Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)
The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) is an affordable, flexible, and streamlined approach to financing that helps you invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to your residential property.
Through CEIP, the City of Medicine Hat will be able to provide financing to applicants for eligible clean energy projects that is repayable through your property taxes.
Medicine Hat’s residential CEIP is currently being designed and is expected to launch in 2024. Check back here for updates or click the subscribe button on the right-hand side of this page to be notified when this page is updated.
CEIP process
| Project Timeline |
| Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) |
| Bylaw approval |
| On April 17, 2023, City Council passed the Clean Energy Improvement Tax Bylaw #4708 to authorize a Clean Energy Improvement Program in Medicine Hat. |
| Detailed program design |
| In collaboration with Alberta Municipalities, we will engineer a program that meets the needs of our local residents and environment. |
| Program launch and applications accepted |
| The program is expected to launch locally in 2024 and will support residential property, including detached and semi-detached homes, town houses, and low-rise apartment buildings. |
Frequently asked questions
| What is the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)? |
| The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) is an affordable, flexible, and streamlined approach to financing that helps you invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to your property.
Through CEIP, the City of Medicine Hat will be able to provide financing to applicants for eligible clean energy projects that is repayable through your property taxes. The program is administered provincially through Alberta Municipalities. Learn more at ceip.abmunis.ca. |
| Is CEIP a rebate program? |
| No, CEIP is not a rebate or incentive. It is a loan from the City of Medicine Hat for approved clean energy improvements. The cost, plus interest, is repaid through your property tax bill. |
| What makes CEIP different than other financing options? |
| CEIP financing is attached to the property, not the property owner. When you decide to sell your property, you have the option to either repay the balance (without penalty) or disclose and transfer the balance to prospective buyers who will take on the repayment and enjoy the benefits of the improvements. |
| What types of home upgrades will be eligible for the program? |
| A list of upgrades and the applicable eligibility criteria can be found at ceip.abmunis.ca/residential/upgrades. |
| Why should I make clean energy renovations to my property? |
| Investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades can lower your utility bill, make your property more comfortable and enhance your property value. |
| When can I apply? |
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Medicine Hat’s Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) is expected to launch in spring/summer 2024. If you are undertaking energy-efficient home upgrades before then, please visit www.hatsmart.ca to see if you qualify for HAT Smart incentives. |
| Can I start on my project now and access CEIP financing later? |
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No, an application will need to be submitted and approved by Alberta Municipalities and a financing agreement signed between the property owner(s) and the City of Medicine Hat prior to any work on the project. Medicine Hat’s CEIP program will launch in 2024. If you are undertaking energy-efficient home upgrades before then, please visit www.hatsmart.ca to see if you qualify for HAT Smart incentives. |
| Will CEIP increase my property tax? |
| Only the property owners participating in the program would see an increase on their property tax bill. If you don’t participate in the program, it will not impact your property taxes. |
| Is CEIP different than PACE? |
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PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy. It’s a financial instrument that allows property owners to finance energy efficiency or renewable energy upgrades through their municipal property taxes. CEIP stands for the Clean Energy Improvement Program and is Alberta’s version of PACE. Although a similar financing mechanism to PACE, CEIP has its own unique guidelines and requirements that are specific to the Alberta context and designed to support the local economy while also protecting property owners. |
| Is CEIP replacing HAT Smart? |
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No. HAT Smart and CEIP pair well together. HAT Smart incentivizes property owners to undertake energy efficient projects through rebates, while CEIP is a financing tool that helps lower the burden of the upfront cost. |
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Can I participate in CEIP and similar programs offered by other organizations (e.g. Canada Greener Homes Initiative)? |
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Residential property owners can participate in the Clean Energy Improvement Program and other programs like the federal government’s Canada Greener Homes Grant and Medicine Hat’s HAT Smart program. Property owners are encouraged to review the terms and conditions for all programs to ensure their project meets all eligibility criteria. |