This explainer sets out where New Brunswick's oil-to-heat-pump advance payments stand on October 23, 2026. It is built from the Save Energy NB program page, which shows no publication date, so we treat it as a status check rather than dated news. NB Power delivers the program through Save Energy NB for Natural Resources Canada. Confirm details with Save Energy NB before relying on them.
Where the program stands
The door is closed to new households, and the clock is running for those already in.
| Date | What it means |
|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Registration for the advance payment closed |
| October 1, 2026 | Last day to submit paperwork for an advance payment |
| March 31, 2027 | Upgrades and the final energy evaluation must be complete |
Households that enrolled before July 1, 2026 have until March 31, 2027 to finish. If the work and final evaluation are not complete by then, the advance must be repaid to NB Power. Incentive payments are expected within 90 days of the final evaluation date.
Federally, NRCan's program page refers New Brunswick applicants to the participating-provinces route and notes the program is moving to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
How the advance works
The advance is sized from approved contractor quotes, up to $15,000.
If the project costs less than $15,000, the homeowner receives the quote amount; if it costs more, the homeowner pays the difference. Eligible costs listed by Save Energy NB include:
- electrical and mechanical upgrades for the new electric heat pump system
- ground loop piping for ground source systems
- safe removal of the oil tank
- supplemental electric heating, if needed
- converting other oil-using equipment, such as switching to an electric water heater
Staff check proof of primary residence and household income before confirming eligibility.
What remains open for heat pump jobs
For households outside the advance program, standard rebates still apply.
Save Energy NB's Total Home Energy Savings table, as of October 2026:
- central ducted air source heat pump: $1,500
- furnace heat pump add-on: $1,000
- geothermal: $2,000
- mini-split: $400
- multi-zone: $350 per indoor head
Air source units must be on NB Power's qualifying list (add-ons may also qualify through ENERGY STAR), and geothermal units must be on the federal ground source list or ENERGY STAR certified. Households with combined incomes of $70,000 or less may qualify for free upgrades through the Enhanced Energy Savings Program.
The contractor's part
Most of the paperwork that keeps an advance safe runs through the installer.
Save Energy NB tells homeowners to work with a qualified contractor, collect quotes and keep every invoice. The contractor completes the required attestation form. An energy advisor does the initial evaluation, and the same service organization books the final evaluation and sends results to NB Power. Electrical and gas work also falls under the province's Technical Inspection Services; we link it for reference only.
A timeline for the months ahead
Working back from March 31, 2027 gives a practical schedule for enrolled jobs.
- November–December 2026: confirm which enrolled customers have firm installation dates; book the rest.
- January–February 2027: complete installations, gather invoices and the attestation form.
- March 2027: final evaluations booked and completed, with results sent to NB Power before month-end.
These are planning suggestions, not program rules. Save Energy NB's page is the authority on what counts as complete.
Analysis: what this means for heat pump contractors
This section is our analysis.
The next five months are about finishing, not selling.
- Contact every enrolled customer. A homeowner who has an advance but no installation date is at risk of repaying it. A short, factual reminder from you is a service, not a sales pitch.
- Book final evaluations early. Energy advisors will be busy before March 31, 2027. Build the evaluation into your schedule.
- Retire the "up to $15,000" message. Update your website and ads so that new visitors see what is open now. Old offers on a contractor site cost credibility. Our installer websites are built for quick, dated edits.
- Shift to the standing rebates. For 2027, your message for oil-heated homes over the income threshold is the Total Home table plus your installation quality.
Read our New Brunswick page for the wider market and the newsroom for other updates, or call, text or email us.
Frequently asked questions
Can new households still register for New Brunswick's oil-to-heat-pump advance payment?
No. As of October 2026, Save Energy NB says registration closed on June 30, 2026, and paperwork for advance payments had to be in by October 1, 2026.
What happens if an enrolled home misses March 31, 2027?
Save Energy NB says upgrades and the final energy evaluation must be complete by March 31, 2027; otherwise the advance payment must be repaid to NB Power.
What heat pump rebates are still available in New Brunswick?
As of October 2026, Total Home Energy Savings lists $1,500 for a central ducted air source heat pump, $1,000 for a furnace add-on, $2,000 for geothermal, $400 for a mini-split and $350 per indoor head for multi-zone. Households with incomes of $70,000 or less may qualify for free upgrades through the Enhanced Energy Savings Program.
What does the contractor have to provide?
Quotes for the homeowner to submit, the required attestation form, and invoices the homeowner keeps. The energy advisor's service organization books the final evaluation and reports to NB Power.
Sources
- Save Energy NB: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (2026-10-23)
- Save Energy NB: Space heating equipment rebates (Total Home Energy Savings) (2026-10-23)
- NRCan: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (2026-10-23)
- GNB: Technical inspections (2026-10-22)