Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
INTRODUCTION
Maximum: $60,000
Repayment term: up to 20 years, low-interest
Saskatoon’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) helps Saskatoon homeowners improve their homes’ energy efficiency, install renewable energy, or reduce water use. Loans between $1,000 and $60,000 are available from the City for eligible retrofits that would be repaid over 5, 10, or 20 years through property taxes.
HELP provides a $1000 rebate to help cover the cost of an energy audit that is required for this program. All participants are eligible for this rebate if they send in their energy audit receipts. If a participant does not complete any retrofits they do not qualify for the $1000 rebate.
PROGRAM UPDATE June 2025:
The Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is currently accepting applications, applications will be reviewed based on funding availability and will be approved or waitlisted. You will need your property tax roll number in order to apply.
Improvements Might Include Upgrades to The Following:
Energy Efficiency
- High-efficiency furnaces/boilers/central air conditioners*
- Window & exterior door replacements*
- Basement/attic/exterior wall insulation*
- Air sealing (e.g. weather stripping or caulking)
- Gas tank-less water heaters/gas storage water heater/electric heat
- pump storage water heaters*
- Drain-water heat recovery systems
- HRV (heat recover ventilation) or ERV (energy recovery ventilation) system installation*
- Smart thermostats
- Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps*
- Geothermal heat pumps*
- Solar water heater*
- Solar PV panels
- Solar inverter
- Low-flow toilet replacements*
- Low-flow fixture and faucet replacements*
- Irrigation control systems
- Permanently affixed rainwater catchment sized to hold 50 gallons or more
- Level 2 EV charging station system and installation costs
- Battery storage system (paired with renewable generation)
- Window glazing and embedded markers for birds
*Denotes products must be ENERGY STAR rated for locate climate region or Water Sense Certified.
WHAT ARE THE TERMS FOR A HELP LOAN?
The minimum loan to participate in the program is $1,000. The maximum loan amount for this program is $40,000, unless you can provide verification that your project will reduce your home’s energy consumption by 50% or more, then you can receive a maximum loan of $60,000.
| Repayment Term | 5 Years | 10 Years | 20 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest Rate 2025 | 3.32 % | 3.89 % | 4.54 % |
Interest rates are updated annually and are applied to new applicants that have not yet signed an agreement with the City. If you have already completed a project through HELP or signed a contract with the City, your rate will be fixed for the life of your loan.
Eligibility
Owners of single-family residential homes including detached homes, semi-detached homes, and row housing, within Saskatoon City limits are eligible for HELP.
The home being renovated must:
- Not have any outstanding or delinquent taxes
- Be a single-family residential home
- Be located within the city of Saskatoon
- Be an existing home, new homes under construction are not eligible for the program
The applicant must:
- Be an individual
- Be the owner of the home where upgrades are being installed
- Be in “good standing” regarding City utility bills, taxes, and any other municipal charges
If you are already participating in a property tax deferral program with the City such as a lead line replacement loan, you are still eligible to apply for this program. Multi-unit commercial style condominium buildings are not eligible for this program.
How to Apply
- Step 1: Initial Application & Approval
As the property owner, you complete the Initial Online Application form by filling out your:
• Property address, to ensure your home is in Saskatoon
• Names of each property owner on title
• Contact information of each property owner on the title
• Type of project you are interested in completing
Once this form has been received by the City, it will be reviewed against eligibility criteria. You will be notified by email if your application has been approved, or denied and why.
Participants that have not submitted their funding request with EnerGuide audit results, contractor quotes with required specifications, and a planned project details form within six months of the initial application being approved may have their enrollment in the program terminated.
- Step 2: Energy Audit and Funding Request
Book A Home Energy Assessment With an Energy Advisor Registered By Natural Resources Canada:
The assessment will include a basement-to-attic assessment of your home’s insulation, heating and cooling systems, and detect any air leaks or drafts.
When the assessment is complete, you will receive:
- a Renovation Upgrade Report with recommendations for specific improvements
- an EnerGuide¹ rating based on your home’s current energy performance
- information on available incentives and rebates
Submit Your Funding Request:
Using the customized recommendations provided through your EnerGuide audit, decide which improvements you wish to make based on the eligible projects for the program.
