’s Conservation First Framework (CFF) was amended to direct the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to design, fund and deliver two low-income energy conservation programs: the Multi-Distributor Program and the Whole Home Pilot Program (Source).
2016
- In December 2016, First Ministers adopted the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF), which presents the country’s plan to meet its GHG emissions reduction targets, grow the economy, and build resilience to a changing climate. This included the “Build Smart” plan which outlined an approach for the Canadian building sector that includes improving energy efficiency (Source).
2016
- The Government of the Yukon and the Government of Canada launch the First Nation Housing Partnership in 2016 which provided assistance through capital grants to First Nation governments, First Nation development corporations, and First Nation housing providers (Source).
2017
- In 2017, the amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act gave the federal government more tools and greater flexibility to ensure that Canada’s energy efficiency and testing standards can align more effectively with those of trading partners (Source).
2017
- In 2017, Manitoba introduced the Efficiency Manitoba Act, which established Efficiency Manitoba (Source).
2017
- In June 2017, the federal government released the Low Carbon Economy Fund, which provided funding for projects that help to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, including energy rebates and energy efficiency programs (Source).
2017
- In 2017, Newfoundland & Labrador announced the Home Energy Savings Program (HESP). The initiative aimed to assist low-income households in making energy efficient retrofits to their home (Source).
2017
- In 2017, Qulliq Energy Corp. introduced a net-metering program that allowed homeowners to generate their own electricity and integrate it into the corporation’s grids for an energy credit (Source).
2018
- In May of 2018, Efficiency Canada launched, becoming the national voice for an energy efficient economy, combining engineering, advocacy, and research to influence public policy (Source).
2018
- In June 2018, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the United States Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Regarding the Canada–United States Regulatory Cooperation Council was signed to move forward on energy efficiency and foster alignment of federal regulations (Source).
2018
- In June, Energy Efficiency Alberta began administering the Affordable Housing Energy Savings program in conjunction with the Ministry of Seniors and Housing to make Alberta’s provincially and municipally owned affordable housing stock more environmentally and financially sustainable (Source).
2018
- In July of 2018, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks announced the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, which would repeal the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act and address matters related to the cancellation of the Cap and Trade Program,with the intention to develop a new plan to reduce GHG emissions. (Source).
2018
- In response to “Bill 4 – An Act Respecting the Preparation of a Climate Change Plan”, which would introduce the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, Efficiency Canada wrote a submission to the Government of Ontario that discussed the benefits of energy efficiency for achieving significant and low-cost greenhouse gas reductions while creating jobs and improving economic competitiveness. The submission would inform energy efficiency best practices for Ontario’s new climate change plan, including work to lower the burden electricity costs can place on Ontario consumers (Source).
2018
- In 2018, British Columbia released its CleanBC plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a pathway for a more prosperous, balanced, and sustainable future (Source).
2018
- In 2018, Kambo Energy Group ran a one year pilot program of the Home Upgrades Program in Calgary, Alberta. The program was supported by Energy Efficiency Alberta to provide families in energy poverty with deep home retrofits. The full program released in Spring 2023 (Source).
2018
- In December of 2018, Efficiency Canada wrote a submission to the office of the Premier of Nova Scotia in support of renewing the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, 2007 (Source), which would become the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, 2021 (Source). The Act would support, strengthen, and set targets for energy efficiency programming while prioritizing equitable access and benefits for low income and marginalized Nova Scotians (Source).
2019
- In a 2019 Federal Budget submission (Source), Efficiency Canada called for a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy to build Canada’s low-carbon future. Part 2 of the 2019 Federal Budget titled “Affordable Electricity Bills and a Clean Economy” outlined plans to reduce energy costs by increasing energy efficiency for Canadians (Source).
2019
- Part 2 of the 2019 Federal Budget titled “Affordable Electricity Bills and a Clean Economy” outlined plans to reduce energy costs by increasing energy efficiency for Canadians (Source).
2019
- The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) was formed on August 28, 2019 when the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) became law. This replaced the National Energy Board (NEB) (Source).
2019
- In 2019, SaskPower launched the Energy Assistance Program, targeting income qualified households in Regina and Saskatoon (Source).
