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.
Time-limited — apply by November 30, 2026
BC Hydro is paying a $1,000 bonus (whole-home systems; $500 partial-home) on top of its standard rebates for qualifying variable-speed heat pump installs completed, invoiced, and paid between August 1 and October 31, 2026. Funding is first-come, first-served and applications close November 30, 2026.
Did we install your heat pump this fall? You likely qualify — and if you need copies of your invoice or equipment details for the application, call us and we'll send them over.
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 FortisBC gas customers considering a dual fuel setup have a separate FortisBC rebate worth knowing about (further down).
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 |
| Wood | up to $5,000 | up to $4,000 | not available |
Smaller systems (single-head mini-split, 2-head systems) qualify for proportionally smaller amounts. Dual fuel through this program is now limited to Pacific Northern Gas and tank-propane customers — FortisBC gas customers use the FortisBC dual fuel rebate below. We walk you through which rebates you may qualify for during the estimate. Eligibility is determined by the program — we don't guarantee the figure.
Income limits depend on how many people live in your home. As a rough guide, a family of four earning under roughly $190,000 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 eligibility code before equipment is purchased or work starts — and the code is only valid for 3 months, so the timing matters in both directions. Applying after the job is finished means you lose the rebate. We time this step with you 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
Heating With Oil? The Funding Now Flows Through CleanBC
The federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA) closed to new applications on July 31, 2026 (already-approved files are being honoured into 2027). If you missed it, don't worry — oil-to-heat-pump funding in BC continues through the CleanBC Energy Savings Program above: up to $13,000 for ESP 1 households, plus the electrical service upgrade rebate.
Oil-specific requirements: at least 500 L/year of historical oil use, and the old oil tank and system must be removed as part of the job — which we handle.
For FortisBC gas customers
FortisBC Dual Fuel Rebate — Up to $4,000, or Up to $8,000 Income-Qualified
FortisBC's rebate for fully switching from gas to a heat pump ended in April 2025. What FortisBC offers now is a dual fuel rebate for a central ducted heat pump paired with a new high-efficiency gas furnace. The standard rebate is up to $4,000, plus a $300 bonus for a second eligible upgrade. Income-qualified households may qualify for up to $8,000, plus a $350 bonus for a second eligible upgrade. The existing gas furnace must be at least 15 years old, and only installations completed on or after October 15, 2026 qualify. The heat pump carries most of the year; the furnace covers the coldest snaps. Eligibility is determined by the program — we don't guarantee eligibility or the amount.
Vancouver Island is FortisBC gas territory, so this may apply to gas-heated homes across Greater Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, the West Shore, and the Cowichan Valley. 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 | Income-qualified CleanBC ESP: 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. FortisBC dual fuel (heat pump + new high-efficiency furnace): up to $4,000 standard, plus a $300 bonus for a second eligible upgrade, or up to $8,000 income-qualified, plus a $350 bonus. The existing gas furnace must be at least 15 years old, and only installations completed on or after October 15, 2026 qualify. Eligibility is determined by the program. |
| Oil | CleanBC Energy Savings Program: up to $18,000 combined for ESP 1, $10,500 for ESP 2, $5,000 for ESP 3. Needs 500 L/yr of oil history; the old tank and system come out as part of the job. |
| Wood | Income-qualified: up to $5,000 (ESP 1) or $4,000 (ESP 2) through CleanBC ESP. |
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 the forms — it's knowing which programs might apply to your home, what equipment qualifies, and what order to do everything in. During your free in-home assessment, we walk you through which rebates you may qualify for and recommend equipment that meets the program requirements. We don't guarantee eligibility or amounts. Eligibility is determined by the program.
Who submits depends on the program. For the standard rebate, homeowners submit their own application from their own program account — we hand you every document it asks for, including your CSA F280 heat loss/load calculation and invoices, and walk you through the steps. For the income-qualified (ESP) program, it's even simpler: you pre-register for your eligibility code, and as a CleanBC Registered Contractor we submit the rebate application and take the amount straight off your invoice — the program reimburses us directly.
Reach out for a free in-home assessment and we'll walk you through what you may qualify for.
Announced — launching early 2027
New: The Federal National Heat Pump Rebate
On October 8, 2026, the federal government announced a new National Heat Pump Rebate: up to $10,000 for below-median-income households, and $2,000 for other eligible households, toward an electric heat pump — and Ottawa says it can be combined with the BC programs above. The application portal opens in early 2027; income thresholds, equipment lists, and application details haven't been published yet.
Thinking of waiting for it? Early reports say the program is expected to be retroactive to installs from fall 2026 — not yet confirmed, but it means a system installed now may still qualify once the portal opens. If your current system is on its last legs, gambling a winter on an unopened portal is a rough trade. Every Red Fox install comes with itemized invoices and full equipment documentation — exactly what a retroactive claim would need — and we'll let our customers know the moment the portal opens. Read our full breakdown →
Rebate amounts and program rules are current as of October 13, 2026, including the CleanBC ESP changes of July 6, 2026 and the closure of the federal OHPA program. Programs can change at any time. Eligibility is determined by the program and depends on your specific home, household income, current fuel source, and the equipment installed. Contact Red Fox and we'll walk you through what you may qualify for.
Latest from the blog
Rebate News & Updates
Ottawa's New $10,000 Heat Pump Rebate — What We Know, and Whether You Should Wait
The federal government announced a National Heat Pump Rebate launching in early 2027 — up to $10,000 for income-qualified households, stackable with BC programs, and reportedly retroactive to fall 2026. Here's the honest breakdown.
Read full post →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 — here's what changed and who's affected.
Read full post →★★★★★
What Customers Say About Our Rebate Help
4.9 stars from 40+ verified Google reviews
"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."
"This was the best contractor service, of any trade, that we have received in over 50 years. Honest, prompt, and the workmanship is excellent. Highly recommend."
"I highly recommend Red Fox. They came promptly when my old furnace and heat pump died during the coldest snap of the year. Got me back up and running quickly with no fuss."
"John is professional, a logical problem solver, experienced, and efficient. My heat pump stopped working and he had it diagnosed and fixed faster than I expected. Great communication too."
"Excellent service right from the start. Efficient and clean. Totally satisfied with the product, service, and price. Would absolutely use Red Fox again."
"Thank you Red Fox team. One of the most reliable and experienced companies you can call on. They've taken care of us for years."