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Heating and energy help for seniors

Last checked: 2026-10-04

Heating help for seniors is run by provinces, territories and utilities. Depending on where you live, you may get a monthly credit on your power bill, a yearly heating rebate or grant, emergency help if you fall behind, or free energy upgrades such as insulation or a heat pump. Most programs have income limits and you must apply.

Check if you qualify

Key facts

Ontario Electricity Support Program: Monthly bill credit of $35 to $75, or $52 to $113 with electric heat or certain other needs (current OEB table)
PEI Home Heating Program: Up to $1,200 per calendar year for low-income households
Yukon Pioneer Utility Grant (65+): Up to $1,382.58 in Whitehorse, $1,466.50 elsewhere (2026); apply July 1 to December 31, 2026
Nova Scotia Seniors Care Grant: $750 for 2026-27; apply by December 1, 2026
Canada Greener Homes Grant: Closed December 31, 2025

What heating help for seniors is available?

There is no single federal program that pays seniors' heating bills. Help comes from your province or territory, and sometimes from your power or gas company. It falls into four groups.

Ongoing bill help: a credit on each power bill, or a yearly rebate or grant toward heating costs.
Emergency help: a one-time payment if you are behind on your bill or at risk of being cut off.
Tax credits: some provinces pay part of your energy costs through your tax return.
Free or low-cost upgrades: insulation, a heat pump or other work that lowers your bills for good.

Heating help in each province and territory

Amounts and dates below are those posted when we checked. Each program decides who qualifies.

British Columbia: Free home upgrades such as insulation and heat pumps for low- to median-income homeowners and tenants are offered through BC Hydro and FortisBC under the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program. Apply through the program page of your utility.
Alberta: The Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program offers low-interest home equity loans to people 65 or older that can pay for a new furnace or water tank (see our home accessibility guide). The federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program took its last applications on July 31, 2026.
Saskatchewan: We did not find a provincial heating rebate for seniors. The Saskatchewan Housing Benefit counts utilities as well as rent for renters (see our rent help guide). The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program closed to applications on July 31, 2026.
Manitoba: Efficiency Manitoba's Energy Efficiency Assistance Program offers no-cost upgrades to lower-income households under the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program.
Ontario, power bills: The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) takes money off each electricity bill for lower-income households. On the current Ontario Energy Board table, households with after-tax income of $38,000 or less get $45 to $75 a month, depending on household size. Households with higher incomes get smaller credits, as low as $35 a month, and larger households can qualify with incomes up to $71,000. People who heat with electricity, use certain medical devices or are Indigenous get $52 to $113 a month. Apply online at OESP.ca or call 1-855-831-8151. People 65 or older renew every 5 years instead of every 2.
Ontario, emergencies: If you are behind on your bills, emergency help can pay up to $500 toward electricity ($600 if your home is heated by electricity) and up to $500 toward natural gas. Ask your utility how to apply.
Ontario, tax credits: The Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit includes an energy part, and people in Northern Ontario can also get the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, up to $189 for a single person or $290 for a family, for July 2026 to June 2027. Both are claimed on the ON-BEN form with your tax return.
Quebec: Hydro-Québec's Modest Income Households program offers free energy upgrades under the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program. Quebec's shelter allowance can also help if housing costs take a large share of your income (see our rent help guide).
New Brunswick: Housing NB's Homeowner Repair Program can help low-income owners fix heating systems; the forgivable part is up to $7,000 for seniors. Call 1-833-733-7835. The New Brunswick Low-Income Seniors' Benefit pays $629 for 2026 to people who received the Guaranteed Income Supplement or the federal Allowance in 2025. Apply by December 31, 2026 (1-833-796-0944).
Nova Scotia, rebates: The Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) helps low- and modest-income households with home heating costs. The Seniors Care Grant pays $750 to people 65 or older by March 31, 2027 with household net income of $45,100 or less; it can be used for heating, home services such as snow removal, or health services. Apply by December 1, 2026. Both programs: 1-800-670-4357.
Nova Scotia, upgrades: Efficiency Nova Scotia's HomeWarming program offers free energy assessments and upgrades to eligible low-income households. Call 1-877-434-2136.
Prince Edward Island: The PEI Home Heating Program gives low-income households up to $1,200 per calendar year. From November 1, 2026, apply through Access PEI, online or in person; until October 31, 2026, applications go to The Salvation Army. The Winter Warming Program gives free upgrades, such as a programmable thermostat, LED bulbs and a heating system cleaning voucher worth up to $115, to households with income of $50,000 or less (efficiencyPEI, 1-877-734-6336).
Newfoundland and Labrador: The Provincial Home Repair Program now includes energy savings repairs. From October 1, 2026 it offers a forgivable loan of up to $10,000 ($13,000 in Labrador) for owners with income of $42,500 or less ($65,000 in Labrador). Apply through your NLHC regional office.
Yukon: The Pioneer Utility Grant helps people who are 65 or older in 2026 with heating costs. It pays up to $1,382.58 in Whitehorse or $1,466.50 elsewhere for 2026, and ends at net income of $154,206 for a single person or $217,470 for a couple. Apply between July 1 and December 31, 2026; late applications are refused. Call 867-667-8772 or 1-800-661-0408, ext. 4.
Northwest Territories: The Senior Home Heating Subsidy is for people 60 or older who own their home, or rent a unit where heat is not included. For the 2026-2027 heating season (September to April), it pays up to $3,680 in Zone 1 communities such as Yellowknife (income limit $66,000), up to $4,480 in Zone 2 ($75,000) and up to $6,000 in Zone 3 ($87,000). Apply by March 15 at an ECE Service Centre. Call 1-866-973-7252.
Nunavut: The Seniors Fuel Subsidy is for people 60 or older who own and live in their home. It pays back the cost of up to 4,000 litres of heating fuel a year for households with net income of $100,000 or less. Apply each year through your Income Assistance regional office.

