OHPA applications closed: what oil-heated homeowners should do next
July 31, 2026 was the last day to apply through the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability intake. This page is now a closure reference, not an invitation to submit a new federal OHPA application.
Applications submitted by the deadline continue to be processed. Existing participants still need to follow their approval and completion requirements.
For Ottawa homeowners: Ontario’s Save on Energy Energy Affordability Program still advertises no-cost cold-climate heat pumps for eligible electric- or oil-heated homes. That provincial delivery pathway should be checked separately.
What has closed—and what has not
Federal direct applications are closed
The federal program’s July 31, 2026 intake deadline has passed. A new equipment quote, an installation booking or an enquiry to AirZone does not create an OHPA application or reserve funding.
NRCan’s direct-delivery guidance identifies Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Quebec and Saskatchewan. It directs Ontario residents to the province-specific delivery route.
Ontario’s EAP is a separate check
Save on Energy continues to list no-cost heat-pump support for income-eligible Ontario households with electric or oil heating. The administrator screens the household and home and determines which upgrades are provided.
Use the official EAP process before buying equipment. Do not treat a privately purchased heat pump as automatically refundable through that program.
Already applied? Follow the rules for your own delivery stream
If you submitted a valid application before the cutoff, closing intake does not automatically cancel it. Keep your approval correspondence and confirm outstanding requirements directly with the administrator handling your file.
| Date | Meaning | Action for existing direct applicants |
|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2026 | Last day to submit a federal direct application. | Keep the submission confirmation. This deadline has passed. |
| January 31, 2027 | Final receipts and mandatory contractor attestation must be uploaded; all work must already be completed and paid for. | Follow your approval conditions and submit the required documents through the official portal before the deadline. |
| March 31, 2027 | Published federal program closure date. | Do not confuse this administrative closure date with permission to apply or install without approval. |
For an existing Ontario file, use the timeline and instructions supplied by Save on Energy or its delivery agent. The federal direct-delivery dates above should not be assumed to govern every Ontario project.
- Confirm that your application was submitted, not merely started, and check its current status.
- Keep the approved scope, equipment identification, invoices, payment records and contractor documents together.
- Ask the administrator before changing the equipment or project scope.
- Send income verification and other sensitive eligibility documents only through the official program’s requested channel.
Current alternatives for Ottawa homeowners
Energy Affordability Program
If your household may meet income requirements and your home uses oil or electric heat, begin with Save on Energy’s eligibility screening. Its current offering can include a cold-climate heat pump at no cost to the qualifying participant.
Home Renovation Savings Program
HRSP is a different rebate pathway. Eligible oil-heated homes purchasing a qualifying cold-climate air-source heat pump are currently listed at $1,250 per ton, up to $7,500, subject to the full requirements and written pre-approval.
Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program
Eligible Ottawa property owners can explore municipal financing for approved retrofits. This is a repayable property-linked loan, with its own heat-pump incentives and assessment requirements—not a replacement OHPA grant.
The system still needs to suit the home
The closure of an application stream does not change the need for a properly designed heating system. An oil-heated rural home, an older house with radiators and a home with usable ductwork can require very different solutions.
- Review the building’s heat loss and the heat pump’s output in cold weather.
- Check whether the system can distribute heat throughout the home.
- Establish electrical capacity and any required electrical work before finalizing the scope.
- Confirm the backup-heating arrangement permitted under the chosen program.
- Plan any oil tank and piping work with the appropriately registered contractor.
For an HRSP oil conversion, follow the program’s fuel-transition, sizing and tank-attestation requirements. Do not assume that retaining oil backup qualifies simply because a heat pump has been added.
Equipment advice without an outdated rebate promise
AirZone can review the HVAC scope, discuss suitable equipment, provide a written quote and supply relevant installation records. The program administrator—not AirZone—determines income eligibility, application acceptance and funding.
For a new project, we can compare an eligible heat-pump route with other practical replacement and financing options. For an existing funded project, tell us which program approved it before equipment or timing changes are made.
OHPA closure questions
Is OHPA closed to new applications?
The federal direct intake closed on July 31, 2026. This article is no longer a new-application offer. Ontario residents should separately check Save on Energy’s Energy Affordability Program, which still advertises support for qualifying oil-heated homes.
Can I still apply before March 31, 2027?
No. March 31, 2027 is the published federal program closure date, not the application cutoff. New federal direct applications had to be submitted by July 31, 2026.
What happens to applications submitted by July 31?
Applications submitted by the federal deadline continue to be processed. Approval is not automatic, and existing participants must still satisfy the conditions and documentation requirements of their own file.
What is the January 31, 2027 deadline?
For federal direct-delivery applicants, it is the deadline to upload final receipts and the mandatory contractor attestation. All work must be completed and paid for before then. Ontario participants should follow their own delivery agent’s instructions rather than assume the federal timeline applies.
Has Ontario ended all no-cost heat-pump support for oil-heated homes?
No such conclusion follows from the federal direct-intake closure. Save on Energy’s current Energy Affordability Program pages still advertise no-cost cold-climate heat pumps for qualifying households with oil or electric heating.
Can I choose AirZone and have EAP reimburse the installation?
Do not assume that a private contract qualifies. Contact the official EAP delivery program first and follow its assessment, contractor and installation arrangements. AirZone cannot guarantee reimbursement for privately arranged work.
Can an oil-heated home use HRSP instead?
An eligible oil-heated home may qualify for HRSP under its separate rules. A participating contractor, an eligible system and written pre-installation approval are required. Fuel-transition and oil-tank requirements also apply.
Does the move to Environment and Climate Change Canada mean OHPA reopened?
No. A departmental transition notice is not an announcement that new applications have reopened. Check the official status page for any future change.
Can AirZone submit a new OHPA application for me?
No. The closed federal intake cannot be reopened by a contractor. AirZone’s quote and document forms are for HVAC project support, not new federal OHPA applications.
Need a current plan for your oil-heated home?
Start with the programs that are available now, then compare the equipment and installation work your home actually needs.
Status checked September 28, 2026. This is a closure and homeowner-guidance article, not a new federal OHPA application offer. Federal direct-delivery rules and Ontario co-delivery rules can differ. Only the responsible administrator can confirm the status, funding and deadlines for an individual application.
