CEIP provides financing for up to 100% of the eligible project costs at a low 3.25% fixed interest rate.
Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)
A new way to pay for renovations that make a difference.
What is CEIP?
The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP), administered by Alberta Municipalities, makes energy efficiency upgrades more accessible for homeowners - so you can save on energy bills and enjoy a more comfortable, efficient home for you and your family.
CEIP offers flexible financing to help cover the upfront costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades, allowing homeowners to make improvements without the big upfront investment. Access low interest rates and make repayment conveniently through your property’s regular tax bill.
Key Features
The program offers flexible repayment terms with the option to repay in full anytime—penalty-free. The maximum term is the lesser of 20 years or the effective useful life (EUL) of the eligible upgrades. The EUL is the average time in years where the upgrade is expected to result in energy savings and is noted under Residential Upgrades.
Repayments are made through your property tax bill, and the financing remains tied to the property tax obligation (i.e., if you decide to sell your property, you can pay off the balance without penalty or leave the remaining balance with the property tax bill).
To help kickstart your retrofit, take advantage of these financial incentives:
- Project Incentive: A rebate of 6.6% of financed project costs is offered for all completed projects.
- SmartFit Incentive: An additional 3.6% of financed project costs is offered (for a total rebate of 10.2%) for all completed projects in homes built before 1990.
|
|
|
|
Participant and property eligibility
Participants must be the legal owner of an existing low-rise residential property located in Medicine Hat and meet all requirements listed in the Terms and Conditions.
Before you apply: your preparation checklist
To avoid any interruptions or delays, kindly take a moment to review all details and requirements.
Inform all property owners of your intention to apply for CEIP financing.
All property owners will need to sign the Project Application Form and Program agreements. Additionally, one property owner needs to sign the Pre-Qualification Form and Upgrade Completion Forms. Ensure that you read the Terms and Conditions before applying.
Check that your property is eligible for CEIP financing.
Residential properties must, at minimum, be existing buildings that are either a:
- single or semi-detached house;
- row house;
- town home
The property must be insured and occupied. A minimum of $1,000,000 in personal liability insurance must be included in the insurance policy.
Check that you meet the minimum financial requirements and property tax requirements:
- Your property tax is not in arrears, now or at any time in the last five years.
- You do not have late tax payments on your home, or other homes you have owned, at any time in the past five years.
- You are in good standing with all other accounts with your municipality (e.g., utilities, permits, bylaws etc.)
- Your home is not in foreclosure.
- You are not in bankruptcy or receivership.
- You are current on all property-secured debt payments (e.g., mortgage, home equity line of credit).
|
|
|
Check your mortgage agreement, insurance policies, and building policies, and have copies of each ready.
Check with your mortgage lender as some mortgage agreements may require your lender’s consent before you apply for CEIP financing.
Your home insurance policy may cover the property’s full value and must cover at least $1 million in personal liability insurance.
If your property is within a building that includes shared facilities or common property (e.g., condo, row house, town house) and your project will impact shared facilities / property, include an approval letter from your condo board or building owner with your application.
Review the Pre-Qualification Form for the information you must include in your application.
We will need your property description and roll number. These are on your most recent property tax assessment notice.
How does CEIP work?
Completing a clean energy improvement through CEIP follows these eight steps:
Step One: Pre-qualification
Read the CEIP Terms and Conditions. Complete the Pre-Qualification Form at myCEIP.ca. This confirms that you and your property meet the basic program qualification criteria.
|
|
Step Two: EnerGuide home evaluation
Once pre-qualified, schedule an EnerGuide home evaluation to learn about your home’s energy performance. This will help you understand your priority options for home improvements.
Step Three: Project application
Choose a Qualified Contractor at myCEIP.ca/directory and plan your project. Then, submit your Project Application to Alberta Municipalities.
Step Four: Agreements
Once approved, you'll enter into a Clean Energy Improvement Agreement and Project Agreement.
Step Five: Project installation
After signing agreements, work with your Qualified Contractor to complete the improvements.
Step Six: Upgrade completion
Submit your upgrade completion forms as your improvements are completed.
Step Seven: Post-project EnerGuide home evaluation
After your project is complete, a post-project EnerGuide evaluation will provide a new rating and label based on your home’s upgrades.
Step Eight: Repayment
You’ll repay the project cost through your property tax bill as per your Clean Energy Improvement Agreement.
 |
 |
 |
 |
This program is supported by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund, an endowment created by the Government of Canada.
This program is administered by Alberta Municipalities.
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.
What is the interest rate for CEIP financing?
The City of Medicine Hat is offering CEIP financing at an interest rate of 3.25%.
No, at its core, 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.
However, Medicine Hat is offering a rebate of 6.6% of project costs for completed CEIP projects. Plus, an additional SmartFit incentive of up to 3.6% of financed project costs is offered on residential properties built before 1990).
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.
Now! Medicine Hat’s Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) launched June 18, 2024. Go to myceip.ca/medicinehat to apply.
Can I start on my project now and access CEIP financing later?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
History of the project
Project Timeline: Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)
1. 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.
2. Detailed program design
In collaboration with Alberta Municipalities, we will engineer a program that meets the needs of our local residents and environment.
3. Program launch and applications accepted
The program launched on June 18, 2024, supporting residential property, including detached and semi-detached homes, town houses, and low-rise apartment buildings.
Contact Us
Clean Energy Improvement Program
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to eNotifications to stay connected with City of Medicine Hat news, activities, events, programs, operations and more.
