A simple guide for homeowners
Heat Pump Rebates in BC
Real money is available to help cover the cost of switching to a heat pump. Here's how the programs work — and which one fits your home.
Important update — effective July 6, 2026
CleanBC has reduced the income-qualified (ESP) heat pump rebate amounts across all three income levels, and discontinued ESP 2/ESP 3 electric-to-heat-pump rebates entirely. A grace period exists for customers with an existing eligibility code if a quote is submitted by July 5, 2026.
Switching to a heat pump is one of the best upgrades you can make to a home in Victoria. You get efficient heating in winter, cooling in summer, and lower energy bills all year. The provincial and federal governments want more homes to make the switch, so there is real money available to help cover the cost.
This guide explains the main programs in plain language so you can see what you might qualify for. The amount you can receive comes down to three things: how your home is heated today, your household income, and where you live.
Start here
Two Main Ways to Get a Rebate
Most rebates come through one of two streams. You use one or the other for your heat pump. You cannot combine them for the same upgrade.
The standard programs are open to everyone regardless of income. The income-based program is for lower and middle income households and pays out considerably more. We help you figure out which one fits your situation before any work starts.
Open to all incomes
CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate
This is the standard program, funded by the Province along with BC Hydro and FortisBC. If your home is currently heated with electric baseboards or an electric furnace, you can receive up to $4,000 toward a qualifying heat pump. Smaller rebates are also available for upgrades like heat pump water heaters and insulation.
One important update: as of April 2025, the rebate for switching from gas, oil, propane, or wood to an electric heat pump ended under this standard program. If that describes your home, the income-based program below is usually your best path — and for FortisBC gas customers, there's still a separate FortisBC heat pump rebate worth knowing about.
The largest rebates available
CleanBC Energy Savings Program (Income-Based)
This program is built for lower and middle income households, and the rebates are larger than the standard program. As of July 6, 2026, amounts depend on three things: your income level (ESP 1, 2, or 3), what your home is currently heated with, and the type of heat pump being installed.
For a central ducted heat pump (the most common retrofit), the new amounts are:
| Converting from | ESP 1 (lowest income) | ESP 2 (middle income) | ESP 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas or propane | up to $13,000 | up to $7,000 | up to $3,500 |
| Oil | up to $13,000 | up to $7,000 | up to $3,500 |
| Electric (baseboard or furnace) | up to $5,000 | discontinued | not available |
| Dual fuel (from natural gas) | up to $8,500 | up to $1,500 | up to $1,500 |
Smaller systems (single-head mini-split, 2-head systems) qualify for proportionally smaller amounts — we walk you through the exact figure for your home during the estimate.
Income limits depend on how many people live in your home. As a rough guide, a family of four earning under roughly $185,000 a year may qualify for one of the levels. The largest rebates go to homes switching away from gas, oil, or propane.
Two rules matter most here:
- Apply before any work begins. You have to register and receive an approval code before equipment is purchased or work starts. Applying after the job is finished means you lose the rebate. We walk you through this step so nothing gets missed.
- Property assessed value caps (as of April 1, 2026): $1,200,000 for income Levels 1 and 2; $1,820,000 for Level 3. Many Victoria-area homes have crept above these caps — we'll check your BC Assessment value as part of qualifying you.
Plus, an electrical service upgrade rebate stacks on top of the heat pump amount: up to $5,000 (ESP 1), $3,500 (ESP 2), or $1,500 (ESP 3) for homes that need a 100/200/400-amp service upgrade to support the new heat pump. This rebate is only available for homes converting from a fossil fuel system (natural gas, oil, or propane) — not for electric-to-heat-pump conversions. Combined with the heat pump rebate, an ESP 1 fossil fuel conversion can total up to $18,000.
For oil-heated homes
Oil to Heat Pump — Bundled Federal + Provincial
If you currently heat with oil, the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA) contributes funding alongside the CleanBC Energy Savings Program. In BC, the federal money is bundled into a single application through Better Homes BC — you don't apply to NRCan and CleanBC separately. The amounts shown in the income-based table above already include the federal contribution.
Important deadline: the federal OHPA funding window closes July 31, 2026. If you heat with oil and have been considering the switch, there's real urgency to act this year while the federal contribution is still on the table.
