Homes Beyond Code Program

Terms and Conditions 

  1. Program Overview
  2. Participant Eligibility Criteria
  3. Property Requirements
  4. Home Builder Rebate Application Process
  5. Homeowner Rebate Application Process
  6. Rebates
  7. Additional Terms & Conditions
  8. Representation and Warranties
  9. Default
  10. Liability
  11. Tax Implication
  12. Documentation
  13. Contact Information

1. Program Overview

Homes Beyond Code ("the Program") administered by SaskEnergy Incorporated ("SaskEnergy") is designed to incentivize SaskEnergy customers who build a new home with higher overall energy efficiency than required by the current National Building Code of Canada 2020, as amended from time to time. This Program promotes innovation in new homes, with a focus on natural gas solutions at a series of incremental steps towards net zero energy. The Program was introduced March 15, 2024. SaskEnergy may change or cancel the Program at any time, without notice, at its discretion. The Program is for new home construction only and only those homes built in accordance with Tiers 3, 4 or 5 of Section 9.36 of the National Building Code of Canada 2020 are eligible. 

2. Participant Eligibility Criteria

  1. There are two types of participants eligible for this Program:
    1. A qualified home builder (the "Home Builder") builds the qualifying home and may apply for the Home Builder rebate; or
    2. A homeowner (the "Homeowner") purchases a home built by a qualified Home Builder and may apply for the Homeowner rebate.
  2. The Homeowner is encouraged to hire a Home Builder with a GST number and a valid Saskatchewan business license, or purchase a new home that has been built by a Home Builder. 
  3. Owner builders are eligible to participate in the Homeowner rebate. Owner builders must meet all criteria specified for Homeowners and Home Builders for the Homeowner and Home Builder rebates. 
  4. Energy advisors (the "Energy Advisor") include members of the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors (CACEA) and Registered Service Organizations. For the purpose of this Program, professional engineers actively practicing in this field may be accepted as Energy Advisors. Acceptance of an Energy Advisor's work, for the purpose of this Program, will be at the sole discretion of SaskEnergy. 
  5. The Home Builder must provide confirmation that the home meets the Program requirements. The Program requirements are achieved with the following steps:
    1. Home Builder hires a competent Energy Advisor with education, training, and experience necessary to fulfill the requirements of this Program. 
    2. The Energy Advisor completes an assessment indicating which tier the home will be constructed to, according to Section 9.36 of the National Building Code of Canada 2020. 
    3. The Energy Advisor completes an impartial assessment of the home as-built. It verifies the energy performance of the home by conducting a blower door test and completing an as-built energy simulation model. The Energy Advisor provides the Home Builder with documentation to satisfy SaskEnergy's requirements. 

3. Property Requirements

  1. Must be a home built to the performance aspects of tiers 3, 4 or 5 according to section 9.36 of the National Building Code of Canada 2020.
  2. All buildings must be 3 storeys or less in building height, having a building area not exceeding 600m2 (6458 ft2), and classified for major occupancies. 
  3. Must be a newly constructed residential dwelling sold to a home buyer located in SaskEnergy's natural gas territory. 
  4. Eligible housing types are a detached house (including house with secondary suite), semi-detached, row house, townhouse or modular home. A secondary suite, on its own, is not an eligible housing type. 
  5. Must not contain any non-residential units.
  6. Must be on a permanent foundation. 
  7. The property must be in Saskatchewan. Only one application per property. 
  8. The new home must use natural gas as a central space heating source and have an active SaskEnergy account. Lloydminster customers connected to ATCO's system are not eligible. 

4. Home Builder Rebate Application Process 

  1. The Home Builder, with support of their Energy Advisor, completes the application on saskenergy.com, within 90 days of the home's "completion date." For the purposes of the Program, the earliest completion date SaskEnergy will accept is March 15, 2024. The completion date will be defined by one of the following, in order of priority:

    1. The date of the occupancy permit or conditional occupancy permit, if they are issued by the municipality; 
    2. The date of the final inspection; or
    3. The date as determined by SaskEnergy

    The application requires the following attachments:

    • The EnerGuide Homeowner Information sheet (design stage);
    • The EnerGuide Homeowner Information sheet (as-built stage);
    • The EnerGuide Label (as-built stage);
    • A copy of the building permit or confirmation of the minimum Tier required by code (see section 6 (e)(i) below) for the home in a form satisfactory to SaskEnergy;
    • Proof of the completion date as described above. 
  2. SaskEnergy reviews the submission and notifies the applicant of being approved or denied. 
  3. Approval of the home through the Home Builder Rebate process qualifies the home for the Homeowner rebate. 
  4. The Home Builder Rebate process can be completed by the Home Builder prior to the home being sold, and is expected to be completed within 90 days of the "completion date" as described above.
  5. For ready to move (RTM) homes the Homeowner must meet all the same requirements to be eligible for the Homeowner and Home Builder rebate. It is recommended to contract with an Energy Advisor directly to meet Program requirements. 

5. Homeowner Rebate Application Process

  1. The Homeowner submits the homeowner application form after the home has been qualified through the Home Builder Rebate Application process. 
  2. SaskEnergy reviews the submission and notifies the applicant of being approved or denied. 
  3. The Homeowner rebate application must be received within 90 days of the natural gas account being moved into the name of the Homeowner. 

