BC Income-Qualified Heat Pump Rebates: How to Get Up to $13,000 (2026)

Updated October 15, 2026. Official source checked Oct 15, 2026: CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program requirements (rules for invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026).

Quick answer: the CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program (ESP) pays income-qualified BC households up to $13,000 toward a central ducted or 3-head multi-split heat pump when the home is heated today with natural gas, propane or oil. That top amount is for Income Level 1. Level 2 tops out at $7,000 and Level 3 at $3,500. Electric-heated homes can still get up to $5,000, but only at Level 1. You must pre-register and get an eligibility code before any work starts, and the code is good for 3 months.

Not sure which level you're in? Call 604-343-1985 or book online and we'll walk through the numbers with you before you apply.

What the Energy Savings Program is

The Energy Savings Program is the income-qualified part of CleanBC Better Homes. It's funded and run by the Province of B.C. (the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions), not by BC Hydro or FortisBC. Rebates are based on household income, household size and the assessed value of your home. Instead of you mailing in a form after the job, the rebate is shown on your invoice and taken off what you owe, and the registered contractor submits the paperwork.

ESP is separate from the BC Hydro Home Renovation Rebate (no income test, up to $4,000 for electric to heat pump) and from the FortisBC dual fuel rebate (no income test, up to $4,000). In most cases you can only use one of these for your main heating system. More on that in the stacking section below. For the non-income programs, see our BC Hydro heat pump rebate guide and our FortisBC dual fuel eligibility checklist.

Income limits for 2026

Your level depends on how many people live in the home (adults and children both count) and the combined pre-tax income of every adult in the home, not counting dependants. These are the official limits from betterhomesbc.ca:

People in the home	Level 1 maximum income	Level 2 maximum income	Level 3 maximum income
1	$51,100	$63,900	$102,100
2	$63,600	$79,500	$127,200
3	$78,200	$97,700	$156,300
4	$94,900	$118,600	$189,800
5	$107,600	$134,500	$215,200
6	$121,400	$151,700	$242,700
7 or more	$135,100	$168,900	$270,200

Level 3 is only for ground-oriented homes switching from natural gas, propane or oil to an electric heat pump. A household of four with $110,000 in combined adult income, for example, is over the Level 1 limit but under Level 2, so it would apply as Level 2.

Home value limits

For households registering on or after April 1, 2026, the total BC Assessment value of your home must be $1,200,000 or less for Levels 1 and 2, and $1,820,000 or less for Level 3. The program uses the assessment for the year you register. Many Lower Mainland detached homes are over $1.2 million, so check your assessment notice before you count on Level 1 or 2.

Heat pump rebate amounts by heating type

The amount depends on what heats your home today, the kind of heat pump you install and your income level. Every amount is 100% of eligible costs, up to the maximum shown, and the rebate can't be more than your paid invoice.

Homes heated with natural gas or propane

Heat pump installed	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Central ducted, or 3-head multi-split	up to $13,000	up to $7,000	up to $3,500
2-head multi-split, or 2 single-head mini-splits	up to $11,000	up to $5,500	up to $1,000
Single-head mini-split	up to $5,500	up to $4,500	up to $1,000
Combined space and water heat pump	up to $16,500	up to $11,500	up to $7,000

Homes heated with oil

Heat pump installed	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Central ducted, or 3-head multi-split	up to $13,000	up to $7,000	up to $3,500
2-head multi-split, or 2 single-head mini-splits	up to $11,000	up to $5,500	up to $3,000
Single-head mini-split	up to $7,000	up to $5,000	up to $3,000
Combined space and water heat pump	up to $16,500	up to $11,500	up to $7,000

Oil-heated homes must show proof of at least 500 litres of oil used in the past 12 months, such as receipts or bills.

Homes heated with electricity (baseboards, electric furnace, radiant)

Heat pump installed	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Mini-split, multi-split or central ducted	up to $5,000	no rebate	no rebate

Since July 6, 2026, Level 2 households with electric heat no longer get an ESP heat pump rebate. If that's you, the BC Hydro rebate (up to $4,000 whole home, $1,500 partial) may still apply, and some postal codes get a BC Hydro community top-up. See our CleanBC heat pump rebates guide for how those fit together.

Homes heated with wood

Wood or pellet heated homes can get up to $5,000 at Level 1 and up to $4,000 at Level 2. Level 3 isn't eligible. The backup heat must be wood or electric, not gas or oil, and you'll need photos of the old system if it's removed, or a WETT inspection if it stays.

Add-on rebates you can claim with the heat pump

Add-on	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Electrical service upgrade (switching from gas, propane or oil)	up to $5,000	up to $3,500	up to $1,500
Heat pump water heater (replacing a gas, propane or oil tank)	up to $3,500	up to $3,500	up to $3,500
Heat pump water heater (replacing an electric tank)	up to $3,500	up to $2,800	no rebate
Heat or energy recovery ventilator	95% up to $1,600	60% up to $1,600	not listed
Bathroom fan	95% up to $300	60% up to $300	not listed
Health and safety (mould, pests, asbestos, structural)	95% up to $800	60% up to $800	not listed

Ventilation and health and safety rebates are only paid alongside an eligible heat pump, heat pump water heater, insulation or window upgrade. One ventilation rebate and one electrical service upgrade per home. Homes north of 100 Mile House on BC Hydro service get a northern top-up; that doesn't apply in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley.

Many older Burnaby, Surrey and Coquitlam homes still have 100 amp service. If your heat pump needs a panel upgrade, the electrical rebate can cover a large share of it. Call 604-343-1985 and we'll check your panel when we size the system.