Eligibility: income-based; your home must be on the regular electricity grid; and you'll need to show at least 500 L/year of historical oil consumption.
For FortisBC gas customers
FortisBC Heat Pump Rebate
If your home is a FortisBC natural gas customer, FortisBC offers up to $5,000 for installing a qualifying cold-climate heat pump. Vancouver Island is in FortisBC's gas service territory, so this applies to gas-heated homes in Greater Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, the West Shore, and the Cowichan Valley.
This is one of the only remaining rebate paths for gas-heated homes in southern BC since the standard CleanBC fuel-switching rebates ended in April 2025. Worth checking — most gas-heated homes can use it.
The previous FortisBC dual fuel rebate programs ended in 2025 (the standard $5,000 dual fuel closed December 18, 2025; the income-qualified $15,000 dual fuel was fully subscribed in May 2025). If you're considering a dual fuel setup, talk to us — there are still paths through the CleanBC income-qualified program for some configurations. Learn more about dual fuel systems →
For condo and apartment residents
CleanBC Condo & Apartment Heat Pump Rebate
This is a separate income-qualified program targeting multi-unit residential buildings six storeys and under. Renters and condo owners can receive up to $5,000 per suite for installing a ductless mini-split heat pump (ESP 1), plus the separate BC Hydro Condo & Apartment Rebate worth up to $2,250.
Currently available for electric-heated buildings. Requires signed permission from your strata corporation or landlord — that's the biggest practical hurdle. If you're in a low-rise building anywhere in Victoria, James Bay, Fairfield, Cook Street Village, Esquimalt, or Sidney, this could be a meaningful path.
Read our full condo & apartment rebate guide → — including income thresholds, eligibility check, and how we help with strata approval.
Quick reference
What You Might Receive
Based on how your home is heated now (figures shown for central ducted heat pump; smaller systems qualify for smaller amounts):
| Your current heating | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Electric baseboards or electric furnace | Up to $4,000 standard (any income), or up to $5,000 for ESP 1 income-qualified households (ESP 2/3 electric-to-heat-pump no longer available as of July 6, 2026) |
| Natural gas or propane | FortisBC heat pump rebate (gas customers): up to $5,000. Income-qualified households: up to $18,000 combined for ESP 1 ($13K heat pump + $5K electrical service upgrade), $10,500 for ESP 2, $5,000 for ESP 3 through CleanBC Energy Savings Program. |
| Oil | CleanBC Energy Savings Program (bundled with federal OHPA): up to $18,000 combined for ESP 1, $10,500 for ESP 2, $5,000 for ESP 3. Federal OHPA funding window closes July 31, 2026. |
| Wood | Income-based program; talk to us about which level your home qualifies for and current amounts. |
One thing to watch for
HPCN-Registered Contractor Requirement
BC rebate programs require the work to be done by a contractor registered with the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN). Quotes from non-HPCN contractors are automatically disqualified from the rebate. Red Fox is HPCN-registered — but if you're collecting other quotes, ask each contractor about their HPCN status before signing anything. Don't assume.
We make the rebate side simple
How Red Fox Helps
The hardest part of rebates isn't filling out the forms — it's figuring out which programs apply to your home, what equipment qualifies, and what order to do everything in. That's where we come in. During your free in-home assessment, we confirm which programs you qualify for, recommend equipment that meets the program requirements, and walk you through exactly what to submit and when.
You fill out the actual applications yourself — that part has to come from the homeowner — but we'll point you to the right forms, answer questions along the way, and make sure nothing gets missed.
Reach out for a free in-home assessment and we'll give you a clear picture of your costs after rebates.
Rebate amounts and program rules are current as of June 28, 2026 and reflect the CleanBC ESP changes taking effect July 6, 2026. Programs can change at any time. Eligibility depends on your specific home, household income, current fuel source, and the equipment installed. Contact Red Fox to confirm what you qualify for today.
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BC Heat Pump Rebates Reduced July 6 — How to Lock In Current Rates
CleanBC announced significant cuts to heat pump rebate amounts taking effect July 6, 2026. If you've been considering a heat pump, the next week matters — here's what's changing and what to do.
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"Thank you for such a pleasant experience! Putting in a heat pump is definitely not an easy task, but the Red Fox team made it look easy. Professional, friendly, and clean from start to finish."
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