Home Renovation Savings: The 2026 Deadlines You Need to Know
Reported HRS assessment stream deadlines: post-retrofit assessment booked by 30 November 2026, work done by 31 December. What that means for your project.
Key takeaways
- For the HRS assessment stream, the post-retrofit assessment must reportedly be scheduled by 30 November 2026.
- Work must be complete within 180 days of the pre-assessment or by 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
- Heat pump rebates need pre-installation approval, and contractors must submit post-installation documents within 30 days.
- If you are starting now, the product route may be more realistic than the assessment stream.
The Home Renovation Savings Program (HRS), jointly delivered by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas, has been the main source of energy-upgrade rebates for Ontario homeowners since January 2025. If you are part-way through a project, or thinking about starting one this fall, several reported deadlines are coming up quickly. Missing one can mean losing a rebate you were counting on.
As always, confirm these dates on saveonenergy.ca (opens in a new tab) or with your energy advisor. Program rules can change, and your own file may have specific dates attached to it.
Key dates at a glance
| Requirement | Reported deadline |
|---|---|
| Post-retrofit assessment (assessment stream) | Must be scheduled by 30 November 2026 |
| Upgrade work (assessment stream) | Complete within 180 days of the pre-assessment or by 31 December 2026, whichever is first |
| Heat pump post-installation documents | Submitted by the contractor within 30 days of installation |
| Heat pump pre-approval | Before any work starts |
If you are already in the assessment stream
The assessment stream is the route where a Registered Energy Advisor (REA) does a pre-retrofit assessment, you complete at least two eligible upgrades, and then the advisor does a post-retrofit assessment. It offers the largest combined amounts: up to $5,000 for gas-heated homes and $10,000 for non-gas-heated homes, as published in mid-2026.
Count your days. The 180-day clock starts from your pre-assessment. If your pre-assessment was in June, your 180 days may run out before 31 December. Check the date on your report.
Book the post-assessment now. It only needs to be scheduled by 30 November, but advisors' calendars fill up quickly in late fall. Booking early also gives you a buffer if a contractor runs late.
Confirm you have two qualifying upgrades. Common combinations are attic insulation plus air sealing, or insulation plus windows. Rebates published in mid-2026 include insulation up to $7,700 (non-gas-heated homes), windows and doors at $100 per rough opening, air sealing up to $250, a heat pump water heater at $500, and $600 for completing the assessment.
Keep your paperwork together. Invoices, product details and contractor information are typically needed. Missing documents are a common cause of delays.
If you have not started yet
Starting the assessment stream now is possible but tight. You would need a pre-assessment, contractor quotes, completed work and a booked post-assessment, all within weeks, during one of the busiest seasons for insulation and HVAC trades.
Other routes may be more realistic:
- Standalone attic insulation: up to $1,250, with no assessment required.
- Smart thermostat: $100 through the product route.
- Qualifying ENERGY STAR appliances: up to $200 through the product route.
- Heat pumps: a separate stream through a participating contractor, with pre-approval.
We have not seen confirmed details of how the assessment stream will work after 2026. Rushing a large project to beat a deadline can lead to poor contractor choices. If you cannot do the work properly in time, it may be better to wait and confirm the next phase of the program.
Heat pump projects: do not skip pre-approval
For heat pumps, the most common and most expensive mistake is starting work before approval. Under HRS, heat pumps need:
- A participating contractor.
- Equipment on the qualified-products list.
- Pre-installation approval before work starts.
- Post-installation documents submitted by the contractor within 30 days of installation.
Ask your contractor in writing who submits what, and when. As published in mid-2026, the rebate for a cold-climate air-source heat pump is $500/ton up to $2,000 for gas-heated homes, and $1,250/ton up to $7,500 for homes with other primary heat.
Caution: A heat pump that has received another Enbridge, IESO or Government of Ontario incentive is not eligible for HRS, and total funding cannot exceed 100% of cost. See our guide to stacking rebates.
A quick checklist
- Find your pre-assessment date and calculate day 180.
- Book your post-retrofit assessment before 30 November.
- Confirm in writing that each contractor can finish before your deadline.
- For heat pumps, confirm pre-approval is in place before any work begins.
- Keep copies of all invoices and product information.
- Use our rebate finder to check which other programs may apply.
For a full overview of the program, see our Home Renovation Savings Program guide.
About this page. Written and reviewed by the Energy Efficiency Ontario editorial team using official sources including the Ontario Energy Board, Save on Energy (IESO), Enbridge Gas and Natural Resources Canada. Figures are estimates unless attributed. Program terms change — confirm with the administrator before you buy. Our editorial standards · Report an error
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