Latest news with #rebate
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Application window for 2025 Minnesota e-bike rebates opens July 30
The window for Minnesotans to apply for a state-funded e-bike rebate will open later this month. The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced Friday that applications will be open online from 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7. The rebate will cover 75% of qualifying expenses, which include the bike itself and certain accessories, up to $750. Those selected via random lottery will receive a rebate certificate to present at the time of purchase. The revenue department said this year's lottery will be held within two weeks of the application period closing. Last year's lottery was so popular that the number of applicants took down the website upon its initial launch. When the site reopened, the portal closed within 20 minutes because of the influx of applicants. Out of 61,000 hopefuls, 14,000 successfully applied. Applicants must meet a certain set of criteria to be eligible for the rebate, including income limit. The income limit is based on your 2024 adjusted gross income. For married couples filing jointly, that figure must be under $78,000. Heads of household are capped at $62,000 and all other individuals cannot make more than $41,000. Individuals with disabilities also qualify and are not subject to income limits. Applicants must be older than 15 and have lived in Minnesota full-time in 2023 and 2024.
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Hundreds of $10K FortisBC heat pump rebates in jeopardy over contractor certification
FortisBC has rejected multiple applications for $10,000 heat pump rebates because of a temporary lapse in the necessary certification of a major Lower Mainland contractor. The CBC has learned the rebates of as many as 200 Moore and Russell customers have been jeopardized by a situation that has resulted in complaints and one small claims lawsuit from people who claim they were guaranteed they would qualify for money they were later denied. "I'm not stoked about it, that's for sure. I'm definitely pissed off," said Jeff Thompson, a North Vancouver man who has spent the past four months trying to figure out who to blame for the rejection of the rebate for his new heat pump. "I would say be wary of Fortis rebates and who you hire. It turns out it's not a straightforward process." 'I was horrified,' says customer Thompson is one of thousands of British Columbians who have taken advantage of rebates offered by FortisBC and the province in recent years to encourage homeowners to replace their old heating and cooling systems with high-performance electric heat pumps. The program has become so popular the province announced plans this week to expand the program this summer to include individual suites in multi-unit residential buildings. But in order to qualify for a rebate, customers need their heat pump to be installed by a contractor certified with B.C.'s Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN), a database of retrofit contractors that meet specified trade designation and training qualifications. Moore and Russell was certified with the HPCN at the time Thompson agreed to pay the company $20,000 to install his dual fuel pump. And they are certified today. But the HPCN paused the company's certification from March 5 to May 31 — something Thompson says he only learned about after submitting his rebate application. "I was horrified," said Thompson, who told the CBC the offer of a rebate was the main reason he had decided to go with a heat pump in the first place. "It was a huge part because it's half the value of what the install was." Contractor says it never got HPCN's email Moore and Russell general manager Jeremy Slater says he only learned the company's certification had been put on pause in May after complaints started coming across his desk. He says the problem dates back to the departure of an employee late last year. The HPCN requires all technicians to be up to date on four courses involving the basic principles of HVAC technology. "When that person left, we needed to qualify somebody else with those courses with them, and the deadline for having that done lapsed," Slater said. He says the Home Performance Contractor Network sent an email saying the company's account had been put on pause, but claims the email hit a firewall. Regardless, Slater says he never received it. "And HPCN doesn't have a process — even still — to follow up or confirm with a contractor when they put them on hold. They just expect that we would get the email." Despite the change in status, Slater says the company was still listed as a qualified contractor on FortisBC's rebate application menu, which is why customers like Thompson were even able to apply for a rebate in the first place. "So there was no way that a customer could have known that we were put on pause, and there's no way that we could have known we were put on pause, unless we had actually received the email," he said. "Which is concerning for us at Moore and Russell because this could still be going on with other contractors and other homeowners purchasing heat pump equipment from Fortis and any of the rebate programs, as HPCN actually provides governance for all of the rebate programs in B.C." 'It's going to turn me off in the future': homeowner Slater says rebates worth a total of up to $1.5 million could be on the line for as many as 200 of his customers. One of those customers filed a small claims lawsuit against Moore and Russell earlier this month, seeking $10,000 compensation for the heat pump rebate they were denied. "After the installation, FortisBC rejected my rebate application, stating that Moore & Russell was not a certified HPCN contractor, which was a requirement for eligibility," the lawsuit reads. "Had I known this, I would have chosen a different contractor." Coquitlam homeowner Desmond Saisitthidej says FortisBC also denied his rebate because of Moore and Russell's HPCN certification. "I think it's really frustrating," he said. "I think a lot of us did this in good faith, knowing that the rebate was available, knowing Moore and Russell had previously done this and that Fortis had previously paid out — and then to get caught in the quagmire between the two ... It's going to turn me off in the future." FortisBC 'reviewing the matter' FortisBC says the company is dedicated to providing rebates and incentives to adopt higher-efficiency technology. "We are aware of the concerns raised by customers regarding their rebate applications due to the standing of Moore and Russell's membership with the Home Performance Contractor Network," said corporate communications advisor Lauren Beckett. " We appreciate our customers' understanding, and we are reviewing the matter." In a statement, the HPCN said members are required to assign a company administrator as a sole contact for membership-related information. "Company administrators are notified by email if there is a concern with their membership status and provided with instructions and a deadline to rectify the situation as appropriate — this includes multiple follow-up emails," the statement said. "They can also see their membership status at any time in the HPCN Portal." Saisitthidej and Thompson say they hope FortisBC will ultimately pay out the rebate to customers who feel they are paying for someone else's mistake. Slater says he has been in talks with both HPCN and FortisBC. "I would expect that, in the spirit of the program overall, they would honour those rebates for our customers," he said. Slater says he has made changes to avoid a repeat of the problems leading up to the lapse in Moore and Russell's certification, but he also feels FortisBC and HPCN need to address communications issues that saw customers left in the dark about their status. "I would want to know what are we going to do differently so this never happens again," he said.
