How the rebates are worked out
The two rebates are per ton of capacity you add (the new heat pump's capacity minus anything you take out). Your installer sizes the system. For the checker we estimate 1.5 tons for ductless and 3 tons for ducted and geothermal.
Book the assessment first
The assessment rebate needs an EnerGuide assessment before you buy anything. It costs $199, and the fee is waived if your household meets the income limit. The heat pump has to be bought and installed between your first and final assessments, and you have 12 months to finish. The cheque comes about 90 days after the final assessment.
The Moderate Income Rebate
If your household income is under the limit, the Moderate Income Rebate adds $500 per ton for ductless or $1,500 per ton for centrally ducted, up to $5,000. With the assessment rebate the most you can get is $10,000.
The top-up was cut from $10,000 to $5,000 after the federal oil-to-heat-pump program closed in July. You have to be approved before any work starts, and homes heated mainly by electricity don't qualify. Income is after tax (line 23600 minus line 43500 on your Notice of Assessment), added up for everyone 18 and over.
| Household | Income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $37,260 |
| 2 people | $77,050 |
| 3 people | $98,900 |
| 4 people | $120,750 |
| 5+ people | $126,500 |
After-tax household income (line 23600 minus line 43500, added up for everyone 18 and over).
HomeWarming: free upgrades for lower incomes
HomeWarming is free. An energy advisor assesses the home and decides what to install, which can include a heat pump (if insulation is poor they usually start there). It's for homeowners who live in the home year-round, under these limits:
| Household | Income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $30,187 |
| 2 to 4 people | $57,075 |
| 5+ people | $79,163 |
After-tax household income (line 23600 minus line 43500).
Efficiency Nova Scotia only pays one program per upgrade, so you can't use HomeWarming and the assessment rebate on the same heat pump. If you're under the HomeWarming limit, check that first.
Adding the federal rebate
The federal government says its rebate can be combined with provincial programs. Efficiency Nova Scotia has a notice about it on its program pages and says its site will be updated, but it hasn't said yet how the two will work together. What we know about the federal rebate
Heating with oil
Efficiency Nova Scotia stopped taking applications for the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program on July 2, 2026. If you're on oil, the assessment rebate and the Moderate Income Rebate are both still open, and the federal rebate is coming.