A $15 million energy retrofit program announced by Saint John Energy is set to make home upgrades more affordable for customers.
The funding is coming through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund, which includes a $5 million grant and a $10 million loan to support on-bill financing for energy-efficient improvements.
The program will let eligible homeowners install upgrades such as heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and smart thermostats, and pay the cost gradually through their monthly electricity bill.
Saint John Energy said the initiative is designed to cut emissions, lower household costs and create local jobs.
“We know the upfront costs can feel daunting,” said Glenn Fillmore, executive director of strategic growth and transformation at Saint John Energy.
“This new program is designed to remove barriers and help more people take action on energy upgrades.”
CEO Ryan Mitchell said the program supports the utility’s broader net-zero efforts.
“It helps Saint John families lower their power bills, it reduces emissions, and it creates good local jobs—and it does all that through a model we know works,” he told customers during the utility’s annual general meeting.
The retrofit plan builds on Saint John Energy’s existing programs, such as heat pump and water heater rentals, where customers already pay for products on their bills.
Full eligibility details are still being finalized, but the utility says the rollout will include clear guidelines on how to apply and what upgrades will be covered.
The funding announcement comes as Saint John Energy continues to expand its clean energy infrastructure.
The Menahqwesk Kisuhs Energy Hub, a new utility-scale solar project, is expected to power more than 1,200 homes and cut carbon emissions by about 10,000 tonnes a year.
Mitchell added that a long-term power purchase deal gives the utility stable pricing well below the wholesale market.
Paired with the Birch Hill wind farm and the utility’s growing suite of smart technologies, including batteries and voltage controls, the solar hub will help reduce peak demand and increase price certainty.
Together, those strategies helped deliver $2.9 million in savings last year alone and supported a one-time $21 credit for all customers in December.
In a recent customer survey, 94 per cent of Saint John Energy customers voiced support for increased investment in renewable energy and efficiency programs.
The utility is also working with the City of Saint John and the Province of New Brunswick to modernize its governance framework, which is still guided by a law that is more than a century old.
Officials say the updated structure would better reflect current energy realities and support long-term innovation.