Rebates
The Efficiency Manitoba window and door rebate, explained
Efficiency Manitoba, not Manitoba Hydro, runs the window and door rebate. It counts ENERGY STAR certified triple-pane windows and doors with an NRCan reference number that replace existing ones in your home. Glass-only swaps don't qualify, and claims have a deadline. Rules change, so check the official page before you buy.
Last checked against the Efficiency Manitoba program pages on 28 September 2026. Rules and amounts change, and the official pages are the final word.
Hydro or Efficiency Manitoba?
Plenty of people still call it the Hydro rebate or the Hydro grant. The window and door rebate is run by Efficiency Manitoba, not Manitoba Hydro. Hydro's part in this is financing, covered further down. If you're searching for the rebate, search for Efficiency Manitoba.
The rebate is also narrower than most people expect. It's built around full triple-pane windows and doors, not glass repairs. That one fact changes how a lot of Winnipeg homeowners should think about a fogged window.
What the rebate pays
The standard rebate is a set amount for each eligible window or door, with a cap per application. There are higher offers for income-qualified households, First Nation households and Red River Métis households, run through separate Efficiency Manitoba programs listed on the windows and doors page.
We don't print the amounts here. They've changed since the program started, and they'll change again. The rebate page has the current figures.
Some neighbourhood renewal groups and non-profits in Winnipeg also help with home repairs. If you're already connected with one, talk to them before you get quotes, since their rules may shape which products and installers you can use.
What qualifies: ENERGY STAR, triple pane, NRCan number
In plain terms, each unit has to be:
- ENERGY STAR certified.
- Triple pane. That applies to windows, and to any glass in entry doors and sliding glass doors.
- Listed with an NRCan reference number, which has to appear on your invoice.
- A complete unit, frame included. Glass-only swaps don't count.
- A replacement for an existing window or door that separates heated space from unheated space or the outdoors.
- In your primary residence.
If you're weighing a retrofit, where a complete new window is fitted inside the old frame, confirm with Efficiency Manitoba how your install will be treated before you sign. The retrofit versus full-frame page explains the difference between the two methods.
What doesn't qualify
| Not eligible | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Glass inserts without a full frame and NRCan number | A new sealed unit fixes fog or a crack, but earns no rebate |
| Double-pane windows and doors | Even certified double pane doesn't count; the program requires triple pane |
| Windows in newly created openings | A brand-new opening is a renovation, not a replacement |
| Garages, three-season sunrooms, porches and verandas | Spaces that aren't heated living space don't count |
| Seasonal properties | A cottage or cabin isn't a primary residence |
| Apartments and vacation rentals | Check the program terms before assuming a unit counts |
The full list is in the program terms and conditions.
How to apply on time: a checklist
The claim has to reach Efficiency Manitoba within a set time after the product is installed and fully paid for. Check the current deadline on the rebate page and put it on your calendar the day the job is paid.
- Before you sign, make sure the quote lists each unit as ENERGY STAR certified triple pane and names its NRCan reference number.
- Leave the ENERGY STAR labels on the glass until the rebate is approved.
- Get an itemized invoice showing the NRCan reference number for every window and door.
- Keep proof of payment, since the clock runs from installation and full payment.
- Apply through Efficiency Manitoba before the deadline, and keep a copy of everything you send.
Sealed-unit repair vs rebate-eligible replacement: doing the maths honestly
This is the choice most people are really making. A new sealed unit replaces only the glass and keeps your frame, sash and trim. It fixes fog and broken glass, it's usually the smaller bill, and it earns no rebate. A full ENERGY STAR triple-pane window is a bigger job and a bigger bill, and it can earn some of that back.
| New sealed unit | Rebate-eligible new window | |
|---|---|---|
| What's replaced | The glass only | The whole window, frame included |
| What it fixes | Fog, a broken pane | Fog, drafts through the frame, rot, a worn-out sash |
| Rebate | Not eligible | Eligible if it meets the program rules |
| Usually suits | A sound frame | A failing frame, or several windows going at once |
The rebate helps, but it isn't the whole story. For one fogged unit in a sound frame, new glass is usually the simpler and cheaper fix. When several windows are failing or the frames are soft, the comparison gets closer, so ask for both quotes. The foggy sealed unit page covers the glass-only route, and replacement windows covers the other. Doors work the same way: a certified triple-pane entry door or sliding glass door can count, but new glass in an old door can't.
Do contractors work with you on rebate jobs?
The claim is yours to file, but the installer supplies what it depends on. Before you sign, ask whether they'll list the NRCan reference number for each unit on the invoice, and whether the products they're quoting are certified triple pane. A good installer will answer plainly.
If you're in an income-qualified, First Nation or Red River Métis program, follow that program's steps first.
When you ask for quotes through us, say you want rebate-eligible units. We pass your request to an independent local pro who quotes on that basis. The pro, not us, supplies and installs the windows.
Other help: Manitoba Hydro's Home Energy Efficiency Loan
Manitoba Hydro offers an on-bill Home Energy Efficiency Loan, and Efficiency Manitoba lists it alongside the window rebate. Check Hydro's page for how it works and who qualifies.
Programs that no longer exist
There's no general federal window grant in 2026. The federal home retrofit grant that used to help with windows has closed, so treat any ad that still mentions it with care.
Taxes on installed windows in Manitoba
An installed-window quote in Manitoba normally shows GST. Under the province's rules for contractors, the installer pays provincial sales tax on the materials rather than charging it on an installation bill. If a supply-and-install quote adds provincial sales tax as well, ask why.
Check before you buy
Program rules change. Before you sign, read the rebate page and the terms and conditions, and call Efficiency Manitoba if your situation isn't clear-cut. The repair-or-replace guide helps if you're still deciding between glass and a new window, and the rest of our Winnipeg guides cover frost and fog.
When you're ready, ask for quotes on rebate-eligible triple-pane units and ask for the NRCan numbers to be listed.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Efficiency Manitoba window rebate?
It's a set amount for each eligible window or door, with a cap per application, and higher amounts through the income-qualified, First Nation and Red River Métis offers. We don't quote the figures because they've changed before and will again. The official rebate page lists the current amounts and rules.
Do double-pane windows qualify for the rebate?
No. The program counts ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors with triple-pane glass, and each needs an NRCan reference number. A double-pane window, even a certified one, isn't eligible. If you're replacing windows anyway, triple pane is the version that can earn the rebate.
I only need new glass in a fogged window. Is there a rebate for that?
No. The program excludes glass inserts without a full frame and NRCan number, so a new sealed unit doesn't qualify, even a triple-pane one. It's often still the cheaper fix. If the frame is failing or several windows are going, compare it with a full replacement that could earn the rebate.
How long do I have to apply after installation?
There's a fixed claim window, counted from the day the windows are installed and fully paid for. Check the current deadline on the Efficiency Manitoba rebate page, keep your invoice and proof of payment together, and apply as soon as the job is paid. Leave the labels on the glass until it's approved.
Does Manitoba Hydro still run a window program?
The window and door rebate is run by Efficiency Manitoba, not Manitoba Hydro. Hydro offers an on-bill Home Energy Efficiency Loan, which Efficiency Manitoba lists alongside the rebate. Check Hydro's own page for how the loan works. For the rebate itself, go to Efficiency Manitoba.
Is there help for low-income families to replace windows?
Yes. Efficiency Manitoba has higher offers for income-qualified households, and separate offers for First Nation and Red River Métis households. Each has its own rules and steps, so start on the windows and doors programs page. Some neighbourhood non-profits also help with home repairs, so check with any you're connected to.
