SaskEnergy's Tune-Up Assistance Program is entering its fifth year after it began June 13, providing Saskatchewan homeowners with a cheap way to keep their furnaces running.
The program lets certain homeowners apply for the program that will let them get a free tune-up, as well as other items from SaskEnergy.
Media Relations Manager Brian Miller explains some of the limitations to who can apply:
"Beginning June 13 and ending November 15, 2022, qualifying homeowners can apply to the TAP program. The criteria for the program, it's open to qualifying Saskatchewan homeowners with a combined annual household annual income before taxes of less than $68,000. Homeowners, to be eligible, also should also be located within a 25 km radius of a community served by a SaskEnergy network member."
A list of those communities can be found on SaskEnergy's website, which includes towns in the southeast such as Estevan and Weyburn.
Miller also recommends people get their applications in as soon as possible - they'll be first come, first served.
The bookings will stretch past the last date of applications into January, in case homeowners get their applications in later.
"I think applications are processed fairly promptly, so they should know fairly soon," said Miller, "Then they would simply book their appointment to get their tuneup as well as the other benefits to the program which include a couple of free furnace filters and a free carbon monoxide alarm."
The program is also well-timed to help homeowners with rising costs according to Miller.
"We know life is getting more expensive these days, and this is one way we can help homeowners that maybe are having difficulty budgeting for this, if they can qualify for their income qualification aspect that's one way they can get their tune-up taken care of this year."
In addition to the furnace tune-up, the program is also looking to build up the importance of carbon monoxide safety.
The free carbon monoxide alarms aren't just a gift - buildings are required to have one with recent legislation setting that mandate.
"Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, and also on July 1 of this year," said Miller, "there's a provincial requirement that every residence in Saskatchewan is legally required to have a carbon monoxide alarm. So we want to get the word out about that, and that's just a very significant safety measure that you can take for yourself and your family."