Prince Edward Island home energy rebates & savings guide

Prince Edward Island has a long history of oil heating and has seen a big shift to heat pumps. With electricity prices above the Canadian average, both heat pumps and solar can be good investments. This guide covers how Island homeowners can save on energy and which home energy rebates and upgrades make sense.

Start with the heat pump calculator or the solar calculator, then check current programs on the PEI rebates page.

Electricity in Prince Edward Island

Maritime Electric supplies most Island homes, with the City of Summerside running its own utility, and there is little residential natural gas. PEI generates much of its own power from wind and imports the rest from New Brunswick. An all-in rate of roughly $0.18 per kWh puts PEI slightly above the Canadian average.

Heating: what pays off

Heating oil has long been the main fuel on PEI, with propane, wood, baseboards and heat pumps also common. Oil at about $1.65 per litre and propane at about $0.90 per litre are expensive, and a cold-climate heat pump at a typical seasonal COP of 2.2 to 3.0 usually cuts heating costs substantially. Mild maritime winters suit air-source heat pumps well.

Many Island homes add a ductless heat pump and keep oil as backup. The federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program is open on PEI. See switching from oil heat and the ductless mini-split guide.

Solar outlook

Solar is a reasonable investment on PEI. Electricity prices are above average and yields are roughly average for Canada, so at typical installed costs of $2.40 to $3.30 per watt, payback often runs in the low-to-mid teens of years for a good roof.

Maritime Electric offers net metering for small home systems, and terms can change. Confirm current rules before sizing a system, and read solar payback in Canada.

Tips for Prince Edward Island homes

• If you heat with oil or propane, check efficiencyPEI and the federal oil-to-heat-pump program, both of which have served Island homes.
• Keep your oil furnace or boiler serviced as backup if a heat pump does most of your heating.
• Check efficiencyPEI for current insulation, heat pump and solar programs and confirm amounts before you buy.
• Clean ductless heat pump filters every month or two during heavy use to keep them efficient.
• Add a heat pump water heater when your electric tank fails, since it uses far less power.