Manitoba home energy rebates & savings guide

Manitoba has very cheap, clean hydro electricity and cold winters. Cheap power makes solar a slow payback, and with gas also inexpensive, a heat pump roughly breaks even against a gas furnace. This guide explains how Manitoba homeowners can save on energy and which home energy rebates and upgrades make the most sense.

For most homes, the envelope comes first. Use the energy check-up or the heat pump calculator, then check current programs on the Manitoba rebates page.

Electricity in Manitoba

Manitoba Hydro supplies both electricity and most natural gas in the province. Nearly all of Manitoba's electricity comes from hydro, so the grid is very low in emissions. An all-in rate of roughly $0.115 per kWh makes Manitoba one of the cheapest provinces for electricity.

Heating: what pays off

Natural gas and electric heat are both common in Manitoba, with oil and propane in some rural areas. With gas at roughly $0.42 per m³ and power at roughly $0.115 per kWh, a cold-climate heat pump at a typical seasonal COP of 2.2 to 3.0 costs about the same to run as a high-efficiency gas furnace. Savings against gas are small, but homes on electric baseboards, oil or propane typically save a lot.

Manitoba's long cold snaps mean a heat pump will lean on backup heat more than in milder provinces. Ground-source systems perform well here and have a long track record in the province. See geothermal heat pumps in Canada and switching from oil heat.

Solar outlook

Manitoba has good sun, but cheap electricity means each kWh your panels make is worth less than in most provinces. At typical installed costs of $2.40 to $3.30 per watt, payback often runs close to or past two decades. Solar here is usually a choice for independence or values more than savings.

Manitoba Hydro allows customers to connect small systems and receive credit for exported power, and terms can change. Check the current rules with Manitoba Hydro and run the solar calculator before getting quotes.

Tips for Manitoba homes

• If you heat with electric baseboards, a heat pump is one of the best upgrades you can make even at Manitoba's low power prices.
• Check Efficiency Manitoba for current rebates on insulation, heat pumps and air sealing, and confirm any pre-approval steps.
• Oil-heated homes may qualify for the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program, which is open in Manitoba.
• Consider a ground-source heat pump if you are building or doing major landscaping, since Manitoba winters favour it.
• Seal and insulate basement rim joists, a common source of drafts in Manitoba homes.