Manitoba Heat Pump Financing and Income-Qualified Upgrades

Manitoba homeowners may encounter two different heat-pump routes: Manitoba Hydro’s Home Energy Efficiency Loan (HEEL) and Efficiency Manitoba’s Energy Efficiency Assistance Program. HEEL is credit-based financing repaid through the energy bill. The Assistance Program is an income-qualified, assessment-led offer that may provide an eligible heat-pump upgrade at no upfront cost. They are not the same rebate, do not use the same eligibility test, and should not be assumed to stack.

HEEL is a loan with approval before work

Manitoba Hydro’s current page, checked 29 October 2026, lists an initial five-year annual rate of 6.20% subject to approval, monthly bill repayment, and a $12,500 financing maximum per residence. The exact technology limit and maximum term differ by upgrade, and the published rate and criteria can change. Ask Manitoba Hydro or the participating supplier for a current payment schedule showing the rate after the initial period, total repayment, eligible amount, and any balance or refinancing terms.

The page requires the owner to have an active Manitoba Hydro account and credit approval. The home must be the owner’s or tenant’s primary residence and generally be detached or semi-detached. Manitoba Hydro must approve the application before any work starts or materials are purchased. A completed project is not eligible for this application sequence. HEEL therefore suits a homeowner who expects to finance approved work and can meet the program’s credit, property, account, equipment, and contractor rules; it is not a grant.

The Assistance Program starts with household eligibility

Efficiency Manitoba’s current page lists a free in-home energy assessment and free or subsidized upgrades for qualifying households. Its heat-pump pathway is specifically described for qualifying homes heated by an electric furnace, electric baseboards, or an electric boiler. If an upgrade is recommended and approved, the page lists a free electric air-source retrofit or ground-source upgrade installed by a registered program contractor. It does not promise that every applicant will receive a heat pump.

The page lists these total household-income limits before deductions:

People living in the home	Published income limit
1	$46,264
2	$57,595
3	$70,806
4	$85,968
5	$97,504
6	$109,967
7 or more	$122,432

The page also identifies a First Nations status route and says property value or assets may be considered. Adults aged 18 or older must provide income verification. Landlords need tenant consent and income documents. Apartment suites and buildings, Red River Métis offers, and some First Nations routes have separate program paths, so check the current eligibility page rather than applying the table without its surrounding conditions.

Choose the route before committing

For HEEL, confirm ownership, account status, credit approval, dwelling type, eligible equipment, participating supplier, and the written approval date. For the Assistance Program, confirm household and dwelling eligibility, current application availability, assessment findings, the approved upgrade, and registered-contractor schedule. In both cases, have a qualified designer select the system for the home; program approval is not a load calculation or a guarantee of savings.

The live program pages were checked on 29 October 2026. Verify current rates, thresholds, intake, equipment criteria, and funding directly with Manitoba Hydro and Efficiency Manitoba before work begins.