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
How B.C.'s new heat pump rebate program will work
On Tuesday, the B.C. government announced a heat pump rebate program, offering up to $5,000 for renters and condo owners to get a heat pump installed. Jana Elbrecht, senior policy adviser at B.C.-based Clean Energy Canada, said the program is timely given the hot summer weather.
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
B.C. announces expansion of heat pump rebates to renters and condo owners
B.C.'s Energy Ministry has expanded a program to reduce energy use and lower bills for some apartment renters and condo owners. The expansion, part of the Clean B.C. Energy Savings Program, will provide up to $5,000 to support the purchase and installation of high-performance electric heat pumps in individual suites in multi-unit residential buildings, according to the province. "All British Columbians who need a heat pump should have access to one, to feel comfortable in their homes year-round, experience better energy efficiency, and save money. So, we're expanding our support to focus on helping apartment renters and condominium owners," said Adrian Dix, the minister of energy and climate solutions. It's part of $100 million allocated by the province to provide up to 8,300 rebates over two years and applies to suites in condo and apartment buildings that are six storeys and under and are currently heated by electricity. The government says the program will be expanded again in the fall to include those heated by fossil fuels, such as a gas-fired boiler. "We are encouraged by the expansion of the heat pump rebate program to renters and condo owners living in lower-rise MURBs," said Shauna Sylvester, the director of the non-profit Urban Climate Leadership. "It's been difficult for people living in these buildings to get relief from the extreme heat. This program is a step in the right direction in creating healthy, safe and resilient homes for more British Columbians."
The Guardian
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
The solar battery rebate has arrived – here's how to steer clear of scammers
This month the new federal battery rebate kicked off. It reminded me of 2008. I was working at the CSIRO and watching the solar boom take off thanks to the new $8,000 solar rebate for 1kW of panels. Consumers were excited, but most had no idea what they were buying or who to trust. The rebate triggered an influx of dodgy operators who would whack 1kW of cheap, nasty panels on your roof paired with a rubbish inverter, charge $500 total and still make a profit. Sometimes they charged $0 and threw in a Myer voucher to seal the deal. Yes, they'd pay you to go solar. It was the wild west. Those cheap 1kW systems were sometimes ineffective, often dangerously installed and dumped in landfills way too soon. Sixteen years later, it's happening again. The approximately $350 a kilowatt hour battery rebate has triggered a rush. I've already seen ads offering 46 kWh of battery storage 'FREE' when you buy solar. Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton's Clear Air column as an email They've clearly found a way to get batteries from wholesalers for less than the rebate. Personally, I wouldn't go near these deals. Batteries are serious gear. They store huge amounts of energy. They need proper installation and careful configuration. Most importantly, when feed-in tariffs shift (as they constantly do), you need a relationship with your installer to update how the battery works with the grid to maximise your savings. So here's my advice, based on 16 years watching what happens when rebates attract cowboys: Sign up to Clear Air Australia Adam Morton brings you incisive analysis about the politics and impact of the climate crisis after newsletter promotion Choose well-known brands. Be extremely wary of mystery batteries that popped up yesterday and cost half as much as anything else. Use a local installer with a solid track record – someone who has been around and will still be around when you need them. Read the 1-star reviews. They often reveal the stuff that really matters: ghosting customers, shoddy work, or warranty nightmares. Slow down. The rebate isn't vanishing tomorrow. Yes, it reduces on Jan 1 but things are mad right now. You might get a better result waiting a few months. Think about sizing. A battery that's too small will frustrate you, and one that's too big may never fill. For most households (unless you're planning to gamble on Amber), 15-20 kWh is the sweet spot. Check your solar capacity. There's no point having a giant battery you can't fill. If you want to reduce your reliance on your electricity retailer, ensure your solar is up to the job. Reward good installers. If the crew that did your original solar were great and they sell the battery you want, go back to them. If not, get multiple quotes. This rebate could help thousands of households get batteries that work well, and more than pay for themselves over at least the next 15 years. But only if those households choose carefully. Don't let history repeat itself. Finn Peacock is the founder of