2019
- In March 2019, the Federal and Provincial government of Newfoundland announced an investment of $2 million over three years for the Energy Efficiency in Oil Heated Homes Program to lower greenhouse gas emissions and support clean economic growth (Source).
2019
- In December of 2018, Efficiency Canada wrote a submission in support of Amendment 15 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations (Source). Proposed amendments to the Regulations were revised and divided into two separate amendments, Amendment 15 and Amendment 16 (Source). Amendment 16 was published in June of 2019. It would update energy efficiency and testing standards for various residential, commercial, and industrial products, including air conditioners and heat pumps (Source). High energy consuming products would be removed from the market, thereby helping Canadians conserve energy and save on energy costs.
2020
- Quebec’s Rénoclimat program was introduced in September of 2020 and provides financial assistance for energy-efficient renovation work on residential buildings (Source).
2020
- The income-based Energy Efficiency Assistance Program run by Efficiency Manitoba began to support low-income households (Source).
2020
- In September 2020, the Ontario government announced a 4-year electricity demand management framework starting in January 2021 that would replace the expiring Interim Framework. The Framework would be delivered by IESO and include programming for income-eligible households that would provide energy saving measures and installation of measures at no cost to the participant (Source). This was influenced in part by a joint open letter led by Efficiency Canada and 59 signing organizations that called for the extension of Ontario conservation and demand management (CDM) programs (Source).
2020
- In December 2020, the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada’s climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, which aims to make it easier for Canadians to improve the energy efficiency of the places where they live and gather (Source).
2020
- In 2020, provinces in Canada spent a total of $115 million on low-income energy efficiency programs (Source).
2021
- In January 2021, IESO launched the Energy Affordability Program (EAP) to help income-eligible households who may be struggling with their home electricity bills find savings through free energy efficiency measures and upgrades (Source).
2021
- In a 2021 Federal Budget submission (Source), Efficiency Canada called for funding to expand municipal and provincial energy efficiency portfolios, which included support for low and moderate income Canadians most affected by a post-pandemic recession (Source). Budget 2021 introduced new energy efficiency related funds, including $4.4 billion in interest-free loans for retrofits, with some funding dedicated to low-income energy efficiency (Source).
2021
- Budget 2021 introduced new energy efficiency related funds, including $4.4 billion in interest-free loans for retrofits, with some funding dedicated to low-income energy efficiency (Source).
2021
- In March 2021, Efficiency Canada hosted a virtual rally featuring a series of speakers across Canada who shared the challenges of living in energy poverty and working for change (Source). This was part of Efficiency Canada’s larger campaign for energy poverty, which included a sign on letter in support of federal funding for low income energy efficiency programs in the 2021 Budget (Source).
2021
- In May 2021, the federal government released the Canada Greener Homes Grant, aimed at helping Canadians save energy and make their homes more comfortable. This included an announcement with plans to invest $10 million to create more than 2000 jobs (Source).
2021
- In May 2021, NRCan published a technical bulletin on amending standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps to collect stakeholder views on the requirements being considered (Source). Input would inform the development of Amendment 17 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations (Source). Efficiency Canada submitted comments in support of the new requirements to align single-phase central air conditioners and heat pumps with standards in the United States while also ensuring that standards appropriately reflect the Canadian climate (Source). Required energy efficiency reporting would provide valuable information for consumers and for utility programs to incentivize heat pumps that provide adequate cold-climate performance.
2021
- In June 2021, Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation on energy, which acknowledges that both countries will collaborate on new and updated energy efficiency and testing standards (Source).
2021
- In June 2021, the Net-Zero Advisory Body released a report Advice for Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan in which they recommended the government “develop federal programs and leverage existing provincial programs to be accessible to lower-income Canadians who are the most likely to experience energy poverty.” (Source)
2021
- In June 2021, Efficiency Canada released the Canada’s Climate Retrofit Mission report, which outlined the scale and performance of building retrofits, and policy actions that are needed to confront the climate emergency. The report also discussed systemic impacts that a large-scale retrofit program could have on health, indoor environmental quality, in reducing poverty, and in creating resilience against climate impacts (Source). Ideas from the report were included in two federal election platforms in 2021 (Source).