Every rule in one table

Rule	What the program requires
Home type	Year-round primary residence in BC, at least 12 months old: detached house, secondary suite (separately metered), duplex, triplex, row home or townhouse with its own meter, or a mobile home on a permanent foundation
Not eligible	Condos and apartments for these ground-oriented rebates (they have separate unit rebates), garages and outbuildings, additions, new homes under 12 months, homes being substantially rebuilt
Utility account	Residential account in the household's name with BC Hydro, FortisBC or another listed utility (not a strata or landlord account)
Current heating	Gas, propane, oil, electric or wood as the primary heat (able to heat at least 50% of the home to 21°C all season). An existing heat pump isn't eligible.
Income	Under the limit for your level and household size, with proof for every adult
Home value	$1,200,000 or less (Levels 1 and 2), $1,820,000 or less (Level 3)
Before work starts	Pre-register and get an eligibility code. Codes issued on or after July 6, 2026 are valid for 3 months.
Equipment	On the Qualified Heat Pump Product List, with an AHRI reference number that covers every component, sized as the main heat source and serving a main living area
Installer	An ESP Registered Contractor approved for heat pumps. Self-installs aren't eligible.
Invoice	Shows the CleanBC rebate as a line item and takes it off what you owe
Deadline	The contractor submits within 6 months of the invoice date
Limit	One primary heating system rebate per home across all BC programs
Landlords	Renters need a signed Landlord Consent Form; a landlord can take part with at most two homes

Proof of income the program accepts

• A Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment or Proof of Income Statement for each adult, dated within 12 months of pre-registration (you can black out everything except your name, the date and line 15000)
• Proof of income or disability assistance, such as a My Self Serve Confirmation of Assistance
• A SAFER or Rental Assistance Program letter from BC Housing
• A Guaranteed Income Supplement notice
• Proof you take part in, or qualify for, the BC Hydro and FortisBC Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP)
• An Endorsement Form signed by a social worker, housing provider, counsellor or similar professional who knows your finances

How to get the rebate in 9 steps

1. Check your level. Count everyone in the home, add up adult pre-tax income and compare it with the table above.
2. Check your assessment. Make sure your BC Assessment value is under the cap for your level.
3. Gather income proof for every adult in the home.
4. Pre-register on the Energy Savings Program application portal and wait for your eligibility code. Don't sign for or start work before you have it.
5. Book an in-home assessment. We measure the home, check ducts, panel and the current heat source, and work out the right system size with a heat load calculation.
6. Pick qualifying equipment from the Qualified Heat Pump Product List, with an AHRI reference that matches every part of the system.
7. Install within 3 months of your approval date, using a Registered Contractor. Permits and inspections are part of the job.
8. Check the invoice. The CleanBC rebate must be listed and taken off the total you pay.
9. The contractor submits the claim and documents within 6 months. You can check status in the portal.

Ready for step 5? Call 604-343-1985 or book online. Same day service available.

Can you combine ESP with other rebates?

For the heating system itself, usually not. The official rule is one primary space heating system rebate per home, and one heat pump water heater rebate per home, across BC Hydro and FortisBC's Home Renovation Rebate, the FortisBC dual fuel and income-qualified programs, ESP, ECAP and several Indigenous community programs. So you pick the one program that pays the most for your home.

What you can do is add the ESP add-ons (electrical service, ventilation, health and safety) on top of your ESP heat pump rebate, and claim a separate heat pump water heater rebate. The federal Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed, and the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program took its last applications on July 31, 2026, so don't plan on either for a new job. ESP participants weren't allowed to use the federal oil program anyway.

Which program pays the most for your home?

Your home today	Best fit to check first
Gas or oil heat, income at Level 1	ESP: up to $13,000 for central ducted or 3-head multi-split
Gas heat, income at Level 2	ESP up to $7,000, compared with FortisBC dual fuel up to $4,000 (if your furnace is at least 15 years old and you keep gas backup)
Gas heat, income at Level 3	FortisBC dual fuel up to $4,000 often pays more than ESP Level 3 (up to $3,500)
Electric heat, income at Level 1	ESP up to $5,000, compared with BC Hydro up to $4,000 plus any community top-up for your postal code
Electric heat, income at Level 2 or 3	BC Hydro up to $4,000 whole home or $1,500 partial

These are maximums. What you actually get depends on the system that fits your home and the paid cost on the invoice. Use our rebate tool for a quick check, or see every program side by side in our guide to every BC home rebate.

Common reasons applications fail

• Work started or equipment was bought before the eligibility code came through
• The code expired (3 months) before the install was finished
• The home's assessed value is over the cap for the level
• Income proof is missing for one adult, or it's older than 12 months
• The heat pump isn't on the qualified list, or the AHRI reference doesn't cover the indoor and outdoor units
• The home already has a heat pump, or already got a primary heating rebate from another program
• The utility account is in a landlord's or strata's name

How we help Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley homeowners

Budget Heating & Plumbing Services is family-owned, licensed, bonded and insured, BBB A+ rated, an HPCN member and a FortisBC Trade Ally, with factory-trained technicians, a written warranty and no hidden fees. We size the system with a proper heat load calculation, pick equipment from the qualified lists, handle permits, and make sure the invoice shows what the program needs. Financing is available for the part the rebate doesn't cover. Before you book, check the Better Homes contractor search to confirm your installer is an ESP Registered Contractor for heat pumps.

We work across Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, Langley, Abbotsford, North Vancouver and the rest of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Call 604-343-1985 or book online. Open 24 hours, with 24/7 emergency service.

Rebate amounts and rules are set by the Province of B.C. and can change or end without notice. Always confirm on betterhomesbc.ca before you start. ESP questions: 1-833-856-0333.