01Agree who applies, who books inspections and who handles ESA
The permit list is silent on furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps, so before work starts, ask the provider to check with the Building Department, at buildings@kincardine.ca, whether your job needs a permit, and if it does, agree who will apply through Cloudpermit. On a permitted project, heating and ventilation are checked at the framing inspection and heat must be running for occupancy, so settle early whether you or the contractor will book each inspection at least two business days ahead, quoting the construction address and the name on the permit. The Municipality holds the owner responsible for making sure that happens. If a heat pump or air conditioner needs new electrical work, that permit comes from ESA rather than the Building Department.
02Westario or Hydro One power, and heat pump rebates on EPCOR gas
Westario Power's Ontario Energy Board licence covers the Town of Kincardine and the former Township of Kincardine as at January 2, 1996, excluding 16 properties on Saratoga Road, Highway 21, Highway 9, Brigadoon Drive and Kincardine Avenue, and does not name the former Village of Tiverton or Township of Bruce, so Tiverton and Inverhuron owners in particular should check whether Westario Power or Hydro One is on their bill. For a heat pump, the Home Renovation Savings Program, run by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas, lists rebates for Enbridge Gas customers who mainly heat with a natural gas furnace or boiler, or for homes on the Ontario electricity grid heated with electricity, oil, propane or wood. A home on EPCOR gas is not named in either group, so confirm eligibility with the program before counting on a rebate.
03Converting to natural gas: EPCOR's connection steps
Switching a Kincardine, Tiverton or Inverhuron home to natural gas starts with EPCOR's availability form. If the address is eligible, a Meter Size and Location Request form follows, then an EPCOR technician's initial site visit outside the home to confirm the meter location and gas line. Next, EPCOR says to have an HVAC contractor prepare the home and appliances, and to check your current heating contract for notice requirements. For that work, TSSA notes Ontario law requires fuel-fired appliances to be maintained by TSSA-registered contractors employing certified gas technicians, so ask the provider to confirm both. You or the contractor then arrange EPCOR's final visit, where it turns on the meter and inspects and lights the appliances. Until gas service is installed and meter activation is booked, EPCOR says to keep your current fuel source and equipment.