6. Rebates

  1. The number of available rebates may be limited. 
  2. Only one application per residential address. 
  3. The Homeowner applicant is expected to apply within 90 days of natural gas service transferring to their name. 
  4. The application for Home Builder rebates will be submitted by the Home Builder or by the Energy Advisor. The application is expected to be submitted to SaskEnergy within 90 days of the completion date as described above.

  5. Tiered Rebates

    1. The building must meet the tiered energy requirements of the National Building Code of Canada 2020 and must exceed code requirements as adopted in Saskatchewan through amendments to The Building Code Regulations and Energy Code Regulations, effective January 1, 2024. Tier Two is the minimum standard effective January 1, 2024 and Tier Three will become the minimum standard effective January 1, 2025.

    2. Tiers

      1) Tier 3: (available for homes with building permits prior to December 31, 2024)

    • Homeowner rebate: $3,000

    • Home Builder rebate: $800

      2) Tier 4:

    • Homeowner rebate: $5,000

    • Home Builder rebate: $800

      3) Tier 5:

    • Homeowner rebate: $9,000
    • Home Builder rebate: $800

    iii.   Rebates for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs) are as follows:

    1. Homeowner rebate: Applicable tiered rebate per unit home as shown above in 5(e)(ii).
    2. Home Builder rebate: $800 per building, not per unit. 

7. Additional Terms & Conditions

  1. Funding for this Program is limited. SaskEnergy may, in its sole discretion, determine how the funding will be allocated. 
  2. SaskEnergy reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate the Program at any time with or without notice, and is not obligated to make any payments whatsoever. 
  3. SaskEnergy, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to limit the number of rebates a Home Builder may receive under the Program. 
  4. The applicant acknowledges that by taking part in the Program, the new home may use less natural gas, electricity, and produce fewer emissions. The applicant agrees to permit SaskEnergy to view the SaskEnergy bills and electricity bill(s) for the property to monitor and publicly report on changes in energy consumption as a result of the new home build. All information regarding energy consumption shared with others or used in promotional material may be aggregated with other properties participating in the Program or made anonymous. 
  5. Any rebate payments made under the Program are, in addition to these terms and conditions, also subject to terms and conditions contained in the application form. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions stated herein will prevail. 
  6. SaskEnergy reserves the right to audit rebates paid through the Program. The applicant consents to and agrees that a SaskEnergy representative may inspect, before or after new home build, to confirm the building and the energy certification. This includes communication with the Energy Advisor, Home Builder, or Homeowner. The applicant also consents to and agrees that SaskEnergy, and/or an authorized third party may contact them to conduct survey(s) regarding the Program or to follow-up with the applicant with respect to the Program and/or the new home build. 
  7. All personal information received pursuant to this Program shall be handled in accordance with SaskEnergy's Privacy Policy. 
  8. If an Energy Advisor proposes alternate industry standard methodology, software, or reports which satisfy the same requirements described herein, SaskEnergy reserves the right to accept or reject them as an acceptable alternative. 

8. Representation and Warranties

  1. The applicant represents and warrants that they will comply with, and adhere to, the Program terms and conditions, including eligibility criteria. 
  2. The applicant represents and warrants that all information provided in relation to the Program is complete, true and correct. 

9. Default

In the event the applicant fails to adhere to the terms and conditions contained herin, SaskEnergy reserves the right to void the application documents and SaskEnergy will be released from any and all obligations under the Program. 

10. Liability

  1. SaskEnergy will have no ownership interest in the new home build. SaskEnergy, not being the designer or manufacturer or the new home build, makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the fitness, design or capability of the new home, or workmanship in any new home build, nor any warranty that any new home build will satisfy the requirements of any law, specification, or contract. 
  2. The applicant will be solely responsible for and shall indemnify and save harmless SaskEnergy and its subsidiaries, and its respective employees, directors, agents, contractors, sub-contractors and representatives from all claims, demands, causes of action, suits, judgments and penalties whatsoever and wheresoever arising out of or by the reason of the performance, or purported performance, or nonperformance, by the applicant or its employees, directors, agents, contractors, subcontractors or representatives, of the Program including, without limitation, those made or sustained in respect of property damage, personal injury (including death), infringement of copyright or trademark, builders or other liens. 
  3. SaskEnergy does not endorse any manufacturer, product, system, design, supplier, Home Builder, Energy Advisor or installer in promoting the program. 

11. Tax Implication

SaskEnergy will not be responsible for any tax liability imposed on the applicant as a result of payment of the rebate. For GST Registrants, rebates received by the applicant include GST which must be remitted by the applicant to the Receiver General of Canada. 

12. Documentation

All Home Builder and Homeowner Applicants

  1. SaskEnergy is not responsible for lost, delayed, damaged, illegible or incomplete applications. 
  2. The following documents must be submitted to SaskEnergy:

    1. Homeowner Applicant

      Application filled out by Homeowner

    2. Home Builder Applicant

      Application must be submitted by Energy Advisor or Home Builder, complete with attachments

13. Contact Information

SaskEnergy Customer Solutions          
500-1777 Victoria Avenue             
Regina, SK S4P 4K5      
Email