The B.C. government is expanding its energy incentives to convince more property owners to ditch oil, propane, and natural gas heating for eco-friendly, electric heat pumps.
During a press conference in Victoria on May 13, B.C. cabinet ministers Josie Osborne and George Heyman announced that as of June 18, the CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program will include low-income households as well as middle-income households.
“All people in British Columbia want to reduce their home energy costs and address the impacts of a changing climate—extreme weather, heat, and cold—which is affecting all of us,” Heyman said in a statement. “Through cost-shared programs like the CleanBC Better Homes Affordability Program, people have access to affordable energy upgrade options that create cleaner, healthier, more comfortable home environments. With these new investments, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce people’s monthly energy bills, and contribute to a secure and more affordable future for British Columbians.”
All your burning questions about heat pumps, answered
Besides introducing a new income bracket, the program has also expanded to include a rebate for electrical upgrades needed to run a heat pump, as well as an additional incentive for anyone who lives in northern B.C.
Eligibility for heat pump rebates in homes that are heated by natural gas, propane, or oil.
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Combined pre-tax annual income of all adults in your home (excluding dependents)
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Number of people living in your home (including adults and children)
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Income Level 1
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Income Level 2
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Income Level 3 (NEW)
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1 person
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$47,007
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$61,697
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$99,891
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2 persons
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$58,522
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$76,810
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$124,358
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3 persons
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$71,945
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$94,428
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$152,884
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4 persons
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$87,350
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$114,647
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$185,620
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5 persons
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$99,072
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$130,032
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$210,528
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6 persons
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$111,735
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$146,653
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$237,438
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7 or more persons
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$124,402
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$163,277
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$264,353
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Federal government offers grant to upgrade from oil to electric heat pumps
Property owners who fall into Income Level 1 could receive $16,000 towards a heat pump installation and an additional $5,000 towards an electrical service upgrade. Income Level 2 could receive $12,000 towards a heat pump installation and $3,500 towards an electrical service upgrade. And Income Level 3 could receive $10,500 towards a heat pump installation and $1,500 towards an electrical service upgrade.
Property owners who live north of 100 Mile House could be eligible for an additional $3,000 towards a heat pump installation, regardless of income level.
The B.C. government has also decided to start providing this money up front rather than after the installation is complete. To receive the rebate, property owners must pre-register online to confirm their eligibility, then hire a registered contractor—self installations aren’t eligible for the rebate. After submitting the paperwork, the contractor receives the rebate directly from the province. Any costs over the eligible rebate amount will be billed to the property owner.
Secondary properties are not eligible for the rebate, only primary residences that are at least 12 months old. (That said, if you’ve moved full-time to the cottage, yours could qualify.) For Income Levels 1 and 2, the property must have a total assessed value at or under $1,230,000 in the BC Assessment listing. If the property exceeds this value, the property owner can enter the program in Income Level 3.
The B.C. government has invested $151 million in the program, with an additional $103.7 million from the federal government’s Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada.
According to the federal government, the average household saves between $1,500 and $4,700 per year on home energy bills when using a heat pump versus fossil fuel.
“Installing a heat pump or energy-efficient windows and doors in your home is one of the best ways to save on your monthly energy bills while reducing the pollution that causes climate change,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, in a statement. “The Government of Canada is committed to help British Columbians adapt to the costly climate impacts this province knows too well, while doing their part to affordably reduce carbon pollution, in close partnership with the provincial government.”
The program is part of the federal government’s goal to bring carbon emissions 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
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