Frequently Asked Questions

CEIP is Alberta's property-assessed clean energy financing mechanism, established under Bill 10 (SA 2018, c 6) and the Clean Energy Improvements Regulation (Alta Reg 212/2018). It enables property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements through their municipality, with repayment via property tax assessment. The financing attaches to the property, not the owner.

Deep Retrofit Capital Inc. is a ministerially-designated CEIP Program Administrator (Ministerial Order 16/2025, signed October 23, 2025). DRC administers CEIP for all property types -- residential, commercial, farm, and non-designated industrial -- across all Alberta jurisdictions using a 100% private-capital model with zero public funds.

CEIP covers all property types: residential (up to $50,000), commercial (up to $1,000,000), farm (up to $300,000), and non-designated industrial (up to $1,000,000). Each property type has specific application fees and assessment requirements.

Eligible improvements span several categories including building envelope, mechanical systems, lighting, solar and renewable energy, energy management, motors and drives, and commercial kitchen. All improvements must reduce energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions. Each participating municipality publishes a formal eligible improvements list that may vary.

CEIP financing is repaid through a special energy improvement tax added to the property's municipal tax assessment. The repayment stays with the property -- if the property is sold, the remaining balance transfers to the new owner. This is similar to how local improvement charges work for sidewalks and other municipal infrastructure.

DRC is currently in Phase 1 (Designation and Bylaw Development). We are working to establish municipal partnerships across Alberta. Applications will open once municipalities in your area have adopted CEIP bylaws and entered administration agreements with DRC. You can register your interest now to be notified when the program launches in your municipality.

Contractors must hold an APEGA or AAA licence, maintain minimum $5M general liability and $2M errors and omissions insurance, have current WCB coverage, complete the mandatory 3-hour DRC CEIP training module, and sign the DRC Code of Conduct. You can start the registration process now at the DRC Contractor Portal.

Municipalities can adopt CEIP by passing a CEIP bylaw under Division 6.1 of the Municipal Government Act, then entering an administration agreement with DRC. We provide model bylaw templates, implementation guidance, and full administrative support. Contact DRC to begin the process.

DRC requires ASHRAE-standard energy audits as a private-capital de-risking policy. Pre-project audits (ASHRAE Level 3 for commercial/industrial, simplified assessment for residential) establish baseline performance and project viability. Post-project audits (ASHRAE Level 2, one year after completion) verify actual energy savings. This is DRC's policy choice under Regulation 7.3, not a regulatory mandate -- it protects investor capital and ensures measurable outcomes.

Property owners have a 10-business-day rescission period after signing a CEIP agreement during which they can cancel the agreement without penalty. This consumer protection measure ensures property owners have adequate time to review the terms.

DRC uses a 100% private-capital model with zero public funds. DRC requires ASHRAE-standard energy audits as a private-capital de-risking policy (pre-project and post-project) to verify measurable energy performance outcomes. DRC is designated to serve all property types (residential, commercial, farm, non-designated industrial) across all Alberta jurisdictions.