107 days until Ontario's HRS rebate stops accepting applications (November 30, 2026 — reported funding window; can close earlier). A full rebate cycle takes 3–6 months — starting now is the safe window.
Check my rebate →Guide · Assessment path
You Have Your EnerGuide Report. Now What?
Here’s the part nobody warns you about: the energy advisor hands you a thorough report — and then can’t tell you who should do the work. Advisors are independent assessors; program neutrality means they generally don’t recommend contractors. This guide covers the exact next steps, in order.
1. Find the “recommended upgrades” table — and sort it by stream
Your report lists recommended measures with estimated energy savings. For rebate purposes they fall into two separate streams that do not mix:
Assessment stream
Insulation (up to $7,700 combined) · windows & doors ($100/opening, min 3 windows or 1 door) · air sealing (up to $250) · heat pump water heater ($500). You need at least two of these — and three or more adds a $500 bonus. Your advisor’s post-retrofit visit sets the final amounts.
No-assessment stream
Cold climate heat pump (up to $7,500; up to $12,000 geothermal) · smart thermostat ($100) · standalone attic insulation (up to $1,250) · solar + battery (up to $10,000). These never count toward the assessment path’s two-upgrade minimum — a heat pump doesn’t unlock windows.
2. Know your real timeline (it’s longer than the brochure says)
Field-confirmed with advisor organizations (August 2026): booking an assessment commonly takes about two weeks, and the report can take up to a month in busy season. Then come contractor quotes, the work itself, and the post-retrofit assessment (within 180 days of the pre-retrofit visit). If you’re aiming at the current funding window, count backwards from the deadline and start the next step now, not after the report.
Budget honestly too: the program’s $600 assessment rebate arrives after completion, while the visits themselves typically cost about $900 + HST and up (typical market pricing, confirmed Aug 2026) — plan for roughly $400 or more out of pocket after the $600 rebate.
3. Book your advisor by region (if you haven’t had the assessment yet)
Advisor organizations serve defined regions. Two we’ve confirmed directly (August 2026 — coverage evolves, verify when booking):
GreenUP
Peterborough and roughly 120 km around it — Kawarthas, Northumberland; does not cover the GTA.
Windfall Ecology Centre
Toronto, Durham, York and Peel — with Halton Hills expected soon. Typical booking lead time ~2 weeks; report within a month.
Elsewhere in Ontario, search the official program site for a registered energy advisor serving your postal code.
4. Close the gap: report → contractor
This is the step the system leaves to you. The advisor can’t recommend an installer; the installer didn’t see your report. Bring the two together: share the report’s recommended measures with a screened local contractor, get itemized quotes for the assessment-stream work (and the heat pump separately, if it’s on your list), and compare them net of rebates before signing anything.
Find your rebate
Have your report? Get matched with a screened contractor
Free, one contractor per request, no bidding-war spam — they quote against your report's recommendations.
Get matched free →Independent homeowner tool. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario.
Compare your quotes side-by-side →
Paste 2–3 quotes into the tool — red flags and net-of-rebate math, instantly
HRS program explained →
Both streams, all amounts, eligibility rules
Insulation rebate paths →
Standalone attic vs bundled — and the free income-qualified stream
Frequently asked questions
Why won’t my energy advisor recommend a contractor?
Energy advisors work as independent assessors. Program neutrality rules mean they generally cannot recommend specific contractors — their job ends with the report and the post-retrofit verification. That independence is good for the honesty of the assessment, but it leaves you to find the installer yourself. That gap is exactly what our free matching covers.
How long does the assessment-to-report process take?
Field-confirmed timelines from advisor organizations (August 2026): booking the initial visit commonly takes about two weeks, and the written report can take up to a month to arrive in busy season. Plan backwards from the program deadline — the pre-retrofit assessment must happen BEFORE any work starts, and the post-retrofit assessment within 180 days of the pre-retrofit one.
Which upgrades from my report actually earn rebates?
On the assessment path: insulation (up to $7,700 combined), windows and doors ($100 per opening, minimum 3 windows or 1 door), air sealing (up to $250), and a heat pump water heater ($500) — and you need at least TWO upgrades from that list, plus a $500 bonus at three or more. Heat pumps and smart thermostats sit in a separate no-assessment stream: they never count toward the two-upgrade minimum, and the assessment is not required for them.
How much does the assessment cost after the rebate?
The program pays a $600 assessment rebate after successful completion. At market rates the pre + post visits typically run about $900 + HST (confirmed with a licensed energy advisor organization, August 2026) — so budget roughly $400 net out of pocket for the visits themselves.
ClaimRebate.ca is an independent homeowner guide, not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, Enbridge Gas, Save on Energy (IESO), NRCan, or any advisor organization. Advisor coverage and timelines are field-confirmed August 2026 and change — always verify when booking. Final rebate eligibility is determined by the program administrator.