2021
- In July 2021, Efficiency Canada wrote a submission (Source) in response to the priorities laid out in Building the Canada We Want in 2050 Engagement Paper on the National Infrastructure Assessment, which detailed the benefits of efficient buildings, including better health outcomes and reductions in energy poverty (Source). Efficiency Canada’s comments would help inform the Building Pathways to 2050: Moving Forward on the National Infrastructure Assessment report and next steps for the National Infrastructure Assessment (Source).
2021
- The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which received royal assent on 29 June 2021, sets out Canada’s federal emissions reduction targets in law and creates new mechanisms for legislative oversight of action to meet them, including energy supply and demand (Source).
2021
- Established in September of 2021, the Clean Energy Improvement Tax Bylaw establishes a Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) in Calgary. The Bylaw will allow eligible Calgary homeowners to access financing to complete clean energy improvements on their homes and repay through their property tax bill (Source).
2021
- BC announced the CleanBC Better Homes Income Qualified Program, which would offer incentives for energy efficiency to low and moderate income households. (Source).
2021
- Transition énergétique Québec begins offering Éconologis, a program administered in partnership with Hydro-Québec that offers free individualized advice and minor work to improve energy efficiency (Source).
2021
- Hydro-Québec begins offering home renovations for low-income households in collaboration with social and community organizations, such as social and co-op housing providers and municipalities (Source).
2021
- Énergir announces supplementary financial assistance to low-income households, under the Programme d’efficacité énergétique (Source).
2022
- On March 29, 2022, the federal government released its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, which lays out actions to guide Canada towards a national goal of 40-45% GHG emission below 2005 levels by 2030. The plan introduces new initiatives that can lay the groundwork for a scale-up in energy efficiency (Source).
2022
- In March 2022, the federal government released the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy, which laid out current and future programs and funding that will play a role in accelerating retrofits and net-zero new builds in communities across Canada, including low-income households (Source).
2022
- In March 2022, Efficiency Canada published the Efficiency for All report, which detailed how federal investment in provincial low-income energy efficiency programming could help achieve net-zero emissions and reduce energy poverty (Source).
2022
- In June 2022, the government of Canada released the Greener Homes Loan. The loan is offered in conjunction with the Canada Greener Homes Grant under the Canada Greener Homes Initiative (Source).
2022
- In a 2022 Federal Budget submission, Efficiency Canada called for funding to support low-income energy efficiency, net-zero building codes, and a scale-up in building retrofits (Source). In February 2022, Efficiency Canada sent a joint letter signed by 134 energy and anti-poverty organizations, supporters, and practitioners from across Canada to Ministers Freeland, Wilkinson, and Guilbeault calling for the Federal Government to include funding for energy efficiency for lower income households in the 2022 budget (Source). The 2022 Federal Budget provided an additional $458.5 million in funding for the low-income stream of the Canada Greener Homes Loan program (Source).
2022
- The 2022 Federal Budget provided an additional $458.5 million in funding for the low-income stream of the Canada Greener Homes Loan program (Source).
2022
- In 2022, Efficiency Canada released their fourth annual Provincial Scorecard (Source), as well as an online policy database (Source), which included qualitative descriptions of the various policy contexts across Canada, including low-income programs. The Scorecard and database would be used to inform and inspire leadership among policymakers and energy efficiency professionals.
2022
- SaskEnergy’s Residential Equipment Replacement Rebate Program begins in July 2022 (Source).
2022
- New Brunswick’s Enhanced Energy Savings Program begins. It is administered on behalf of the Department of Social Development in combination with the Provincial Climate Fund, and the Low Carbon Economy Fund (Source).
2022
- The NWT’s Arctic Energy Alliance begins offering energy savings kits and energy capacity-building workshops through the Specified Income Home Winterization Program (Source).
2022
- SaskEnergy begins offering the Tune-Up Assistance Program which delivers a home heating ‘tune-up’ to income qualified homeowners free of charge (Source).
2022
- In September 2022, Efficiency Canada published a response (Source) to the Canada Green Buildings Strategy Discussion Paper (Source), which highlighted gaps within the current plan pertaining to low-income energy efficiency. Efficiency Canada urged the federal government to make energy poverty the focus of the strategy by committing national support for low-income energy efficiency.
2022
- In September of 2022, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault announced the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program. Nearly half the amount will be set aside for Atlantic Canadians (Source).
