HRAI Monitoring Reports of New Retrofit Program in Saint John, New Brunswick

HRAI was recently made aware that Saint John Energy (SJE) may be preparing to launch a new residential energy retrofit program, with support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund. The program will focus on enabling energy-efficient upgrades for homeowners in the Saint John area. While official details remain limited, members in the region have expressed concern that the local utility may single-source the delivery of rebates under this program.

In response to member concerns, HRAI formally reached out to Saint John Energy to request a meeting and offer input on the program’s design. HRAI’s outreach emphasized the importance of fair access for qualified local contractors, homeowner choice, and transparency in the program’s delivery model.

As the national association representing Canada’s HVACR industry—including manufacturers, wholesalers, and contractors—HRAI supports initiatives that drive energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The structure and delivery of these programs are critical to their success, both in terms of achieving policy goals and ensuring positive outcomes for consumers and industry participants.

Informed by our involvement with similar initiatives across the country, HRAI encourages program models that:

  • Ensure access for qualified local contractors;
  • Preserve homeowner choice in selecting providers;
  • Incorporate transparent, competitive processes where feasible.

While there are many ways to deliver effective retrofit programs, experience suggests that broad and open participation typically supports better results for all stakeholders—encouraging quality, innovation, and local engagement.

HRAI will continue to monitor developments and remains ready to work collaboratively with utilities, government agencies, and industry partners to help shape programs that are efficient, fair, and impactful.

We welcome feedback from members—particularly those in New Brunswick—as more information becomes available.

For questions or to share input, please contact Martin Luymes, VP of Government and Stakeholder Relations, at mluymes@hrai.ca or 1-800-267-2231 ext. 235.

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