Smart Thermostat Rebates in Ontario
Ontario offers homeowners a smart thermostat rebate, and it's simple to claim. If your home runs on a smart home system, though, there is a catch worth knowing first. The program covers specific thermostat models, and the one built into your control system may not be one of them.
That catch matters most in homes with lighting, shades, and climate all on one app. It also matters at cottages, where heating type and Wi-Fi can decide whether you qualify at all. Here is how the smart thermostat rebate works for homes in Collingwood and The Blue Mountains, who qualifies, and how to claim it without giving up one-app control.
How the program works
The money comes through the Home Renovation Savings program, from Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy. You don't need a home energy assessment to claim it. It is one of the program's single upgrades, so it stands on its own.
The amount has changed during the year, so check the program page for today's figure. The terms can change too, so check them on the day you buy.
Who qualifies for the smart thermostat rebate
The program sets three main rules. You must:
- Heat mainly with an Enbridge Gas furnace or boiler, or heat or cool with electricity from the Ontario grid.
- Not have had a smart thermostat rebate, discount, or device from these programs before.
- Live in a detached or semi-detached home, a row or townhome, or a mobile home on a permanent foundation.
Two local points matter here. Some cottages heat with propane or oil, and those homes only qualify if they heat or cool with grid electricity too. Apartment-style condos aren't on that list of home types either.
Only listed models count
This is the part most people miss. The program lists specific models from six brands: ecobee, Google Nest, Honeywell Home, Copeland Sensi, Mysa, and Sinopé. A thermostat has to match a listed model number, not just the brand.
None of those six brands make whole-home control systems. So a thermostat made by your control system's maker won't qualify. Check the exact model number on the program page before you buy.
How to claim it
There are two ways to get the money back. Both start on the program page.
- Before you buy: apply for an instant code, then use it at The Home Depot in store, or online at Best Buy, Copeland Sensi, ecobee, or Mysa.
- After you buy: purchase an eligible model from any retailer, then apply with your receipt within 60 days.
Either way, the program asks you to install the thermostat and connect it to Wi-Fi. Keep your receipt and the model number together, since you may need both.
Money back or tight integration?
You don't always have to choose. Some listed thermostats can be brought into a control system through a driver. For example, a Control4 driver for ecobee thermostats can show room sensor temperatures right on the Control4 screen.
That way you get the money back and still run climate from the same app as your lights and shades. The trade-off is depth. A thermostat made by your control system's maker can tie in more closely with scenes and other zones.
Our smart HVAC and climate control page explains when full integration earns its keep. Before you buy, ask your installer two things. Is the model on the program's list? And does your control system have a driver for it?
Keep it online at the cottage
The program asks you to connect the thermostat to Wi-Fi after you install it. At a cottage, that is where trouble starts. Owners often report Wi-Fi thermostats dropping offline while the place sits empty, which means you lose the view from the city.
A steady network fixes most of that. Our guide to how many Wi-Fi access points a cottage needs covers why. If the cottage sits empty all winter, our cottage winter shutdown checklist covers what to set up first. For remote climate at an unattended property, see our cottage automation page.
Questions we get
Does a Control4 or Crestron thermostat qualify?
Not today. The program lists models from ecobee, Google Nest, Honeywell Home, Copeland Sensi, Mysa, and Sinopé only. Check the program page before you buy, since the list can change.
Can I claim it at a cottage heated with propane?
Only if you also heat or cool with electricity from the Ontario grid. Otherwise, the home doesn't meet the program's heating rule.
Do I need a home energy assessment first?
No. The smart thermostat is a single upgrade that doesn't need an assessment. You apply on the program page before or after you buy.
Can I buy the thermostat anywhere?
For the after-purchase rebate, yes, any retailer works. The instant code only works at the stores and websites the program lists. Either way, the model has to be on the list.
I've claimed one before. Can I claim again?
No. The program excludes anyone who already received a smart thermostat rebate, discount, or device from Enbridge Gas, Save on Energy, or Home Renovation Savings.
Do you install smart thermostats in Wasaga Beach and Craigleith?
Yes. We work across Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, Thornbury, Meaford, Wasaga Beach, Creemore, Craigleith, and Clarksburg.
Get the money back and the control
The best setup is often a listed thermostat, tied into your control system, on a network that stays up. That way you claim the smart thermostat rebate and still run the whole house from one app. Check the model list, check the driver, and check your heating type before you buy. A few minutes of checking can save a lot of hassle later.
Call 249-444-7793 to book a free design consultation. We'll help you pick a thermostat that fits both.