2022
- In October, the federal government announced a $11.1-million investment through the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) initiative to help implement a home energy retrofit financing program in the City of Saskatoon. The Saskatoon Home Energy Loan Program is the first Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program in the province, designed to support retrofits for single-family homes by allowing repayment of loans through the property tax system (Source).
2022
- In November of 2022, Efficiency Canada wrote a submission to the Parliamentary Black Caucus calling for funding in the upcoming federal budget to support low-to-moderate income Black Canadians currently excluded from energy efficiency programs (Source). Efficiency Canada’s comments were used to inform a letter sent by the Parliamentary Black Caucus to the Minister of Finance, which urged the Canadian Government to support energy efficiency and affordability measures to improve the lives and well-being of Black Canadians who are disproportionately impacted by energy poverty (Source).
2022
- In November 2022, Enbridge Gas Inc. announced two low-income programs under their 2023-2027 DSM Plan: the Home Winterproofing Program (Source) and the Affordable Housing Multi-Residential program (Source). This was influenced in part by Efficiency Canada’s joint submission in 2018 to the Ontario Energy Board’s Post-2020 Demand Side Management Framework for natural gas distributors consultation (Source), which called for natural gas low-income programs across the province for all eligible customers (Source).
2022
- In December, 2022, Nova Scotia announced that it will spend $140 million of combined federal and provincial funding on energy efficiency programs over four years. These programs include free heat pumps and electrical panel upgrades to low-income households (Source).
2023
- In January 2023, the federal government introduced the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program. The program would offer enhanced rebates through a new partnership with Enbridge Gas and the Government of Canada’s Greener Homes Grant (Source).
2023
- Efficiency Canada wrote a submission for the 2023 Federal Budget cycle calling for an investment of $2 billion dollars to support a low-income energy efficiency strategy to relieve 4.5 million Canadians struggling to meet their home energy needs (Source). This was part of a broader low-income campaign, which included a joint open letter involving 136 energy and anti-poverty organizations (Source), and advocacy tactics (Source) to encourage constituents to contact their MPs to support low-income Canadians in their riding in the upcoming budget (Source).
2023
- In June 2023, Efficiency Canada hosted the first ever Evidence Week Canada (Source). Politicians and staff were invited to meet with expert panelists one-on-one to discuss key issue areas related to Canada’s Green Buildings Strategy (GBS) (Source). The event was organized to inform policy and decision makers ahead of the upcoming GBS.
2023
- In July, Efficiency Canada’s policy team released the Energy Efficiency in Rental Housing report, which examines how governments can develop public policies to improve energy efficiency while also protecting and enhancing tenant rights. The report outlines challenges and reiterates the importance of improving the energy efficiency of Canada’s private rental stock to reduce emissions and to maintain healthy, comfortable homes for all Canadians (Source).
2023
- By now, every province in Canada has some existing program delivery capabilities through utilities, provincial governments, or municipalities (Source).
2023
- The City of Ottawa becomes the first Canadian municipality to formally offer an energy efficiency loan program to rental housing (Source).
2023
- British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have their own energy efficiency regulations for many of the federally regulated energy-using products (Source).
2023
- The new Canada Greener Affordable Housing program launched in June 2023. The program will provide forgivable and low-interest loans to help affordable housing providers complete deep energy retrofits. This excludes private rental housing providers (Source).
2023
- Natural Resources Canada announced the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) and the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP) offered under the Green Buildings Strategy, totalling $235.5 million to support deep retrofits for commercial, institutional and mid- or high-rise multi-unit residential buildings, and up to six neighborhoods across the country (Source).
2023
- All of the Yukon’s eight municipalities have signed agreements to participate in delivering the Government of Yukon’s Better Buildings program. This means all Yukon residential and commercial property owners can access low-interest funding to make energy-efficiency retrofits to their homes and businesses (Source).
Looking Ahead
- Between 2023 and 2025, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) plans to follow through with amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations in progress and utilize new regulatory tools intended to facilitate alignment with other jurisdictions (Source).
Looking Ahead
- The Government of Canada is currently developing the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) that will help drive progress towards a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. Work on clean electricity will also be key to reaching Canada’s ambitious and achievable 2030 and 2050 climate targets (Source).