Environment, Energy and Forestry

Residential Energy Assistance Program

The Residential Energy Assistance Program provides direct and immediate help to Islanders who need it most. The program consists of a home energy efficiency upgrade which includes as much as $200 worth of basic energy-saving measures such as weather stripping and caulking windows, installing a programmable thermostat, and providing a furnace tune-up. Qualified tradesmen will go into the home to carry out the work.

Islanders eligible for the home energy efficiency upgrade include:

individuals or families with a gross household income of less than $30,000;
families who qualify for the National Child Benefit (this is different than the Canadian Child Tax Benefit); and
seniors who qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

The program is open to both homeowners and those who rent a house or apartment and pay the heating costs.

Please Note: If you received a home energy efficiency upgrade in 2005/06, you cannot apply to the program in 2006/07 unless you are living in a different house or apartment.

To apply for a home energy efficency upgrade under the Residential Energy Assistance Program, visit your local Access PEI site or submit your application online. For further information, call 368-5990 or toll-free 1-888-893-4333.

Alternative Heating Loan Program

The Alternative Heating Loan Program provides low-interest loans to help Islanders buy alternative heating systems. That includes:

wood-burning appliances
wood-pellet burning appliances
solar air heating systems
solar water heating systems

(the above items must comply with CSA codes or have EPA certification)

ground- or water-source heat pump systems with Energy Star certification
drain water heat recovery systems

Loans of a minimum $1,000 and maximum $5,000 per household are available at an interest rate of 6% annually. The loan can be used to purchase any of the above alternative heating systems; to install the system; and to purchase any accessories that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the system. For example, if you are installing a wood stove and need a new chimney to operate it, you may apply for the loan to purchase the stove and build the chimney.

To be eligible for this program, the applicant(s) must be a full-time resident of Prince Edward Island and own the home the equipment is being purchased for and installed in. There are no income restrictions on eligibility.

Please Note: If you received a loan in 2005/06 under the Alternative Heating Loan Program, you cannot apply for another loan in 2006/07.

Provincial Sales Tax (PST) Exemption

There is a PST exemption on small-scale renewable energy equipment with a rating of 100 kilowatts or less (100 kilowatts = 340,000 BTUs). Items which are exempt from provincial sales tax include:

wind energy generating systems
biogas energy generating systems
ground-source or geothermal heat pump energy generating systems
solar thermal energy collection systems
solar photovoltaic energy collection systems
drain water heat recovery energy collection devices

The PST exemption on small-scale renewable energy equipment is retroactive to April 8, 2005. If you have purchased an item since April 8, 2005 and paid PST, you can request a tax rebate by completing the Request for Refund of Revenue Tax form. You must attach the original invoice or receipt. It will take about six weeks to receive the rebate.

For more information on the PST exemption on renewable energy equipment, contact Provincial Treasury, Taxation and Property Records, at (902) 569-7542.

Forms

Alternative Heating Loan Program Application for Financial Assistance

Printable version of this form [554 KB PDF File]

Residential Energy Assistance Program Client Information Form

Submit this form online

Printable version of this form [93 KB PDF File]

Programme d'aide liée aux coûts d'énergie domestique Formulaire de renseignements sur le client

Printable version of this form [77 KB PDF File]

Request for Refund of Revenue Tax (PST)

Printable version of this form [162 KB PDF File]