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Central Air Source Heat Pump Rebate

Space heating is the largest use of energy in homes. A properly installed heat pump is two to three times more efficient than other alternatives, and can provide you with both heating and cooling for today’s hot summers. A $500 electrical service upgrade rebate is available when converting your fossil fuel primary space or water heating system to an electrical primary space or water heating system.  For more information, see What is a heat pump and what are its benefits?

The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program is offering a rebate of up to $3,000 for switching to a central system air source heat pump.

Available Rebates

  • $1,200 if you install a Tier 1 central heat pump in your home that is heated with electricity supplied by FortisBC or convert your fossil fuel heating system (oil, propane, or natural gas) to a Tier 1 central heat pump.
  • $2,000 if you install a Tier 2 central heat pump in your home that is heated with electricity supplied by FortisBC, BC Hydro, or a municipal utility provider.
  • $2,000 if you replace your wood or solid fuel heating system with a Tier 2 central heat pump.
  • $3,000 if you replace your fossil fuel heating system (oil, propane, or natural gas) with a Tier 2 central heat pump.
  • Select municipalities have Municipal Offers of up to an additional $6,000 that can be accessed only when converting from fossil fuel heating (natural gas, oil, or propane) to an electric air-source heat pump.
  • Receive an additional up to $500 with the Heat Pump Group Purchase Rebate (GPR) when you convert from fossil fuel heating to an electric air-source heat pump.
  • This upgrade can count towards the Two Upgrade Bonus or the Home Energy Improvement Bonus. If you are considering a mini-split or multi-split system, see the separate incentive page on the Mini-Split or Multi-Split Air Source Heat Pump rebate. For more information on choosing the right type of heat pump for your home, see What type of heat pump should I choose?
  • You are eligible for one primary space heating system rebate per home, regardless of the number of systems installed. For example, you cannot get a rebate for a furnace and heat pump, even if you install a new dual fuel heat pump system. Your second rebate application will be denied.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Your upgrades must be installed by a licensed contractor with a valid BC business license for the trade applicable to the installation work.
  • You must have a residential utility account with FortisBC, BC Hydro, or a municipal utility.
  • Your home must be primarily heated with:
    • Natural Gas or piped-propane supplied by FortisBC
    • Natural Gas supplied by Pacific Northern Gas
    • Electricity supplied by FortisBC, BC Hydro, or a municipal utility
    • Oil or propane not supplied by FortisBC
    • Wood or other solid fuels
  • When the home is heated with electricity supplied by BC Hydro, the home must meet a minimum electricity consumption. Use the BC Hydro Home Renovation Rebate program eligibility tool to determine whether your home meets the minimum electricity consumption rates.
  • You must live in an eligible home.
  • The home must have a minimum of 12 months of consecutive utility billing history.

Upgrade Requirements

  • The installed system must have an AHRI certified reference number and must be on the Qualifying Product List.
  • Heat pumps must be installed according to the Heat Pump Best Practices Installation Guide for Existing Homes.
  • The heat pump must become the primary heating system of the home.
  • If you are replacing an electric heating system, your old electric system must be hard-wired (for example, baseboards or an electric furnace) and the back-up system must be electric.  Fossil fuel back-up systems are not eligible for electric-to-electric upgrades.
  • Replacement of an existing heat pump is not eligible for the rebate.
  • If you are replacing a wood or solid fuel heating system:
    • The existing wood or solid-fuel heating system may be retained in safe and working order or removed in accordance with all applicable laws; and
    • The back-up system must be wood or electric.  Fossil fuel back-up systems (dual fuel systems) are not eligible for wood-to-electric upgrades.
  • If you are replacing an oil heating system, the oil system must be removed or decommissioned. Some exemptions may apply, see Am I eligible for a heat pump rebate if it is combined with an oil furnace as backup? for more information.
    • If you are integrating your central heat pump to an existing natural gas or propane heating system, see the Dual-Fuel Central Heat Pump Rebate for upgrade requirements.
  • A heat load calculation is required for all heat pump installations with a natural gas or propane back-up. For more information, see this FAQ.
  • Products with a maximum static pressure of less than 0.6” WC are not eligible.
  • The installed system must meet the following performance requirements:

Heat Pump Type

Requirements

Primary Fuel Before Upgrade

Rebate
Tier 1 Central SEER >15.00
HSPF >8.50		 FortisBC Electricity $1,200
BC Hydro Electricity No Rebate
Fossil Fuel
Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas		 $1,200
Tier 2 Central SEER >16.00
HSPF >9.30
Variable Speed Compressor		 FortisBC Electricity $2,000
BC Hydro Electricity $2,000
Wood or Solid Fuel $2,000
Fossil Fuel
Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas		 $3,000


How to Apply

  1. Carefully read the Program Requirements and Additional Terms and Conditions to confirm your eligibility.
  2. Purchase an eligible heat pump and have it installed by a licensed contractor.
  3. Once your upgrades are installed, complete the online application and upload all supporting documentation including copies of all receipts and invoices. See sample invoices.
  4. If you are converting from oil, propane, or natural gas to a heat pump, include proof of your oil, propane, or natural gas system removal, decommissioning or modification.
  5. If you are converting from a wood or solid fuel heating system to a heat pump, include before and after photos of your wood or solid fuel heating system’s removal. If your wood or solid fuel heating system is being retained in safe and working order, submit a copy of an inspection report completed by a Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. (WETT)-certified professional.
    • The inspection report must be dated within the 12 month period before or 6 month period following the date of the heat pump installation invoice and include the inspector’s WETT certification number, the installation address of the wood or solid fuel heating system, and whether the installation is compliant with relevant codes.

Deadlines

  • The application form for individual upgrades must be submitted within 6 months of the invoice date of the upgrade.
  • The application form for the Two Upgrade Bonus must be submitted within 6 months of the second bonus-eligible upgrade. You must complete your second bonus-eligible upgrade within 18 months of the invoice date of the first bonus-eligible upgrade.
  • The application form for the Home Energy Improvement Bonus and Post-Upgrade EnerGuide Home Evaluation Rebate must be submitted within 6 months of the date of your post-upgrade EnerGuide home evaluation. You must complete your post-upgrade EnerGuide home evaluation within 18 months of your pre-upgrade EnerGuide home evaluation.

Other

Program Contact Information