Existing Homes Incentive Program

The following Application Terms and Conditions (Terms and Conditions) establish the eligibility requirements and related terms and conditions for an application to the Existing Homes Incentive Program (Program).

The application shall be subject to approval by HAT Smart. A completed application is neither a guarantee of eligibility for a rebate under the Program, nor payment of the rebate itself, and is subject to the following Terms and Conditions:

1. The Program will be in effect from January 1 to December 31, 2023 (Term), or until a time in which Program funds are fully subscribed.
   • Applicants are eligible for one (1) rebate per residential address during the Program Term.
2. The deadline to submit applications is noon on January 9, 2024. Your application will be declined if it is:
   • Incomplete or illegible. A new application will be required and must be received prior to the application deadline.
   • Late, or received after Program funds are fully subscribed. Applications received after Program funds are fully subscribed, and/or applications where funds have not been reserved will be entered in the queue. Should funds become available, you will be notified.
3. The Program is designed to assist property owners with the cost of energy-saving retrofits in existing homes. An existing home is any home built more than six (6) months prior to installations, replacements, and/or upgrades.
   • Applicants are responsible for all taxes and any additional amounts above the maximum rebate amount.
4. To qualify for a rebate under the Program:
   • An initial EnerGuide Home Evaluation (pre-evaluation) is required and must be completed by a certified energy advisor (Eligible Project);
   • At least one of the retrofits that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report have been completed within the program Term, as evidenced by the corresponding sales receipts and/or invoices;
   • All equipment must be bought in Canada between January 1 and December 31, 2023 as evidenced by the date on invoices and/or receipts. Online purchases are only eligible if they are ordered from an online distributor in Canada; and
   • The pre-evaluation must be completed between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2023, as evidenced by the date on the corresponding EnerGuide label and report. 
     
     If your home had an EnerGuide evaluation by a previous owner, or your evaluation was conducted before January 1, 2020, a new pre-evaluation is required and must be completed between January 1 and December 31, 2023.
5. To be eligible for a rebate under the Program:
   • Applicants must either receive a City of Medicine Hat residential Electric and/or Natural Gas utility statement for the Project address in their name or, for rental properties, be the owner on the tax roll; and
   • Eligible Projects must be completed by the property owner as confirmed through the City of Medicine Hat billing system.
     
