In Quebec, an estimated one in eight households1 has difficulty adequately heating their home in winter due to insufficient financial resources or poorly insulated housing. This is called energy poverty. Low-income families are disproportionately represented among Québec families affected by energy poverty, meaning those that spend 10% or more of their income on domestic energy expenses.2
Aware of this issue, Énergir has introduced various measures to support low-income families, whether through financial assistance or solutions to reduce energy expenses.
The Social Support Help Program
If your family is considered low-income and you’re behind on your bill payments—or expect to fall behind—you may be eligible for the Social Support Help Program.
This program is designed to support low-income families with payment challenges by offering arrangements tailored to their financial capacity so they can continue receiving Énergir services.
This program may allow you to set up a payment agreement over several months, up to a maximum of 18 months, depending on your situation.
Who is eligible for the Social Support Help Program?
Eligibility criteria:
- Your household’s total income must be equal to or less than the stated income thresholds.
- You must not have previously participated in the Social Support Help Program. The program can only be used once while you’re an Énergir customer.
How can I benefit from the program?
If you meet these conditions and would like to set up a payment agreement, contact Énergir’s customer account management team at:
- 514 598-3121 (Montréal area) 1 800 548-9611 (outside Montréal)
- or at [email protected].
Documents to be provided
For verification purposes, our team may ask you for:
- Proof of employment income;
- Information about the benefits received by members of your household (CSST, social assistance, employment insurance, retirement benefits, etc.).
Get help to manage your energy budget more effectively
If you need help to improve your financial health and manage your energy costs more effectively, you can contact your local Association coopérative d’économie familiale (ACEF). The ACEFs are non-profit community organizations dedicated to consumer education, consumer rights advocacy and budget support for citizens, particularly low-income families.
Concrete solutions to help you reduce your energy bill
Additional financial assistance for purchasing a smart thermostat
With the low-income household supplement (LIH supplement), you can receive $220 in financial assistance toward the purchase of a smart thermostat, in addition to the regular $100 grant.3 This device can help you better regulate the temperature of your home to save money on your energy bill.4
If you’re eligible for the LIH supplement,5 apply under the residential smart thermostat program, then submit an application for the low-income household supplement component before installing the thermostat.
Learn more about the process for applying for the grant.
Potential additional support for low-income tenants
Énergir offers additional financial assistance to low-income tenants housed by a rental property owner, non-profit organization or housing cooperative applying for grants under energy efficiency programs for efficient renovations, condensing unit heaters or solar preheating.
If the grant is approved,60% of the additional assistance is distributed among the low-income tenants residing in the building..
Several energy efficiency programs are eligible for the LIH supplement.
The LIH supplement is calculated as follows: :
Example: The owner of a six-unit building, three of which are occupied by low-income households, purchases a condensing unit heater for the building. The owner receives a $2,900 grant for the purchase and installation of the equipment, as well as additional assistance under the LIH supplement program equivalent to half of the initial grant. Of this additional assistance, 40% goes to the owner and the remaining 60% is shared among the three low-income tenants.
Adopting good habits
Reduce your energy bill by adopting simple everyday habits, such as heating only the rooms you are using when you need them and lowering the temperature by two or three degrees. Regularly maintaining your heating equipment can also help ensure proper operation, optimize efficiency and extend service life.
By adopting certain habits, you can reduce your energy expenses while maintaining your quality of life and comfort.
Legal notices
1. Average based on the work of Mylène Riva, who estimates that between 9% and 16% of Quebec’s population experiences energy poverty. Source (in French only)
2. A household is considered to be experiencing energy poverty if it spends 10% or more of its after-tax income on home energy bills. Source: Statistics Canada.
3. The grant is available for occupants of single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes or residential buildings with a central natural gas heating system. Future Énergir customers connecting their homes to the Énergir natural gas grid are also eligible. Limit of one thermostat per heating system. Other conditions may apply. Program terms and conditions and the amounts of financial assistance are subject to change without notice. In all cases, the grant will be paid to the holder of the Énergir account number.
4. Provided that energy consumption habits do not change.
5. The LIH supplement is intended for current or future Énergir customers who meet one of the following conditions:
Be a low-income owner of a single-family home or condo.
Be the owner of a condo, single-family home, duplex or triplex occupied by one or more low-income tenants.
You must participate in the residential smart thermostat program.
*In accordance with the terms of the current Energy efficiency program – LIH support.
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