Residents of the province with family net income of $40,000 or less who incur costs to heat their home will once again be eligible to receive financial assistance through the Newfoundland and Labrador Home Heating Rebate Program. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, announced details of the program today.

Eligible residents will receive up to a $300 rebate for households which use heating oil, stove oil or propane, up to $200 for households which use electricity, wood or wood products, and up to $500 for those living in coastal Labrador communities. Families with net income up to $35,000 will receive a full rebate. The rebate will gradually decrease as income levels rise to $40,000, with no eligible family receiving less than $100.

"We are pleased to continue with a home heating rebate program again this year, making this the fifth consecutive year for a program to assist individuals with the high cost of heating their homes," said Minister Kennedy. "Despite the lower costs of home heating fuel this year compared to last year, we have decided to keep the rebate at the same levels as last year, with the exception of coastal Labrador communities due to the high costs associated with home heating fuel in that region. This investment is part of our continued commitment to putting more money in the pockets of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians."

The current cost of home heating fuel is approximately 86 cents per litre, down from 99 cents per litre at the time the Home Heating Rebate program was announced last year.

The Williams Government first introduced a Home Heating Rebate Program in 2004, continuing it in each of the last five consecutive years. The program has been expanded to include electricity, and the income threshold has been increased to $40,000 or less. Last year, approximately 76,000 rebates were provided to residents. The total value of the program is in excess of $17 million.

The Williams Government is committed to making investments that improve the lives and put more money in the pockets of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Recent investments include reducing personal income taxes to among the lowest in the country, enhancing the Seniors� Benefit and eliminating the tax on insurance premiums.

Application forms are available through:

The Home Heating Rebate is available to residents of the province whose family net income is $40,000 or less, regardless of the primary source of heat. Family net income is the net income of the applicant plus, if applicable, the income of that applicant�s spouse or partner.

The maximum rebate amount is $200 where the primary heat source is electricity, wood or wood products, $300 for heating oil, stove oil or propane, and $500 for coastal Labrador communities. Individuals and families with income between $35,000 and $40,000 will receive assistance based on a sliding scale. The minimum rebate an eligible individual or family will receive is $100.

Application forms are available through:

Applications must be sent to: