Calgary CEIP: Energy-Efficiency Financing for Solar, Heat Pumps and Windows, Repaid via Property Tax

What This Is and Who Runs It

The Residential Clean Energy Improvement Program (Residential CEIP) is a financing arrangement in Calgary that helps homeowners pay for energy-efficient and renewable energy upgrades. It is run by Alberta Municipalities, and applications are submitted to Alberta Municipalities, not to the City of Calgary.

Note: CEIP is not a rebate program. All borrowed funds must be repaid.

Current Status: Application Intake Closed

Calgary Residential CEIP is currently closed until winter 2026/2027. The official page states that residents can follow the page or sign up for email updates to learn about application dates and program updates.

How Much You Can Finance and How the Rate Is Set

You can finance up to 100% of project costs, to a maximum of $50,000.
A fixed interest rate is locked in when you sign your CEIP agreement. The official estimate is a range of 6.00% to 6.10%. The official page also states it could be higher or lower, depending on market rates at the time of signing.
The interest rate in 2026 will be reassessed for each application period. A minimum and maximum rate will be posted on the webpage one week before the application date. When you sign, you lock in a rate within that range, and that fixed rate applies throughout the payment term.

Repayment Terms

You have up to 20 years to repay, based on the lifespan of the upgrades chosen.
You can pay off the full amount anytime, without extra fees.
Payments are made through your property tax bill.
The official page states that the financing stays with the property, not the owner. If you sell your home, you can either pay off the remaining balance with no penalty, or disclose and transfer the balance to the new owner, who takes over the payment and enjoys the upgrades.

For annual repayment amounts, the official page provides a sample table based on a 5% interest rate. For example, a project cost of $3,000 over a 20-year term shows an annual payment of $241. This table is an example; actual amounts depend on project costs and repayment term.

Eligible Homes

Residential properties must be one of the following:

single or semi-detached house
row house
town home
the residential portion of a mixed-use building or a multi-unit residential building

This applies to buildings under three storeys with a footprint of 600 square meters (6,458 square feet) or less.

The official page states that new builds do not qualify. Applicants must be listed as property owners on the Certificate of Title, and all owners listed must sign the Clean Energy Improvement Agreement.

Financial and Property Tax Requirements

Official conditions include:

Not in tax arrears, now or in the last five years
No late tax payments on your home, now or in the past five years
Your home is not in foreclosure
You are not in bankruptcy or receivership
You are not enrolled in The City's Property Tax Assistance Program or the Government of Alberta's Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program
You are current on all property-secured debt payments (e.g., mortgage)
Your total property-secured debt does not exceed your home's assessed value

What to Prepare Before Applying

Official preparation items include:

Inform all property owners; all listed owners must sign the forms and agreements when applying
Review your mortgage agreements, insurance policies and building policies, and have copies ready. The official page notes that some mortgage lenders require consent for program enrolment, and not obtaining required consent could breach your mortgage
Your insurance must cover the property's full value and at least $1 million in personal liability insurance
If your property is within a building that includes shared facilities or common property (e.g., condo, row house, town house) and your project will impact shared facilities or property, include an approval letter from your condo board or building owner with your application
If your upgrade is expected to increase or change your electricity usage (e.g., solar PV, heat pump), an electrician, designer or engineer must provide a calculation confirming the expected increase and that the current shared electricity between units can accept the additional load

Application and Process Steps

The official process has eight steps:

Pre-qualification: read the CEIP Terms & Conditions and complete the Pre-Qualification Form
EnerGuide home evaluation: once pre-qualified, schedule an evaluation to learn about your home's energy performance
Project application: choose a Qualified Contractor at ceip.abmunis.ca/directory, plan your project, then submit your Project Application to Alberta Municipalities
Agreements: once approved, enter into a Clean Energy Improvement Agreement and Project Agreement
Project installation: after signing agreements, work with your Qualified Contractor to complete the improvements
Upgrade completion: submit your upgrade completion forms as improvements are completed
Post EnerGuide home evaluation: after the project is complete, a post-project evaluation provides a new rating and label
Repayment: repay the project cost through your property tax bill as per your Clean Energy Improvement Agreement

The official page states as an important note that projects started before application approval are not eligible for financing. Before any work starts, you must submit an application, receive approval and enter into a Clean Energy Improvement Agreement.

Points Stated in the FAQ

Do-it-yourself (DIY) projects are not allowed; all work must be completed by a CEIP qualified contractor
You can participate in CEIP and other programs like the federal Canada Greener Homes Initiative, but should review the Terms & Conditions to ensure eligibility for both
Condo, row home and town house owners must consult their condo board or homeowners' association (HOA) before applying and obtain an approval letter
Version 15 EnerGuide home evaluations completed after April 1, 2020 can be used for a CEIP application, as long as no renovations have been done that would change the outcome
Home buyers can contact the program before making an offer to confirm if a CEIP loan is attached to the property

Official Sources

https://www.calgary.ca/environment/programs/clean-energy-improvement-program.html