Review the Program Eligibility Criteria and the Application and Agreement found in the Commercial Geothermal Program Application package. This information will let you determine whether you are eligible to participate and the terms of agreement.
Determine customer classification
Determine if you are an electric sector or propane and fuel oil customer.
Apply for Feasibility Study assistance
This step is:
Optional for electric sector customers. Skip ahead to Step 7 if you do not want a feasibility study.
Recommended for propane and fuel oil sector customers.
To apply for Feasibility Study assistance, have your engineer or architect complete a Commercial Geothermal Program Feasibility Study proposal.
Geothermal project requirements
Your engineer/architect should reference Geothermal Project Requirements when preparing a Feasibility Study proposal or if completing a Feasibility Study report. The document outlines important guidelines for the Commercial Geothermal Program.
Your Feasibility Study proposal must be approved by Manitoba Hydro before your Feasibility Study will start. If the study or project has commenced before you receive Manitoba Hydro’s approval, Feasibility Study assistance will not be provided.
Manitoba Hydro reviews proposal
Manitoba Hydro will review your Feasibility Study proposal and notify you whether it has been accepted or rejected.
Feasibility Study completion
Once the Feasibility Study proposal is accepted, your engineer/architect must prepare a Feasibility Study report in accordance with the Feasibility Study template and submit to Manitoba Hydro.
Review of Feasibility Study
Manitoba Hydro will review the submitted Feasibility Study report. If deemed to be complete, Manitoba Hydro will provide written notification to the customer and Feasibility Study assistance payment instructions.
Manitoba Hydro will also evaluate if the customer may be eligible for a System Installation Incentive (Step 7).
Payment for Feasibility Study assistance will be forwarded after the Feasibility Study report has been accepted by Manitoba Hydro.
Apply for System Installation Incentive
This step must be completed by both electric and propane and fuel oil customers before installation of the geothermal heat pump system.
Apply for a System Installation Incentive by completing the Commercial Geothermal Program Application and Agreement (Form A) and Conditional System Installation Incentive Calculation Summary (Form B) application forms. Forward the completed application forms to Manitoba Hydro.
Manitoba Hydro reviews System Installation Incentive Application
Manitoba Hydro will review the System Installation Incentive application forms and approve or reject the Conditional System Installation Incentive.
Geothermal heat pump system installation
After written approval is received, the customer is authorized to begin installation of the geothermal heat pump system.
Permits
The customer is responsible for obtaining all required permits prior to commencement of the installation of the geothermal heat pump system.
These include, but are not limited to:
Building permit (Occupancy Certificate);
Electrical permit (Certificate of Electrical Approval);
Water Rights Licence.
All commercial open loop (well-to-well) geothermal installations are required to obtain a Water Rights Licence through Manitoba Water Stewardship allowing the use of groundwater for heating/cooling purposes. Please contact Manitoba Water Stewardship in Winnipeg at 204-945-6784, toll free at 1-800-214-6497, or at mws@gov.mb.ca for more information.
A valid copy of required permits must be provided to Manitoba Hydro before to payment of the System Installation Incentive.
Project completion and documentation
Once the geothermal heat pump system is installed, the customer and/or installer/engineer must perform an inspection and complete the Completion Declaration. This declaration certifies that all the equipment covered by the System Installation Incentive has been installed and is fully operational.
The following documents must be completed and sent to Manitoba Hydro at the completion of the project:
Completion Declaration;
Completion Questionnaire;
Installed Equipment Summary;
Project System Design Summary (The four documents above will be sent to the Customer after initial project approval in Step 8.);
Copies of the paid project invoices;
Start-up verification and manufacturer test data sheets (performance specs) in accordance with ARI/ISO 13256-1 (forced air)/13256-2 (water-to-water). Sample start-up verification sheets can be found in the Program Application Guide.
Copy of Certificate of Approval (electrical inspection);
Copy of Occupancy Certificate (not required for existing retrofits where one is not issued);
Copy of Licence to Use Water for Heating/Cooling Purposes from Manitoba Water Stewardship (Open loop well to well systems only);
Valid copies of any other required permits.
All documentation requested above must be completed in full, and forwarded to Manitoba Hydro prior to final approval.
Post-installation site visit and final approval
After Manitoba Hydro receives the documentation requested in Step 10, a Manitoba Hydro representative will perform a site visit to confirm the make and model of the geothermal heat pump equipment installed.
The conditional System Installation Incentive may be increased or decreased if the actual system, installed equipment or building design have changed. The final System Installation Incentive amount will then be calculated and approved. The incentive cheque will then be processed and sent.
