Glossary · Programs & credentials
HELP (Home Energy Loan Program)
Also called: Toronto HELP · Saskatoon HELP
A city loan for home energy upgrades that you repay through your property tax bill; Toronto and Saskatoon both run programs with this name.
What it means
Toronto's HELP lends up to $125,000, or 10% of the home's current value assessment if that's less, at fixed rates over 5 to 20 years, repaid in instalments with your property taxes. Most Toronto projects need an EnerGuide evaluation before and after the work, but heat-pump-only and rooftop-solar-only projects don't. Saskatoon's HELP also offers low-interest loans repaid on the tax bill, with its own limits.
Why it matters in an audit
HELP can spread the cost of big upgrades over up to 20 years, which makes larger projects possible before rebates come back.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your energy advisor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto: maximum loan (page modified 2026-10-23) | Up to $125,000 or 10% of the property's current value assessment, whichever is less, including interest and fees | toronto.ca ↗ |
| Toronto: terms | Fixed rates set by the City; 5, 10, 15 or 20 years, with 20-year terms only for projects that include solar, geothermal, new windows or heat pumps | toronto.ca ↗ |
| Saskatoon | Low-interest loans for home energy efficiency upgrades; check the City's page for current limits and rates | saskatoon.ca ↗ |