Summer is the best time to be proactive and get your free furnace tune-up before the snowflakes start to fly. SaskEnergy is again offering the Tune-Up Assistance Program (TAP) to help customers make sure their furnaces are running smoothly.
“Saskatchewan residents can once again apply for free furnace tune-ups, repairs and carbon monoxide alarms, keeping their homes safe and ready for winter,” said Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskEnergy. “This program allows SaskEnergy to give back to the community it serves by helping the people of this province keep their furnaces in safe working order while also growing awareness around the dangers of carbon monoxide.”
If you are an income-qualifying homeowner with a combined annual income of no more than $68,000, you can apply for this program that runs until November 30, 2023. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first served basis so customers are encouraged to apply early.
For homeowners to be eligible, their home must also be located within a 25-kilometre radius of a community served by a SaskEnergy Network Member that provides the home heating tune-up service. These communities include Balgonie, Emerald Park, Esterhazy, Estevan, Eston, Foam Lake, Govan, Gravelbourg, Grenfell, Hague, Hudson Bay, Humboldt, Kindersley, Leader, Lumsden, Maple Creek, Melfort, Melville, Montmartre, Moose Jaw, Nipawin, Nokomis, North Battleford, Paradise Hill, Pike Lake, Ponteix, Preeceville, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Shaunavon, Springside, St. Walburg, Swift Current, Tisdale, Unity, Wadena, Wakaw, Warman, Watrous, Weyburn and Yorkton.
Adeline Reihl took part in the TAP program in 2022, receiving a hands-on assessment of her furnace and a free CO alarm.
“My plumber called me about it and said I should go ahead and apply. Later, I received a message from SaskEnergy that I was one of the people picked!” Reihl recalled. “Times are much harder now, and everything is more expensive. I appreciated it so much.”
This is the seventh year of the program, which was created to assist eligible homeowners by providing an examination of their home’s heating equipment to make sure it is ready for winter. Qualifying customers also receive a carbon monoxide alarm, two furnace filters and up to $200 in repairs.
“Regular furnace maintenance gives homeowners peace of mind before the temperatures outside start to dip,” said Kevin Adair, who leads SaskEnergy’s Customer Service Operations. “This program is just one of the ways SaskEnergy demonstrates its commitment to environmental sustainability, while helping Saskatchewan homeowners meet their home energy needs safely and efficiently.”
For those considering applying, Reihl has some encouragement to offer based on her own experience.
“I would say go ahead! Give it a try because, if you’re accepted, it’s wonderful. Especially for low-income seniors. It’s really nice to have anything extra in the bank at the end of the month.”
More information about TAP and how to apply is available on SaskEnergy’s website.
