Heat pumps in the North are a grid story first and a heating story second. All three territories have long, extremely cold winters and need heat for most of the year. But the electricity behind a heat pump comes from small, isolated systems that strain during long cold snaps. That is why Yukon now rewards heat pumps that come with non-electric backup, and why federal heat pump grants have not reached Nunavut at all.
HeatPumpNews.ca markets and advises heat pump and HVAC businesses. We don't install or service equipment. This page covers Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut as of October 2026. Statistics Canada's heating-fuel table we use for the provinces does not cover the territories, so we don't quote fuel shares here.
Yukon: dual fuel is the program
The answer first: in Yukon, a heat pump sells best as half of a dual-fuel system.
On 2026-04-15 the Yukon government launched the Dependable Grid Program. The release says peak demand is forecast to grow by about 40 megawatts by 2030, mostly from new electrically heated homes. The rebates aim to cut electricity use during cold snaps:
| Upgrade | Existing homes | New homes |
|---|---|---|
| Dual fuel (heat pump plus non-electric backup) | 50% up to $15,000 | Flat $15,000 |
| Secondary non-electric heating | 50% up to $5,000 | Flat $3,000 |
| Transfer switches for backup power | 25% up to $2,000 | Flat $2,000 |
The government estimates that a typical household moving from baseboards or an electric furnace to dual fuel could save up to $1,900 a year. Applications go through the Good Energy rebates page. We cover the program in our story on Yukon's dual-fuel rebates. Confirm terms with the Energy Branch before quoting.
Northwest Territories
NWT buyers face extreme cold and an incentive landscape that points elsewhere. The Arctic Energy Alliance runs 2026/27 rebates for items such as wood and pellet stoves and programmable thermostats, from 2026-04-01 to 2027-03-31 while funds last, with no rebates for fossil-fuel heating. The federal oil-to-heat-pump grant closed in the NWT on 2026-07-31, per NRCan, with final documents due by 2027-01-31.
On regulation, the territory's new Technical Safety Act received assent on 2026-03-06. Electrical, gas, boiler and elevator rules will move under it through regulations over several years; until then, the existing acts apply.
Nunavut
Nunavut's arctic winters are very long and extremely cold. NRCan's oil-to-heat-pump page states that Nunavut is ineligible because it has no integrated electricity grid. Heat pump marketing there has to be realistic about where the technology fits, and installers should check with the Safety Services Division and the local utility before promoting any electrical heating work. A service cannot be connected without a Permission to Connect from the Chief Electrical Inspector.
Regulators across the North
- Yukon: Building Safety and Standards Branch, for permits and licences covering electrical, gas and pressure equipment. Gas fitters and gas contractors need a Yukon licence.
- Northwest Territories: Electrical and Mechanical Safety in the Department of Infrastructure.
- Nunavut: Safety Services Division, including the chief electrical and boiler and gas inspectors.
Workers' compensation for both the NWT and Nunavut runs through the WSCC. We link to these bodies; compliance questions belong with them.
How we would market a northern installer
- Sell resilience, not just efficiency. Dual-fuel, backup heat and transfer switches are what the Yukon program pays for, so they belong at the centre of the message.
- One clear rebate page per territory. Dated, linked and honest about what is not available. See program landing pages.
- Small-market search. In Whitehorse or Yellowknife, a strong Google Business Profile and a few well-built pages do more than broad ad spend. Our heat pump SEO is scaled to markets this size.
Results from our HVAC work include BCWide.ca, with 3× leads in 90 days. See results, or call, text or email to talk about the North.
Frequently asked questions
What is Yukon's Dependable Grid Program?
Announced on 2026-04-15, it pays rebates to cut peak electricity demand. A dual-fuel system, meaning a heat pump plus a non-electric backup heat source, qualifies for 50% of cost up to $15,000 in existing homes, or a flat $15,000 in new homes. Confirm current terms on the Yukon government's Good Energy rebates page.
Can NWT homeowners still apply for the federal oil-to-heat-pump grant?
No. NRCan lists 2026-07-31 as the last day to apply in the Northwest Territories. Approved applicants have until 2027-01-31 to submit final receipts.
Are Nunavut homes eligible for federal heat pump grants?
NRCan's oil-to-heat-pump page says Nunavut is not eligible because it lacks an integrated electricity grid. That shapes what heat pump marketing can realistically promise there.
Who regulates heat pump-related gas and electrical work in the territories?
Yukon's Building Safety and Standards Branch, the NWT's Electrical and Mechanical Safety unit, and Nunavut's Safety Services Division. We link to them but never give compliance advice.
Sources
- Yukon: New Dependable Grid Program rebates (2026-04-15) (2026-10-23)
- Yukon: Home energy rebates (2026-10-22)
- NRCan: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program status (2026-10-23)
- Arctic Energy Alliance: Energy-Efficient Products (2026-10-22)
- GNWT: Technical Safety Act receives assent (2026-10-23)
- Yukon: Building Safety and Standards (2026-10-22)
- GN: Safety Services (2026-10-22)