     Residential customers living in a condo are not eligible for the Program if utilities are paid for through condo fees or by the condo association since the condo building itself would then be considered a commercial enterprise.
6. Funds will be reserved, to a maximum of $5,000, based on the upgrades Applicants intend to complete within the Program Term. Visit the HAT Smart website for a list of eligible retrofits, associated criteria, rebate amounts, and Required Documentation.
   • A new application is required for additional retrofits (not included on the original application) that you intend to complete within the Program Term, which will be entered in the queue for processing based on the date it is submitted. The maximum rebate for combined applications is $5,000.
7. Rebates are paid based on projects completed prior to the end of the Term. If you have received confirmation that funds have been reserved, your rebate will be calculated and paid to a maximum of the reserved amount.
   • If you completed additional retrofits and did not reserve funds, you may not receive payment for those projects if funds are fully subscribed. However, your application will be placed in the queue for processing based on the date it was received and may be paid, should funds become available.
   • HAT Smart rebates are paid based on pre-tax amounts. Therefore, Applicants are responsible for all taxes and any additional amounts above the maximum rebate amount. If Program funds have been fully exhausted, Applicants are responsible for the full cost of retrofits.
   • A copy of the purchase receipt or other information relevant to the project is required. Omission of such required information will result in an incomplete application which will be declined by HAT Smart.
   • The Applicant should retain a copy of the application form and all required documentation as the Applicant’s original application and documentation will not be returned by HAT Smart.
   • Should the Existing Homes Program be repeated in subsequent years, rebates for installation of additional windows and doors, as well as insulation, in areas not previously retrofitted will be eligible. Rebate amounts will be based on the maximum for the application year, less the rebate amount previously paid.
8. The Applicant is solely responsible for:
   • researching and ensuring they qualify under applicable eligibility criteria as outlined on the HAT Smart website;
   • meeting all Program requirements and complying with any laws, regulations, or by-laws regarding permits, codes, restrictions, and/or inspections in relation to products or equipment installed; and
   • any direct or indirect taxes, duties, levies, fees, or like charges incurred as a result of participation in the Program.
9. The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that, as a result of projects completed as recommended by your energy advisor in their report, HAT Smart:
   • is not responsible for, and accepts no liability nor makes any representations with respect to estimated or possible energy savings;
   • is not responsible for, nor liable for, the selection, purchase, installation, and ownership/maintenance of the products included in the submitted rebate application; and
   • makes no representation or warranty, whether expressed, implied, direct or indirect, with respect to the products, services or other measures that the Applicant has purchased.
10. The Applicant further agrees:
    • the Eligible Project has been completed in the specified dwelling through a service provider and that purchases and installations are of new condition and for non-commercial use only;
    • all equipment was purchased in Canada between January 1 and December 31, 2023 as evidenced by the date on invoices and/or receipts. Online purchases were also ordered from an online distributor in Canada;
    • that HAT Smart is not affiliated in any way with the manufacturer, distributor, dealer, and/or installer of the product(s);
    • that combined incentives from government programs shall not exceed 100% of Eligible Project costs;
    • any other rebate(s), discount(s) and/or incentive(s) offered and/or provided by any government agency, institution, manufacturer, distributor, dealer and/or installer are separate and distinct from the Program and HAT Smart shall not be responsible for the administration or payment of the same nor be responsible for the erroneous submission of other rebate(s), discount(s) and/or incentive(s) to HAT Smart.
11. The Applicant confirms ownership of any attribute of an environmental or similar nature that is created or otherwise arises from the generation of electricity from solar powered energy. The Applicant further attests that said attributes have not been claimed, sold, or otherwise transferred to another party.
12. In submitting this application, the Applicant consents:
    • to the disclosure of personal information, as well as the rebate amount awarded to the Applicant, to HAT Smart, its contractors, employees, partners and others who have a need to know; and
    • to the collection, use, disclosure and retention of such information for five years, following which such information will be destroyed or made anonymous.
    • that the City of Medicine Hat shall be the aggregator of the solar generator with ownership of any attribute of an environmental or similar nature that is created or otherwise arises from the generation of electricity from solar powered energy. As such, the Applicant consents that the City of Medicine Hat shall be allowed access and shall take all steps necessary to provide the City of Medicine Hat access to appropriate tracking data until a time in which operation of the solar generator is permanently suspended.
13. HAT Smart reserves the right to change or terminate the Program at any time without notice or explanation. HAT Smart will use reasonable efforts to process a completed eligible application received prior to changes or Program termination according to Program requirements in effect on the date the application was received.
14. The Applicant should allow four (4) weeks to process the application and payment. If approved, the rebate will be paid by cheque, direct deposit, or as a credit on your utility account. All rebate cheques issued must be cashed within 180 days from the cheques’ issuance date and will not be re-issued after this time.

If you decide to tackle additional projects, a new application to reserve funds is required and will be entered in the queue for processing based on the date it is submitted. The maximum rebate for combined applications is $5,000.

If you complete additional retrofits and do not reserve funds, you may not receive payment for those projects if funds are fully subscribed. However, your application will be placed in the queue for processing based on the date it was received and may be paid, should funds become available.

In order to process your application, we require proof of payment for each receipt/invoice. Your contractor/installer can provide you with a copy.

Yes, if you personally receive a City of Medicine Hat residential Electric and/or Natural Gas utility statement in your name. If your utilities are paid for through your condo fees or by the condo association, you would not be eligible since the condo building itself would then be considered a commercial enterprise.

Yes, all City of Medicine Hat residential Electric and/or Natural Gas Utility customers are eligible to apply. If you currently receive a residential electric or natural gas bill in your name from the City of Medicine Hat, you are eligible to apply.

All applications are subject to approval by HAT Smart. A completed application form is not a guarantee of eligibility for a rebate under the program, nor payment of the rebate itself. Rebates are issued on a first come, first served basis and an incomplete application form can result in a delay of payment or no payment if program funds have been exhausted.

If your application was declined, either it did not meet the eligibility criteria, required documentation was missing, it was received after the deadline, or Program funds were fully subscribed.