Are there grants for heat pumps or energy upgrades in 2026?

Some federal programs you may have heard about are now closed. The Canada Greener Homes Grant closed on December 31, 2025, and the Canada Greener Homes Loan is closed to new applications. The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program took its last applications on July 31, 2026.

The Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program is open. It pays the full cost of recommended upgrades, such as insulation and heat pumps, for low- to median-income homeowners and tenants. You do not apply to the federal government. You apply to the partner program in your province. When we checked, these were open in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, as listed above. Natural Resources Canada says more provinces and territories will be added.

How to apply for heating help

Find your province or territory above and choose the programs that fit you.
Gather a recent power or fuel bill, your latest notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency, photo ID and, for owners, proof that you own the home.
Apply online, by mail or in person, as the program allows. Ask a family member, a seniors' centre or 211 for help with forms if you need it.
Mark your calendar. Many heating programs open in the fall and close in the winter, and most need a new application each year.

File your tax return every year. Many energy programs check your income through your notice of assessment, and some credits are only paid through your return.

What to do if you cannot pay your heating bill

Call your utility or fuel company as soon as you know you will have trouble paying. Ask about a payment plan, an equal monthly billing plan, and any emergency help they run or can refer you to. Doing this before a bill is overdue gives you more choices.

If you get a disconnection notice, call the utility the same day. In Ontario, ask about emergency help for electricity and natural gas bills. Anywhere in Canada, you can call 211 to find local emergency funds, food banks and other help.

If you are refused by a heating program, ask why, what proof would help and whether you can apply again. Programs often refuse applications that are missing a bill, a notice of assessment or a signature.

Things people often miss

Renters can qualify for many programs, including the Ontario Electricity Support Program, the NWT Senior Home Heating Subsidy (if heat is not in your rent) and the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program.
In Ontario, people 65 or older only need to renew the OESP every 5 years.
The Yukon Pioneer Utility Grant has a hard deadline of December 31. Late applications are refused.
Free upgrades can lower your bills for years. A free energy assessment is a good first step.
Be careful with door-to-door or phone offers for free furnaces or heat pumps. Real government programs ask you to apply through an official website, your utility or a government office.

Who to contact

Ontario Electricity Support Program
Phone: 1-855-831-8151
Nova Scotia HARP and Seniors Care Grant
Phone: 1-800-670-4357
Or 902-424-5200
Efficiency Nova Scotia HomeWarming
Phone: 1-877-434-2136
New Brunswick Low-Income Seniors' Benefit
Phone: 1-833-796-0944
Housing NB Homeowner Repair Program
Phone: 1-833-733-7835
Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm
efficiencyPEI (Winter Warming)
Phone: 1-877-734-6336
Or 902-620-3690
Yukon Pioneer Utility Grant
Phone: 867-667-8772
Toll-free 1-800-661-0408, ext. 4
NWT Senior Home Heating Subsidy (ECE)
Phone: 1-866-973-7252
Or 867-767-9355
211
Phone: 211
Local emergency and community help across Canada

Common questions

Is there help paying heating bills for seniors in Canada?

Yes, but it comes from your province or territory and your utility, not from one federal program. Examples include the Ontario Electricity Support Program, Nova Scotia's heating rebate, PEI's Home Heating Program and Yukon's Pioneer Utility Grant.

How much is the Ontario Electricity Support Program?

On the current Ontario Energy Board table, the credit is $35 to $75 a month, or $52 to $113 a month for people with electric heat, certain medical devices or Indigenous status. The amount depends on household size and income.

Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant still available?

No. It closed on December 31, 2025. The Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program is open to low- to median-income households through partner programs in some provinces.

Can I get a free heat pump as a senior?

You may, if your income is low to median and your province runs a Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program partner program. It covers the full cost of recommended upgrades for eligible households.

How do I apply for the Yukon Pioneer Utility Grant?

Apply online, in person at the Income Support Unit in Whitehorse, or by mail between July 1 and December 31, 2026. You must be 65 or older in 2026 and reapply each year.

What happens if I can't pay my heating bill?

Call your utility right away and ask about a payment plan and emergency help. In Ontario, emergency help can cover up to $500 of an electricity or natural gas bill. Call 211 for other local help.

Do renters qualify for heating help?

Often, yes. Many programs, including Ontario's OESP and the NWT Senior Home Heating Subsidy, are open to renters who pay their own energy bills.

How much is the Nova Scotia Seniors Care Grant?

$750 for 2026-27, for people 65 or older by March 31, 2027 with household net income of $45,100 or less. Apply by December 1, 2026.

Sources

Canada Greener Homes Initiative (Natural Resources Canada)
Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (Natural Resources Canada)
Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (Government of Alberta)
Ontario Electricity Support Program (Ontario Energy Board)
Seniors: finances (Government of Ontario)
Ontario Trillium Benefit (Government of Ontario)
Homeowner repair program (Government of New Brunswick)
New Brunswick Low-Income Seniors' Benefit (Government of New Brunswick)
Seniors Care Grant (Government of Nova Scotia)
2026–2027 Directory of Programs and Services for Seniors (Government of Nova Scotia)
Service Nova Scotia contacts (Government of Nova Scotia)
Home heating program applications available through Access PEI this fall (Government of Prince Edward Island)
Winter Warming Program (Government of Prince Edward Island)
Provincial Homeowner Support Programs Launching Next Week (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
NLHC housing programs (Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation)
Pioneer Utility Grant (Government of Yukon)
Senior Home Heating Subsidy (Government of the Northwest Territories)
Seniors Fuel Subsidy (Government of Nunavut)

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