Does the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate cover basement insulation upgrades in the GTA in 2026?

The Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate (HER) program as it existed has undergone significant changes, and as of 2025-2026 the landscape for home energy rebates in Ontario is shifting — you'll want to verify current program status directly with Enbridge and the Canada Greener Homes initiative before planning your budget around any rebate.

The original Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program was a joint offering between Enbridge Gas and the federal Canada Greener Homes Grant. The federal Greener Homes Grant closed to new applications in February 2024, which affected the structure of the combined program. Enbridge Gas has continued to offer its own standalone rebates through its Home Efficiency Rebate program, but the specific rebate amounts, eligible measures, and program terms change regularly — sometimes mid-year — so what was available in 2024 may not reflect what's available in 2026.

What has historically been covered for basement insulation:

Basement insulation upgrades have been among the eligible measures under Enbridge's efficiency programs, typically including insulation of basement walls and rim joists. To qualify, the work generally needed to meet minimum upgrade thresholds — for example, achieving a certain R-value improvement — and required a pre-retrofit and post-retrofit home energy assessment conducted by a registered energy advisor (an EnerGuide assessment). The assessment itself carried a cost of roughly $400-$600, which was sometimes partially rebated. Rebate amounts for basement insulation historically ranged from a few hundred dollars up to $1,500-$2,000 depending on the scope and the program structure at the time.

The critical GTA-specific consideration here is that many GTA homeowners pursuing basement insulation upgrades are doing so as part of a larger basement finishing project — and the rebate programs are specifically designed around energy efficiency improvements, not general renovation. That means the insulation work needs to be scoped and documented in a way that satisfies the energy advisor's requirements, which is a separate process from your contractor's building permit and inspection process. If you're planning a full basement finish, it's worth booking your pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment before any work begins, because the assessment must capture the existing (unimproved) condition to establish your baseline.

Practical steps to take right now:

First, go directly to enbridgegas.com and search for their current Home Efficiency Rebate offerings — the program page will show you exactly what's available in 2026 and what the current rebate amounts are. Second, call Enbridge's efficiency program line (they have a dedicated number for rebate inquiries) to confirm basement wall insulation is still a covered measure and what R-value minimums apply. Third, find a registered energy advisor through Natural Resources Canada's directory to book your pre-retrofit assessment — this step is mandatory for most rebate programs and must happen before work starts.

From an insulation standpoint, the GTA's Ontario Building Code minimum for below-grade basement walls is R-20, and most energy programs require you to meet or exceed this threshold to qualify for rebates. In practice, a good GTA basement insulation job uses either 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam (approximately R-13) combined with R-12 mineral wool batts between studs to hit R-25+, or 2-inch XPS rigid board plus mineral wool. This approach also satisfies the vapour barrier requirement inherent to closed-cell spray foam, which simplifies the wall assembly.

One important note: rebate programs should inform your project planning, but they shouldn't drive your insulation decisions. The right insulation strategy for a GTA basement — one that manages freeze-thaw moisture, prevents condensation behind drywall, and meets Ontario Building Code — is the right strategy regardless of whether a rebate is available. The rebate is a bonus, not the reason to insulate properly.

For questions about other home improvement rebates or trades beyond basement work, the Toronto Construction Network at torontoconstructionnetwork.com connects homeowners with professionals across multiple trades who can also help navigate current program eligibility.