Grant
Provincial
Active
Ontario IESO — XLerate Program (Save on Energy)
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) / Save on Energy
Maximum Funding
$300/MWh of verified electricity savings (base); $450/MWh in...
Ongoing — program launched November 2025; no stated close date; applications ...
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
75%
Ontario IESO — XLerate Program (Save on Energy) provides up to $300/MWh of verified electricity savings (base); $450/MWh in grid-constrained areas; up to 75% of eligible project costs; maximum $15,000,000 per project; 50% cost-share for project feasibility studies. Pay-for-performance incentive program that funds large-scale energy-efficiency projects for industrial, municipal, institutional, and healthcare organizations in Ontario. The program covers up to 75% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
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Program Description
Pay-for-performance incentive program that funds large-scale energy-efficiency projects for industrial, municipal, institutional, and healthcare organizations in Ontario. Provides up to $300/MWh of verified electricity savings (or $450/MWh in grid-constrained areas), covering up to 75% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $15 million per project.
Eligibility Requirements
- Organization operating in Ontario in the industrial, municipal, institutional, or healthcare sector
- Project must deliver a minimum of 600 MWh per year of anticipated electricity savings
- Technology used must be commercially available and not excluded by program eligibility rules
- Efficient electrification projects are eligible if the electric option is demonstrably more energy-efficient than the alternatives
- Project must be completed within five years of the execution date of the Participant Agreement
- Application must be submitted prior to entering any binding purchase commitment for project equipment
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- $300/MWh of verified electricity savings (base); $450/MWh in grid-constrained areas; up to 75% of eligible project costs; maximum $15,000,000 per project; 50% cost-share for project feasibility studies
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — program launched November 2025; no stated close date; applications must be submitted prior to any binding purchase commitment for project equipment
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Ontario IESO — XLerate Program (Save on En...
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- 5 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 2-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipApply for the Project Feasibility Study (PFS) funding first — IESO covers 50% of the study cost and the study is typically required for larger projects anyway.
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Rejection Pitfalls 5
- Application submitted after a binding purchase commitment was signed for project equipment
+4 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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5 steps
8 docs
Application Steps
1
Identify Opportunity and Confirm Pre-Eligibility Assess whether your facility's energy-efficiency project meets the minimum 600 MWh/year savings threshold and whether you are in the industrial, municipal, institutional, or healthcare sector. Confirm your project location is in Ontario and that you have not yet made binding equipment purchase commitments.
Required Documents 8
✓ Application using IESO-provided templates
✓ Project feasibility study (PFS) — required for complex projects; IESO-assigned technical reviewer may assist
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 5
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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2 partners
Compatible Programs
Canada Greener Buildings Fund / Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs
Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (OMMITC)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Ontario IESO — XLerate Program (Save on En... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario IESO — XLerate Program (Save ... | $300/MWh of verified electricity savings | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Ongoing — program... |
| Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment... | Up to $3,000,000 | Easy | Tax Credit Offset | Expenditures must be... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Ontario IESO — XLerate Program (Save on En...
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What is the minimum project size?
Projects must achieve at least 600 MWh per year of anticipated electricity savings. This is a lowered threshold from the predecessor IEEP program, designed to expand eligibility to mid-size facilities.
When must I apply — before or after starting the project?
Before any binding purchase commitment. If you have already signed contracts for the project equipment, your project is ineligible. Apply as early as possible in the project planning phase.
How does the pay-for-performance model work?
Incentives are paid after project completion based on independently verified actual electricity savings. You must achieve at least 50% of anticipated savings to receive any payment. The full rate ($300 or $450/MWh) applies to every verified MWh up to the anticipated amount.
What is a grid-constrained area and how do I know if my facility qualifies?
Grid-constrained areas are regions where local electricity infrastructure is under capacity stress. Projects in these areas receive $450/MWh (vs. $300/MWh). Contact your local distribution company (LDC) or the IESO to confirm your facility's grid-constraint status.
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Full Playbook: Ontario IESO — XLerate Program (Save on En...
5 steps · 8 docs · reviewer insights