Confidence: Verified for all program statuses, rebate amounts, and eligibility rules cited; Estimated where third-party-installer figures were used and noted as such; Uncertain for pre-launch municipal programs. All claims dated within the last 90 days (research date May 19, 2026).

Service area scope: Waterloo, Wellington, Perth, Oxford, Middlesex, Brant, Huron, Norfolk, Bruce counties.

TL;DR

• No Canadian government program — federal, Ontario, or municipal — currently pays a rebate for high-efficiency propane or oil furnaces, boilers, water heaters, or fireplaces. Every active 2026 program is structured to incentivize electrification (heat pumps) and building-envelope upgrades. A propane-to-propane or oil-to-oil like-for-like replacement qualifies for $0 in rebates anywhere in B&J's service area.
• The single highest-value pathway is oil-to-heat-pump: an income-qualified Ontario homeowner can receive up to $25,000 in stacked federal + provincial funding at zero out-of-pocket cost through the IESO-delivered Energy Affordability Program with OHPA integration. Above-median-income oil homes can still stack Ontario HRS ($7,500 ccASHP) with federal OHPA ($10,000) for a combined $17,500.
• For oil-to-propane conversions — B&J's highest-intent residential scenario — there is no direct rebate from any government program. The customer is moving between two fossil fuels, both excluded from rebate eligibility. The only fundable add-on is a hybrid heat-pump installation alongside the new propane furnace, which qualifies for the full $1,250/ton ccASHP rebate (max $7,500) under HRS.

Key findings

1. Ontario HRS is the only province-wide rebate program currently paying out in 2026. Active through November 30, 2026. Contractor registration for the 2026 season closes May 31, 2026. HRS pays heat-pump rebates 2.5× larger to non-gas-heated homes (oil, propane, wood, electric) than to natural-gas homes — a structural advantage for B&J customers. See reg-ontario-home-renovation-savings-program-2026.
2. Federal Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed (final document deadline Dec 31, 2025); Canada Greener Homes Loan is closed to new applicants as of Oct 1, 2025. OHPA remains active in Ontario via IESO. See reg-federal-canada-greener-homes-programs-2026.
3. Enbridge HER+ closed Feb 5, 2024 (final submissions Dec 31, 2025) and never accepted propane or oil customers anyway. Enbridge's current program (HRS) does include propane and oil customers, but only for heat pumps and envelope work — not for propane/oil equipment itself.
4. Three of B&J's nine counties have or will soon have municipal financing: Guelph (active, loan stream waitlisted), City of London (BetterHomes London — Spring 2026), and Waterloo Region (RetrofitWR — still in design). The other six counties have no county-level retrofit financing. See reference-municipal-energy-retrofit-programs-bj-counties-2026.
5. No Canadian Propane Association rebate program exists for residential customers. The CPA's "government rebates" page is a directory, not a CPA-funded program. COHA likewise runs no current consumer rebate for oil equipment. See reference-propane-oil-supplier-incentive-programs-2026.
6. Supplier-led incentives in B&J's competitive market are commercial promotions, not rebates — chiefly Superior Propane's new-customer credit and Avenir Energy's (Blyth + St. George branches, formerly Sparling's) free assessment, deferred-payment financing, refer-a-friend, and CANEX military discount.

Summary table — program applicability by customer scenario

Legend: ✓ = applies and pays rebate · ✕ = excluded · ○ = applies only with heat-pump or other eligible add-on · $ = financing (loan), not a grant

Worked example — the priority B&J scenario

Oil-to-propane conversion in Perth County, fall 2026 (rural — outside Guelph, London, and Brantford):

Net for the propane-only conversion: $0 in direct government rebates for the propane furnace itself.

Best-case math when paired with a hybrid heat pump and envelope work:

• ccASHP 3-ton hybrid: $3,750 (HRS, propane home)
• Insulation + windows + air sealing (assessment stream, non-gas home): up to $8,000 (typical project, max cap $10,000)
• Smart thermostat: $100
• 3-upgrade bundle bonus: $500
• Home energy assessment: $600
• Total realistic rebate stack: ~$13,000 — but none of it is for the propane furnace. It is all for the heat pump and envelope.

Talking point: When the customer is set on staying off oil but wants to avoid the heat-pump path, the propane furnace is paid out of pocket. They can still capture $7,500+ in HRS rebates by adding a hybrid heat pump alongside the new propane furnace — the highest-rebate pathway compatible with keeping propane as the primary winter fuel.

Recommendations

Stage 1 — Update website and FAQ copy immediately (May–June 2026):

1. Remove any legacy references to Canada Greener Homes Grant, Canada Greener Homes Loan, Enbridge HER+, or Greener Homes Loan as "current." All are closed.
2. State plainly: "No Canadian government program currently pays a rebate for high-efficiency propane or oil furnaces, boilers, water heaters, or fireplaces." Honest, defensible, and avoids customer disappointment.
3. Add an oil-to-heat-pump section pointing income-qualified oil customers to IESO's Save on Energy EAP/OHPA. Transparency about the competing technology builds trust.
4. Add an oil-to-propane decision page showing the heat-pump-hybrid stacking math ($7,500+ HRS rebate available alongside a new propane furnace). This is B&J's highest-margin conversation.

