Is an energy audit required to get NB Power insulation rebates? | Insulation IQ?

Yes, a pre-retrofit energy audit is required to access the primary insulation rebates available through NB Power's Total Home Energy Savings program. The audit — conducted by a Natural Resources Canada registered energy advisor — establishes your home's baseline EnerGuide rating and documents existing insulation levels before any work begins. Without that pre-audit on record, NB Power cannot confirm the improvement achieved, and the rebate claim will be rejected. There are no exceptions to this requirement for the main program.

The audit requirement exists for good reason. NB Power's program is performance-based, meaning rebates are tied to verified improvement in your home's energy performance, not simply to the type or amount of insulation installed. The energy advisor measures your existing insulation depths, tests air leakage via a blower door test, and calculates your current EnerGuide score. After the work is done, a second post-retrofit audit confirms the upgraded conditions and establishes the new score. The difference in EnerGuide ratings between the two audits determines your rebate tier.

For homeowners in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, and across New Brunswick, this two-audit structure aligns directly with the Canada Greener Homes Grant, which reimburses up to $600 per audit (pre and post combined up to $1,200 total). In practice, the audit costs are often fully offset by the federal reimbursement, making the overall process cost-neutral on the audit side while unlocking up to $5,600 in grant money for the retrofit work itself.

NB Power's insulation rebates under the Total Home Energy Savings program target the most impactful upgrades for New Brunswick's Climate Zone 6 conditions. Eligible measures typically include attic insulation upgrades to meet or exceed R-50 targets, basement wall and rim joist insulation, exterior wall upgrades, and crawlspace insulation. Rebate amounts vary based on the upgrade scope and the resulting EnerGuide improvement. Historically, NB Power has also offered direct incentives for specific insulation measures (such as per-square-foot grants for attic insulation), though program terms are updated periodically and should be confirmed directly with NB Power or your energy advisor.

There is one narrow category of insulation work where an audit is not required: minor spot repairs or partial upgrades that are not being submitted for rebates at all. If you simply want to top up a cold basement wall section for comfort and are not seeking any incentive funding, you can proceed without an audit. However, for any work exceeding a few hundred dollars, the math almost always favours completing the audit and accessing the available rebates — especially given the federal reimbursement of audit costs.

It is also critical to understand the sequencing requirement: the pre-retrofit audit must be completed before any work begins. Homeowners who start insulation work before booking the audit — even if they intend to claim rebates afterward — lose eligibility. The program has no provision for retroactive audits or backdated documentation. If you are in Fredericton or Moncton and considering insulation upgrades this season, booking the audit is the correct first step, not the last.

The NB Building Code sets minimum insulation levels for new construction in Climate Zone 6, but the rebate programs are designed to incentivize existing homes to reach or exceed those same standards. Most homes built before 1990 fall significantly short of current code levels, making them ideal candidates for the full audit-and-upgrade pathway.

For guidance on finding a registered energy advisor and connecting with insulation contractors who work within the NB Power rebate program, New Brunswick Insulation and the New Brunswick Construction Network are helpful starting points.

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