You can request the City pay a contractor deposit on your behalf or choose to pay deposit to your contractor out of pocket. You can be reimbursed for deposits at the end of your project, but only if you follow the program process and have fulfilled the requirements of your contract signed with the City.
This includes submitting all final invoices to the City and providing the results of the final energy efficiency home evaluation within 30 days of the final audit date.
- Step 3: Request a Deposit & Instalment Request (Optional)
Request a Deposit (Optional)
After you have signed a deferral agreement with the City, you can request payment of a contractor deposit on your behalf. A Deposit Request is optional. If you prefer, you can pay the contractor deposit out of pocket and request a reimbursement for this deposit at the end of your project, after we have received your project completion documentation. You can not request a deposit if you have already paid the contractor. You can request up to 30% of the Total Final HELP Loan amount on your Schedule A – Planned Project Details PDF to be paid to a contractor. Your deposit request amount can be either 30% of your total approved loan amount or the total sum of your contractor deposits, whichever is less. A link to this form will be sent to you after your have signed a deferral agreement with the City.
Instalment Request (Optional):
If your project includes multiple home upgrades, you could be eligible for an instalment payment. Instalment payments are an advance on a portion of your loan. The instalments are paid to your hired contractor(s) directly for work that’s been completed. You cannot make an instalment request for a do-it-yourself project.
To request an instalment payment, one or more of your project upgrades must be completed in full, and you need to complete an Instalment Request Form. You must attach a final invoice for the work completed with this form.
The instalment request cannot exceed your total estimated project value from your funding request form and are subject to approval from the City.
Instalment payments can not exceed 90% of the total cost of the project. The remaining 10% of the project will not be paid until the entire project has been completed in full and all of the required documentation has been submitted to the City, including the results of the post-energy audit.
- Step 4: Project Completion
Homeowners assume full responsibility for the work performed, which includes selecting, hiring and paying contractors, and obtaining all required municipal and/or provincial permits, if applicable.
When your project is complete, book your post-retrofit home energy assessment with your Energy Advisor. The Advisor will verify the improvements and provide a new EnerGuide¹ rating for your home.
Submit a Project Completion Report signed by your Energy Advisor, along with your contractor’s invoices and your new EnerGuide rating label. The City will then provide you with the remaining funds for your project.
You must submit your Project Completion Form within 30 days of the date of your post-project energy evaluation, unless special circumstances deemed reasonable by the City apply.
- Step 5: Loan Repayment
Once your project is complete, your contractor has been paid, the eligible rebate has been applied, and you’ve been reimbursed for any deposits, do-it-yourself work, or for the cost of the EnerGuide audits, the City will update your HELP Deferral Agreement with your repayment obligation details.
Once you receive your repayment obligation details, use your tax roll number to claim your home on the Saskatoon Home Energy Map, where you can fill in the survey to update your energy rating!
The Deferral Agreement will outline the terms of your loan, what the current loan repayment will be for the upcoming tax year, and what changes will be made to your Tax Instalment Payment Plan Service (TIPPS) payments (if you are enrolled in TIPPS). Additionally, you will receive a notice from the City annually in December, which will provide an update on your taxes owing, including your loan balance and payments for the upcoming year. If you pay your property taxes monthly, your loan repayment will occur monthly
Home Energy Audit Booking
Take the first step towards a greener and more cost-effective future by scheduling a home energy inspection today!
Our professional team of experts is here to help you uncover hidden energy inefficiencies in your home. During the inspection, we will thoroughly assess your property, identifying areas where energy is being wasted and providing you with valuable recommendations for improvement.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Our team is ready to assist you in creating a more energy-efficient and comfortable living space. Take control of your energy usage and start saving today!
Five Reasons to Choose Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
- Enjoy low-interest rates and repayments terms of up to 20 years.
- Avoid the large upfront costs of home energy improvements and pay for them over time as you save on your energy bills.
- Repay the loan via installments on your property tax bill. You can pay off the loan at any time without penalty.
- Investing in energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy in your home will save money in the long term by reducing your utility bills. Homes are also more comfortable and healthier due to less drafts and better air quality.
- The loan will be attached to your property, not to you, the property owner. This means that if you sell your home before the loan is repaid, the new owner will assume the balance of the loan.