Stage 2 — Sales/CSR scripts (June 2026):

1. "Can I get a rebate on a new propane furnace?" → No, but here's how to capture $7,500+ in HRS rebates by also installing a hybrid heat pump.
2. "My oil furnace is at end-of-life — what are my options?" → Three paths: (a) replace with new oil (no rebates), (b) convert to propane (no direct rebate, but heat-pump add-on captures $7,500+), (c) convert to a heat pump (up to $25,000 income-qualified or $17,500 above-income via HRS + OHPA — but it's a competing technology).
3. "I heard about a federal grant for switching off oil — does it apply to propane?" → No, federal OHPA only funds switches to electric heat pumps. Propane is not eligible.

Stage 3 — Contractor relationships (June–August 2026):

• B&J or B&J's preferred HVAC partners should be registered HRS contractors. Contractor registration closes May 31, 2026 for the 2026 season. Without registration, hybrid-heat-pump rebate paperwork cannot be filed for B&J-routed customers.
• Cultivate one Registered Energy Advisor / Service Organization relationship in each county for bundled-stream customers.

Stage 4 — Quarterly refresh (October 2026 and ongoing):

• Confirm BetterHomes London is in steady operation and pull current rate/term.
• Confirm Brantford energy retrofit program status.
• Watch for an Ontario CGHAP co-delivery announcement.
• Watch for the next federal Green Buildings Strategy update — propane-related regulatory pressure may surface.
• Confirm HRS extension status. If a 2027 extension is announced, update contractor registration deadlines.

Decision thresholds that would change recommendations

• HRS extended to 2027+: continue current strategy.
• HRS closed early: drop heat-pump add-on from the propane-conversion pitch immediately and lean into oil-to-propane on cost-of-ownership grounds alone.
• Federal oil-to-low-carbon-fuel program announced (e.g., renewable propane / HVO): highest-value re-evaluation moment.
• Ontario signs CGHAP co-delivery: low-to-moderate-income propane customers may suddenly have access to free envelope upgrades through direct install — refresh income-qualified messaging.

Program changes on the horizon

• HRS sunset: November 30, 2026 confirmed. Contractor registration closes May 31, 2026.
• CGHAP Ontario rollout: Not yet signed (Manitoba first). Likely EAP/OHPA delivery channel.
• BetterHomes London launch: Spring 2026 — verify at betterhomeslondon.ca.
• Brantford energy retrofit program: 2026 rollout expected; design not yet public.
• RetrofitWR (Waterloo Region): Endorsed; FCM funding not yet confirmed; no public launch date.
• Federal phase-out of oil heating in new construction: Canada Green Buildings Strategy (July 2024) commits to a regulatory framework as early as 2028. New construction only.
• Federal OHPA Ontario funding cap: IESO targeting 2,140 household installs by end of 2027 with combined $59.4M envelope ($37.5M federal + $21.4M IESO). May close earlier if oversubscribed.

Caveats and gaps

1. HRS rebate amounts and program rules can change at any time without notice. Verify rates at homerenovationsavings.ca before quoting customers.
2. OHPA income thresholds are NRCan-revised periodically for inflation. Check the eligibility tool at canada.ca/heat-pump-grant before promising eligibility.
3. BetterHomes London interest rate (~2.5% on third-party sites) is unconfirmed in the official City release. The 10–20 year term, $40,000 loan ceiling, $10,000 income-band incentive, and $6.66M total budget are confirmed. Verify the rate at betterhomeslondon.ca before quoting.
4. RetrofitWR eligibility specifics are not yet public. Likely Guelph/London electrification focus; propane/oil furnace eligibility cannot be confirmed.
5. Brantford energy retrofit program design is not yet public. Rollout expected 2026; no published terms.
6. The $25,000 combined federal + provincial OHPA figure in Ontario is anchored to the Government of Canada press release on canada.ca dated September 20, 2025 and corroborated by IESO senior communications advisor Michael Dodsworth in regional news interviews.
7. Competitor offers change frequently and seasonally. This document captures May 2026; refresh quarterly.
8. This document does not cover commercial, agricultural, or multi-residential incentives. Farm-scale propane (grain drying, livestock heat) has a different program landscape — out of scope.
9. Tax credits. Canada does not currently offer a federal residential energy-efficiency tax credit comparable to the US 25C credit. The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit and the Home Accessibility Tax Credit are narrowly scoped and not heating-equipment-specific.

Related entries

• reg-ontario-home-renovation-savings-program-2026 — HRS in detail
• reg-federal-canada-greener-homes-programs-2026 — federal NRCan programs
• reg-ieso-energy-affordability-program-2026 — EAP and OHPA Ontario delivery
• reference-municipal-energy-retrofit-programs-bj-counties-2026 — municipal programs county-by-county
• reference-propane-oil-supplier-incentive-programs-2026 — industry / supplier offers
• service-oil-to-propane-conversion — B&J service entry
• marketing-oil-to-propane-campaign — campaign positioning
• persona-h1-long-time-oil-heat — persona
• persona-h2-oil-to-propane-convert — persona