The 2023 HatSmart program, which helps offset the cost of energy-efficient home improvements and solar panels has opened.--News Photo
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Changes to the popular HatSmart home improvement grant program in Medicine Hat should provide more money to more Hatters once changes to similar grants from Ottawa are taken advantage of, administrators with the City of Medicine Hat are saying.
The 20 year-old program will see about the same $300,000 budget for grants and once again, interest is very high, said program administrator Pat Bradley.
She reported that 20 applications were received on the opening day on Wednesday for retrofits, and 14 new home projects have already applied for up to $10,000 each.
Existing homeowners who qualify can earn a total rebate of up to $5,000 on installing better insulation, windows and doors, tankless water heaters and air-circulation units, known as HRV systems.
In previous years furnaces and air conditioners were included in the general grant program, where a $300 refund on either could be obtained. But, this year, a scratch-and-win could provide up to $200 back.
That change considers how homeowners schedule large purchases of durable goods, like major appliances, which Bradley says doesn’t line up with standard requirements.
“People generally don’t look at replacing them until they die,” said Bradley, who works in the city’s customer service department. “It didn’t make sense.”
To qualify however, any City of Medicine Hat utility customer must first have done an Ener-Guide energy use and loss audit, which can cost in the range of $450.
The city will rebate $200 of that audit cost in 2023, down from $400 last year, but federal Greener Homes grants has increased its reimbursement levels, leaving the applicant in the same position, said Bradley.
“We can process twice as many customers with the same amount ($60,000 in total),” said Bradley.
The program has also generally earmarked $160,000 for existing homeowners and $60,000 for new home construction that has energy saving features meeting Natural Resources Can standards.
A total of $25,000 is allotted to scratch-and-win discounts, but Bradley says the money can be shifted if one area proves much more popular than others.
Utility customers are limited to two scratch tickets.
