Home Energy Efficiency Loan
Manitoba Hydro offers credit-approved financing for qualifying upgrades to an owner’s or tenant’s primary home. Hydro pays the supplier after completion; the homeowner repays the loan, with interest, through monthly energy bills.
The annual interest rate is 6.20% for the first five years, subject to credit approval. Borrow at least CAD 500, with monthly payments of at least CAD 15 and no down payment. Most improvements can be repaid over up to five years; the listed qualifying heating systems and solar PV can run up to 15 years.
For a longer repayment schedule, the initial five-year rate is not guaranteed for the full loan. At the end of the initial term, repay the remaining principal or refinance it for the remaining period at available market rates. Hydro sends written options three months before that term ends.
The normal combined limit is CAD 12,500 per residence, not a fresh limit for every upgrade. Ground-source heat pumps and solar PV have CAD 20,000 technology limits; for these exceptions, all accumulated Home Energy Efficiency Loans must still total no more than CAD 20,000. A single upgrade’s cost cannot be divided between multiple loan agreements.
| Qualifying upgrade | Maximum CAD | Longest repayment period |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-source heat pump | 20,000 | 15 years |
| Solar PV | 3,000 per installed kW, up to 20,000 | 15 years |
| Cold-climate air-source heat pump | 10,000 | 15 years |
| Natural-gas furnace or boiler | 7,500 | 15 years |
| Insulation; air sealing; windows/doors; ventilation; other space heating; water heating | 7,500 per technology | 5 years |
| Level 2 EV charger | 3,000 per charger, including installation | 5 years |
| Central air conditioning; conventional air-source heat pump; electrical upgrades; radon mitigation | 5,000 per technology | 5 years |
The table’s technology limits sit within the residence limits above. Eligibility depends on the equipment and installation requirements, not just the category name.
Extra payments are allowed at any time without penalty. Paying off the entire loan during the first six months incurs a CAD 20 administration fee. On sale or any transfer of home ownership, the balance becomes due: the loan cannot transfer to the new owner. Repayment remains the homeowner’s responsibility, not the tenant’s.
Eligibility
You need an active Manitoba Hydro account and Hydro credit approval for work at an eligible Manitoba home. Own the home, which must be your primary residence or your tenant’s. Detached and semi-detached homes qualify. A mobile home needs a permanent foundation and water supply; for solar PV or ground-source heat pumps, you must also own its land. Indigenous customers in Band-owned homes can qualify with a Band Council Resolution, the council’s formal authorization.
Unoccupied homes, seasonal homes/cottages, apartment buildings, garages, commercial properties and homes under construction are excluded, as are projects already underway or finished. Do not finance used equipment or materials. Labour is eligible only with a qualifying improvement; for do-it-yourself work, only materials and equipment can be financed. Gas and electrical materials must be installed by the required Manitoba-licensed gas fitter or electrician. Wiring for buildings never previously supplied with electricity is excluded.
All upgrades must meet Hydro’s published specifications. Key requirements for common climate-related projects include:
- Insulation: final R-values, a measure of resistance to heat flow, must reach R-50 in attics; R-24 for attic kneewalls, foundation walls and crawlspaces; R-28 for flat or cathedral ceilings; and R-12 in wall cavities. Exterior insulation when re-siding must add at least R-3.75. Re-siding can qualify with exterior insulation up to R-10 added; compliant vapour barriers and required basement framing/fire protection may qualify with insulation, but decorative wall coverings do not.
- Solar PV: connect the system to Hydro’s distribution network, obtain required approvals, install to Manitoba Electrical Code sections 64 and 84, and have it inspected before energizing. Install a bidirectional meter after system approval if required by the inspector.
- EV charging: one new residential Level 2 charger per vehicle, at the specified 208/240-volt rating, certified by ULC, CSA or ETL, installed and connected by a licensed electrician under an electrical permit.
- Ground-source heat pumps: design and installation must be by a certified contractor recognized by the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance (MGEA). Equipment must be tested/rated to CSA C-13256 and installed to CSA C448. The installer must submit a heat-loss calculation: the heating needed to hold the home at 22°C in the coldest weather. A contractor or designer should calculate it using CSA F280-M. Size the system at 70–105% of that design heating need; sizing near 70% means more auxiliary-heater use in very cold weather.
- Air-source heat pumps: central ducted and ductless split systems qualify. The installer must submit the same heat-loss calculation. Equipment needs CSA CAN/CSA-C656-05 performance certification, seasonal heating rating HSPF2 Region V of at least 6.6, seasonal cooling rating SEER2 of at least 15.2, and heating capacity of at least 3.52 kW at 8.3°C. It must appear in Natural Resources Canada’s list under the relevant conventional or cold-climate category. Indoor and outdoor components must form an AHRI-matched system, a verified combination rather than independently selected units. For a coils-only installation, the indoor coil and outdoor unit must be listed with “Coils Only” in the furnace field. An electronically controlled (ECM) or variable-speed furnace motor, compatible thermostat and adequate airflow are recommendations for that configuration, not additional mandatory conditions.
- Cold-climate models additionally: the compressor must have at least three operating speeds or continuously variable speed, and the unit must deliver heat at −25°C or colder. At −15°C and maximum capacity, its coefficient of performance (COP) must be at least 1.8: at least 1.8 units of heat delivered per unit of electricity used. Heating capacity at −15°C must be at least 70% of capacity at 8.3°C.
Windows and doors have specific glazing and energy-performance alternatives; ventilation, air-sealing products and heating equipment have their own product standards. The official requirements also cover eligible related installation costs, so the participating supplier must select a qualifying product and scope before submitting the application.
How to apply
- Status
- Open continuously
- Round restrictions
- Manitoba Hydro must approve the loan application before any work starts or materials are purchased. Apply through a participating contractor or retailer; credit approval is required.
- Select the proposed improvement against the linked loan requirements, then contact a participating contractor or retailer. They help complete the application. Hydro must approve it before any work starts or materials are purchased; both you and the supplier receive approval notification.
- Complete the approved project. Sign and date the completion certificate only once the work is completed in full. This confirms completion and authorizes Hydro to pay the supplier directly for invoiced costs.
- Repay through the monthly energy bill, keeping the five-year interest term distinct from any longer repayment schedule. Use the official page’s calculator for the initial-term payment; later payments depend on the refinancing rate.