Rénoclimat, energy-saving program, on hold in parts of Quebec
Homeowners looking to benefit from government grants for home renovations may have to put their plans on hold.
Quebec has suspended its Rénoclimat program in certain regions of the province after the subsidy, which has been in place since 2007, has become a victim of its own success.
Homeowners receive on average $1,100 to make their homes more energy efficient.
This includes insulation work like installing new windows, or replacing heating systems altogether.
Environment Minister Pierre Arcand said participants can save up to 20 per cent on their electricity bill once the work is completed.
In 2014, this applied to too many renovation projects and the money for Rénoclimat ran out in four regions of the province: Central-Quebec, Chaudière-Appalaches, the Lower-Saint-Lawrence and the Eastern Townships.
Homeowners from these regions who have applied for the grant have now been put on waiting lists.
Arcand said the backlog started around November.
Some people will be waiting well into the new year. The government program will be holding a new tendering process for 2015 to hire a private company that will evaluate homes and determine the subsidies.
In the meantime, homeowners can still apply for the Heating with Green Power program, to remove heating systems that are powered by fossil fuels.
