Your Energy Rebate - About The Program

Nova Scotians who purchase energy for their homes are eligible for a rebate of eight per cent equivalent to the provincial portion of the harmonized sales tax (HST).

Your Energy Rebate is a program designed to help Nova Scotians with the rising cost of home energy. For most, the rebate is automatically credited on the bill by the power company and fuel distributors (oil, propane, home-delivered firewood and natural gas). For other energy sources, such as kerosene, coal and wood pellets, Nova Scotians are able to apply for the rebate.

Program changes announced in the April 29, 2008 Budget

The electricity portion of the Your Energy Rebate Program has been refocused on electricity used for home heating. As a result, effective September 1, 2008, only electricity used on or after September 1, 2008, that exceeds a threshold of 27.4 kilowatt hours per day times the number of days on the bill on or after September 1, 2008, will be eligible for the rebate. The base charge is no longer eligible for the rebate.

For more details about the rebate on domestic service rates for electricity, go to the “What’s New” page.

Who is eligible for the rebate?

If you buy home energy for heating purposes, you are eligible to receive the rebate. The rebate does not depend on your income level.

How much is the rebate?

It is 8 per cent on the total eligible cost of heating energy and is equivalent to the provincial portion of the HST.

What does the rebate apply to?

The rebate applies to all sources of home heating energy including home heating fuel, natural gas, propane, firewood, wood pellets, coal, kerosene and electricity for home heating use.

For more details about electricity, go to the “What’s New” page.

Only purchases where HST has been paid to an HST registered vendor qualify for the rebate.

When did the rebate program start?

The program started on December 1, 2006. In the case of electricity and natural gas, the rebate began showing on your bills dated on or after January 1, 2007.

In the case of firewood, registered Bulk Vendors were able to provide point of sale rebate as of June 21, 2007. For firewood purchased from HST registered vendors in the period December 1, 2006 to June 20, 2007, Nova Scotians may apply for the rebate.

About how much of a rebate can I expect to see over the course of the year?

It depends on how much energy you use. For example, if your home heating energy purchases in a year totaled $2500, you'd save about $200.

Do I get a rebate if I purchased oil, electricity or another form of home energy before December 1, 2006?

No. Any energy bought before December 1, 2006, isn't eligible.