Saskatchewan home energy rebates & savings guide

Saskatchewan gets more sun than almost anywhere in Canada and has fairly high electricity prices, so solar can be a solid investment. Natural gas is the cheapest in the country, which makes it hard for a heat pump to save money against a gas furnace. This guide explains how Saskatchewan homeowners can save on energy and which upgrades actually pay.

Cold winters make the home envelope especially important. Start with the home energy estimator or the solar calculator, then check current programs on the Saskatchewan rebates page.

Electricity in Saskatchewan

SaskPower supplies electricity to most of the province, and SaskEnergy delivers natural gas. The grid still relies heavily on natural gas and coal, with growing wind and solar. An all-in rate of roughly $0.21 per kWh puts Saskatchewan above the Canadian average.

Heating: what pays off

Most Saskatchewan homes heat with natural gas, which costs roughly $0.38 per m³, the lowest in Canada. With electricity at roughly $0.21 per kWh, a cold-climate heat pump typically costs noticeably more to run than a high-efficiency gas furnace. Homes on propane, oil or electric baseboards are much better candidates.

Very cold winters also mean more hours below a heat pump's comfortable operating range, so backup heat matters. If you want air conditioning anyway, a dual-fuel system can add cooling and handle shoulder seasons while gas covers the coldest weeks. See hybrid dual-fuel heating.

Solar outlook

Saskatchewan has some of the best solar resources in the country, often at the top of the Canadian range of about 1,000 to 1,350 kWh per installed kW per year. Combined with above-average power prices, well-sited systems can pay back in roughly a decade or a bit more at typical costs of $2.40 to $3.30 per watt.

SaskPower's current program credits exported power at a rate below what you pay to buy it, so a system sized to your daytime use usually pays back best. Confirm the current program terms with SaskPower and read the net metering guide.

Tips for Saskatchewan homes

• Size a solar system close to your own use, since SaskPower credits exports at less than the retail rate.
• Put the money you might spend on a heat pump into attic insulation and air sealing first if you heat with gas.
• Use a block heater timer set for 2 to 3 hours before you leave instead of plugging in overnight.
• Check SaskPower and SaskEnergy for any current efficiency rebates and confirm amounts before you buy.
• Keep your heat pump or AC outdoor unit raised and clear of drifting snow through the winter.