If you’re an Ontario homeowner who remembers applying for a rebate through HER+, you may be wondering what happened to the program and whether you can still get help paying for home energy upgrades. This guide walks through the timeline, compares the two programs, and explains what previous HER+ participation means for your eligibility today.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: What’s the Difference?
- What Was the HER+ Program?
- What Is the Home Renovation Savings Program?
- Home Renovation Savings vs. HER+: Side-by-Side
- Were You a HER+ Participant? Here’s What It Means for You
- How the Home Renovation Savings Program Works
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How For Saving Home Service Can Help
- Important Disclaimer
- Sources
- Final Takeaway
1. Quick Answer: What’s the Difference?
HER+ closed to new applicants in February 2024. Ontario’s separate Home Efficiency Rebate program ended intake on January 27, 2025, and the Home Renovation Savings program launched on January 28, 2025. HRS can be compared with HER+ as a related but separate program, offering an assessment-required stream and a no-assessment-required stream for different types of upgrades.
2. What Was the HER+ Program?
Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) was a program delivered in Ontario by Enbridge Gas, connected to the federal Canada Greener Homes initiative. Homeowners generally worked with a Registered Energy Advisor to complete a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation, complete eligible upgrades, and then a post-retrofit evaluation to receive their rebate.
HER+ closed to new applicants on February 5, 2024. Homeowners already in the program continued through their post-retrofit evaluations and paperwork on separate deadlines set by Enbridge Gas and Natural Resources Canada.
3. What Is the Home Renovation Savings Program?
The Home Renovation Savings (HRS) program launched January 28, 2025. It is jointly delivered by Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy (IESO), with support from the Government of Ontario.
Depending on your home’s heating source, HRS offers rebates across two separate streams:
- An assessment-required stream for upgrades like insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, and qualifying heat-pump water heaters
- A no-assessment-required stream for upgrades like heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage, attic insulation, smart thermostats, and select appliances
Each upgrade carries its own eligibility requirements, which are set and updated by the program.
4. Home Renovation Savings vs. HER+: Side-by-Side
| HER+ (Closed Program) | Home Renovation Savings (Current Program) | |
| Delivered by | Enbridge Gas, in connection with the Canada Greener Homes initiative | Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy (IESO) |
| Government support | Federal (Canada Greener Homes initiative) | Government of Ontario |
| Assessment requirement | Generally required for most rebates | Required for one stream only; not required for the other |
| Program status | Closed to new applicants since February 5, 2024 | Currently active |
| Key date | Closed February 5, 2024 | Launched January 28, 2025 |
What stayed the same: the underlying purpose. Both programs exist to make energy-efficient upgrades more accessible for Ontario households, and both involve Enbridge Gas as a delivery partner.
5. Were You a HER+ Participant? Here’s What It Means for You
Previous participation in HER or HER+ does not automatically prevent participation in HRS. However, a homeowner cannot receive another rebate for the same qualified measure that was previously rebated. All current stream-specific eligibility requirements still apply.
For the HRS assessment-required stream, a new qualifying pre-retrofit assessment is required. A previous HER+ assessment cannot simply be transferred or reused for HRS.
6. How the Home Renovation Savings Program Works
Assessment-Required Stream
- Pre-retrofit home energy assessment before work begins
- At least two qualifying upgrades
- Post-retrofit assessment required
- Eligible measures include applicable insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, and qualifying heat-pump water heaters
This route may suit a homeowner completing qualifying insulation together with eligible window or door upgrades.
No Assessment-Required Stream
One or more eligible upgrades may be completed without a home energy assessment. Current examples include:
- Qualifying cold-climate air-source heat pumps
- Ground-source heat pumps
- Solar panels and battery storage
- Smart thermostats
- Attic insulation
- Qualifying appliances
All items remain subject to their individual eligibility requirements.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Did Home Renovation Savings directly replace HER+?
No. HER+ closed to new applicants in February 2024. Ontario’s Home Efficiency Rebate program continued separately until January 27, 2025, and Home Renovation Savings launched January 28, 2025.
Can I still get a rebate if I already participated in HER+?
Previous participation in HER or HER+ does not automatically prevent participation in HRS, but you cannot receive another rebate for the same measure that was already rebated. Current eligibility rules for each stream still apply.
Do I need a new assessment if I already had one under HER+?
Yes, for the assessment-required stream. A previous HER+ assessment cannot be transferred to HRS; a new qualifying pre-retrofit assessment is required.
What upgrades qualify under Home Renovation Savings?
Eligible upgrades are grouped into two streams: an assessment-required stream (insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, and qualifying heat-pump water heaters) and a no assessment required stream (qualifying cold-climate air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage, smart thermostats, attic insulation, and qualifying appliances).
Where can I confirm current eligibility and rebate details?
Eligibility, approved equipment, and rebate amounts are set by the Home Renovation Savings program and can change. Always confirm current details on the official program website before purchasing equipment or beginning work.
8. How For Saving Home Service Can Help
For Saving Home Service Inc is an HVAC company serving the Greater Toronto Area. When it comes to programs like Home Renovation Savings, our team can:
- Assess your existing HVAC system
- Discuss HVAC options that may suit your home
- Confirm whether proposed equipment appears on an applicable qualifying-products list
- Direct you to official program information
We do not determine eligibility, approve rebates, or administer the Home Renovation Savings program.
If you’d like to talk through your HVAC options, our heat pump buyer’s guide is a useful starting point, or you can schedule a free in-home assessment with our team. You can also review our current HVAC offers page.
9. Important Disclaimer
Eligibility, rebate amounts, approved equipment, application requirements and program availability are determined by the Home Renovation Savings program and may change. For Saving Home Service Inc. does not administer the program or determine eligibility. Customers should confirm eligibility through the official program before purchasing equipment or beginning work. Maximum advertised rebate amounts do not apply to every heating source, heat pump type, or homeowner.
10. Sources
- Home Renovation Savings, official program website: homerenovationsavings.ca
- Home Renovation Savings, assessment-required upgrades: homerenovationsavings.ca/with-assessment
- Home Renovation Savings, no-assessment-required upgrades: homerenovationsavings.ca/without-assessment
- Home Renovation Savings, terms and conditions: homerenovationsavings.ca/terms-and-conditions
- Natural Resources Canada, closed Greener Homes Grant (Ontario) / HER+ information: natural-resources.canada.ca
- Enbridge Gas, Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program page: enbridgegas.com
11. Final Takeaway
HER+ and Home Renovation Savings are two separate programs on Ontario’s timeline of energy-efficiency rebates. HER+ closed to new applicants in February 2024, and HRS launched in January 2025 with its own rules, streams, and eligible upgrades. If you participated in HER+ before, you may still have options today for a different qualifying measure.
The most reliable next step is to confirm your eligibility directly through the official Home Renovation Savings program, then talk with a local HVAC professional about which upgrades make sense for your home. Our team at For Saving Home Service is available if you’d like to get in touch.
