Prince Edward Island moved further toward heat pumps in a decade than any other province. More than a third of Island homes now rely on one as their main system, while oil, which heated nearly two-thirds of homes in 2013, still heats more than a quarter. With most heat pump rebates now closed, the market is shifting from subsidised first installs to service, replacement and the oil homes that haven't switched.
The heating mix on PEI
From Statistics Canada's Table 38-10-0286-01:
| Measure | 2013 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump as main system | 8% (use with caution) | 36% |
| Boiler with radiators | 33% | 16% |
| Forced-air furnace | 34% | 14% |
| Electric baseboards | 8% (use with caution) | 10% |
| Oil as main energy | 65% | 28% |
| Wood as main energy | 13% (use with caution) | 8% |
In 2023, 78% of boiler homes and 80% of furnace homes still burned oil. One plausible reading, which is our interpretation rather than a published figure, is that some homes added a heat pump and kept the oil system for the coldest days. If that holds in your service area, those dual-system homes are an important service audience.
Competitors and density
The June 2026 Business Counts list 105 PEI employer locations in plumbing, heating and air-conditioning. By our calculation, 60% had one to four staff and 10 had 20 or more. It is a small field in a small market, where reputation travels fast and a strong Google Business Profile with steady reviews counts for a lot.
Seasonality and climate
PEI's winters are cold and snowy, moderated by the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Island has no residential natural gas distribution reported in Statistics Canada's gas tables, so your own call records are the demand curve. Expect oil boiler calls to cluster in cold snaps and heat pump calls to spread through the year.
Because so much of the heat pump base was installed in a few busy rebate years, a wave of service needs, and later replacements, will arrive in a similar bunch. Planning for it now is cheaper than reacting.
Regulators to know
- PEI Inspection Services oversees licensing including the Mechanical Contractor Licence for boiler and pressure vessel work, whose current three-year cycle ends 2027-12-31, and LP Gas Personnel Licences for propane work.
- PEI Apprenticeship handles trade certification.
- The Workers Compensation Board of PEI covers workplace compensation.
- PEI Consumer Protection handles consumer matters.
Programs as of October 2026
- efficiencyPEI Free Heat Pump Program and oil-to-heat-pump stream. The provincial page says applications are closed.
- Residential heat pump equipment rebates. Ended 2026-04-15; purchases between 2025-04-15 and 2026-04-15 may still be claimed within a year of purchase.
- Free Insulation Program. Expanded under a federal agreement announced 2026-06-29, with about $15 million for more than 1,800 eligible homeowners. Intake details were not confirmed when we checked.
- National Heat Pump Rebate Program. Announced 2026-10-08, not yet open, and potentially important here once it launches.
How we would approach PEI
The growth plan on the Island usually puts service first: maintenance agreements for the large heat pump base, with seasonal reminders and a clear replacement offer as units age. Dual-system homes get their own message about keeping both systems working. Oil-only homes remain a conversion audience, now without a provincial rebate, so the pitch rests on comfort and running costs explained plainly.
In a market of about a hundred employer firms, the scorecard matters more than paid reach: reviews per install, agreements per quarter, missed calls. See the growth plan for how we weigh the lines. PEI clients pay our listed prices plus 15% HST (CRA rates); see pricing. We are a marketing and consulting service, not a contractor. Call, text or email to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still advertise PEI heat pump rebates?
Mostly no. As of October 2026, the provincial page says efficiencyPEI's free heat pump program is closed, and residential heat pump equipment rebates ended on 2026-04-15. Purchases from the year before may still qualify within a year of purchase, so check with efficiencyPEI before saying anything.
How many PEI homes rely on heat pumps?
In 2023, a heat pump was the main heating system for 36% of PEI households, up from 8% (a use-with-caution estimate) in 2013, according to Statistics Canada. That is the highest share of any province.
Is oil heating disappearing on PEI?
It is shrinking but still large. Oil was the main energy for 28% of households in 2023, down from 65% in 2013. Among boiler homes, 78% still burned oil.
What tax applies to PEI clients?
PEI clients pay our listed prices plus 15% HST.
Sources
- Statistics Canada Table 38-10-0286-01: Primary heating systems and type of energy (2026-10-23)
- Statistics Canada Table 33-10-1174-01: Canadian Business Counts, with employees, June 2026 (2026-10-23)
- Government of PEI: efficiencyPEI (2026-10-23)
- Government of PEI: Save energy, save money with funding (2026-10-23)
- NRCan backgrounder: CGHAP in Quebec, BC, Nova Scotia and PEI (2026-06-29) (2026-10-23)
- Government of PEI: Inspections and technical safety (2026-10-23)
- CRA: GST/HST rates by province (2026-10-23)
- PEI Apprenticeship (2026-10-23)
- Workers Compensation Board of PEI (2026-10-23)
- PEI Consumer Protection (2026-10-23)