Clean energy programs for small businesses

Ranked programs

12 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)

   Government of Ontario (Ministry of Energy and Mines; applied by utilities)

   Automatic percentage reduction on the electricity bills of eligible small businesses and farms.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   58

   Top pick

2. Save on Energy Instant Discounts Program (lighting)

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Point-of-sale discounts on energy-efficient lighting products from participating distributors for existing Ontario commercial, agricultural, industrial, institutional...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   58

   Top pick

3. Save on Energy Small Business Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Free energy assessment plus no-cost direct installation of lighting, refrigeration and smart thermostat upgrades for small businesses.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $6K
   49

   Strong

4. Save on Energy Retrofit Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Incentives for Ontario businesses, institutions, multi-residential and agricultural facilities that cut electricity use. Prescriptive (fixed per measure) and Custom...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   46

   Strong

5. Enbridge Gas Business Energy Efficiency Programs (UTILITY PROGRAM - not government)

   Enbridge Gas Inc. (private utility; NOT a government program)

   Natural-gas utility incentives for commercial and industrial customers: prescriptive equipment incentives, custom retrofits, new construction, audits and assessments...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   39

   Strong

6. Save on Energy Energy Performance Program (EPP)

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Pay-for-performance incentives for commercial, institutional and industrial facilities that reduce electricity use through operational and capital changes, paid per kWh...

   OpenOntarioOther incentives
   39

   Strong

7. Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) - Green Jobs

   Natural Resources Canada, delivered through STIP - Green Jobs delivery organizations

   Funds employers to hire, train and mentor youth in energy, forestry, mining, earth sciences and clean technology roles for up to 12 months.

   OpenFederalOther incentives
   38

   Strong

8. Save on Energy Peak Performance Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Demand response incentives for commercial and institutional buildings that reduce HVAC loads on forecast peak electricity demand days.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   37

   Worth a look

9. Save on Energy Peak Perks (residential and small business thermostats)

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Participants with an eligible smart thermostat allow brief adjustments during peak summer demand and receive a sign-up payment plus an annual payment.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   26

   Worth a look

10. NRC IRAP Clean Technology support

    National Research Council Canada (NRC IRAP)

    Support for Canadian SMEs to develop and advance clean technologies from proof of concept through larger multi-year projects to commercialization. Delivered by NRC IRAP...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    23

    Long shot

11. Small Business Peak Perks

    IESO (Save on Energy)

    Credit for enrolling eligible smart thermostats in demand-response events.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $75
    22

    Long shot

12. OVIN R&D Partnership Fund

    Ontario Centre of Innovation (OVIN)

    Co-investment for SMEs developing and demonstrating automotive and mobility technologies (connected/autonomous vehicles, EVs, charging, semiconductors).

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $1M
    20

    Long shot

Questions

How many clean energy programs for small businesses are open right now?

Of the 13 clean energy programs for small businesses in our database, 11 are open or ongoing and 1 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Nov 4, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Save on Energy Small Business Program publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $6K". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which clean energy programs for small businesses rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Ontario Electricity Rebate (58, Top pick), Save on Energy Instant Discounts Program (58, Top pick), Save on Energy Small Business Program (49, Strong). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 11 open or ongoing programs here, 1 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 10 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

2 of the 11 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 9 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.