The government of Ontario has an AffordAbility Fund totalling $100 million to aid electricity customers who are ineligible for low-income conservation programs. This fund is offered by local electricity utilities and community services to help lower overall electricity usage and long-term costs within a home to reduce electricity bills.
The level you qualify for depends on your net income and average energy bill.
Upgrades such as EnergyStar-certified LED light bulbs, power bars, and appliances, or even insulation and weatherstripping may be offered to Ontarians for free, depending on the amount of savings they qualify for. In addition to free upgrades, electrically-heated homes may qualify for an in-home visit from a Home Energy Advisor to receive a specific Home Energy Plan and upgrades.
The AffordAbility Fund is funded by an independent trust set up by the Government of Ontario, and the program itself is offered by your local electric utility utility and other community services. The AffordAbility Fund is available to anyone who who has an electricity bill that is a burden to them, and is also available to those in social or assisted housing, those who rent, those who have fallen behind on their electricity bills, those who live in an electrically-heated home, and anyone who pays an electricity bill in their name.
Installation time will vary based on your location, level of upgrades, or local utility company, although the AffordAbility Fund is working with utilities to have free upgrades provided in 2018.
Visit the AffordAbility Fund website to calculate the level of support you may be eligible for, and sign up to qualify. If you have further questions regarding your eligibility for the program, the services and upgrades being offered, or the various tiers of eligibility, please visit the FAQ section of the AffordAbility Fund website, or call 1-855-494-FUND.