What is the Total Home Energy Savings Program in New Brunswick? | Insulation IQ?

The Total Home Energy Savings Program (THES) is NB Power's flagship residential energy efficiency initiative, designed to help New Brunswick homeowners identify and address the insulation and air sealing deficiencies that drive up heating costs in climate zone 6 conditions. It is the primary pathway through which most NB homeowners access rebates, financing, and structured support for insulation upgrades.

At its core, THES is built around the concept of a whole-home assessment first, upgrades second. Rather than offering a flat rebate for any insulation work, the program requires that a licensed energy advisor — certified by Natural Resources Canada and registered to use the EnerGuide rating system — visit the home, conduct a blower door test, and model the building's thermal performance. This assessment produces an EnerGuide rating (a number from 0 to 100 indicating energy efficiency) and a prioritized list of recommended upgrades. Homeowners then undertake some or all of those upgrades and schedule a follow-up assessment to measure the improvement and confirm the work was completed as specified.

The rebate structure under THES rewards improvement relative to your starting point. Upgrades that move your EnerGuide rating upward — for example, adding blown-in cellulose to an under-insulated attic to reach R-50, or insulating a previously uninsulated basement rim joist — generate rebates that NB Power pays directly to the homeowner after the post-retrofit assessment confirms completion. Rebate amounts vary by measure type and the degree of improvement achieved. In recent years, rebates for attic insulation alone have ranged from several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on scope, with additional amounts available for basement walls, crawl space floors, and air sealing.

THES can also be combined with Canada Greener Homes Grant funding, which is administered federally but uses the same EnerGuide assessment process. Because the pre- and post-assessments serve both programs simultaneously, New Brunswick homeowners who participate in THES are essentially already set up to claim Greener Homes Grant funds of up to $5,600 for insulation and up to $600 reimbursed for the cost of the two assessments themselves. This stacking means total incentives for a comprehensive insulation retrofit in Fredericton, Moncton, or Saint John can reach $6,000 to $8,000 or more depending on the scope of work.

The on-bill financing component of THES allows homeowners to finance approved upgrade costs through their NB Power electricity bill, as described in detail elsewhere. This is particularly useful for households that want to improve their homes but don't have immediate cash or prefer not to use credit products. The financing is tied to the property and the approved scope of work, not to a personal credit score in the traditional sense, though standard eligibility checks apply.

Key eligibility requirements for THES include: you must be an NB Power residential electricity customer, you must own and occupy the home as your primary residence, and the home must be a single-family or eligible multi-unit building (specific rules apply to multi-unit properties). The program is available throughout New Brunswick — whether you're in a Moncton bungalow, a Fredericton two-storey, a rural property near Sussex, or a townhouse in Dieppe.

The process typically follows this sequence: contact NB Power or a registered energy advisor to enrol, schedule the pre-retrofit assessment, receive your upgrade recommendations and rebate estimates, hire a qualified contractor to complete the work, schedule the post-retrofit assessment, and receive your rebates. The full cycle from enrolment to final payment can take several months, so it is worth starting the process before heating season if possible.

Program terms and available funding levels are reviewed periodically, and NB Power has adjusted rebate amounts over the years as budgets and provincial energy policy evolve. Confirming current rebate amounts directly with NB Power or through a participating energy advisor is always the right move before budgeting a project.

The New Brunswick Insulation network at newbrunswickinsulation.com connects homeowners with insulation professionals experienced in THES requirements and documentation.

---

Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Arctic Fox Construction Inc.
• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations
• 3Tone Construction Ltd
• Brunswick insulation & roofing