Eligible BC homeowners may qualify for significant incentives when replacing certain existing heating systems with a qualifying heat pump. The amount depends on factors such as household income, current heating fuel, heat pump configuration, property eligibility and current program requirements.
⚠ Read before you install
Pre-registration and eligibility confirmation may be required before installation. Do not purchase or install equipment based only on an estimated rebate. Final eligibility is determined under the official program rules, not by this website or your contractor.
CURRENT PROGRAM
For invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026, the CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program uses income qualification levels and different rebate amounts depending on the home's existing primary heating fuel and the type of heat pump installed.
For natural gas or propane heated homes, current maximum heat-pump rebates are as follows:
| System Type | ESP 1 | ESP 2 | ESP 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-head mini-split | $5,500 | $4,500 | $1,000 |
| 2-head multi-split / 2 single heads | $11,000 | $5,500 | $1,000 |
| Central ducted / 3-head multi-split | $13,000 | $7,000 | $3,500 |
| Dual-fuel ducted heat pump | $12,000 | $5,000 | $3,000 |
These are maximum rebates and cannot be presented as guaranteed amounts. The rebate is subject to eligible upgrade cost and all applicable program conditions. Other heating fuel types have different eligibility — see Section 7 below.
INCOME QUALIFICATION
The current Energy Savings Program uses household size and combined pre-tax household income. Household size includes adults and children.
| Household Size | ESP 1 max income | ESP 2 max income | ESP 3 max income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $51,100 | $63,900 | $102,100 |
| 2 people | $63,600 | $79,500 | $127,200 |
| 3 people | $78,200 | $97,700 | $156,300 |
| 4 people | $94,900 | $118,600 | $189,800 |
| 5 people | $107,600 | $134,500 | $215,200 |
| 6 people | $121,400 | $151,700 | $242,700 |
| 7 or more | $135,100 | $168,900 | $270,200 |
Combined qualifying pre-tax household income. Verify your household's specific qualification through the official program.
For participants registering on or after April 1, 2026, current main ESP requirements include a property value limit based on the applicable BC Assessment listing. Meeting the income threshold alone is not enough — the property value must also qualify.
Total assessed property value at or under $1,200,000 per the applicable BC Assessment listing.
Total assessed property value at or under $1,820,000 per the applicable BC Assessment listing.
EXISTING HEATING FUEL
The existing primary heating system changes both eligibility and rebate values. Check which category your home falls into before assuming any specific figure applies.
Converting from natural gas or propane to a qualifying heat pump currently attracts the highest rebate tiers in the ESP program. The heat pump must serve the conditioned space previously heated by the primary fossil-fuel system.
Oil-heated homes may qualify for heat pump conversion incentives. Program rules and applicable amounts should be verified against the current program requirements, as eligibility conditions can differ from natural gas conversions.
Converting from electric baseboards or forced-air electric heating to a heat pump may be eligible under the program, but rebate amounts and conditions differ from fossil-fuel conversions. Verify current rules carefully.
Homes with wood as the primary heat source have different eligibility conditions. Verify whether wood primary heating qualifies under current ESP rules before planning a project around an expected rebate.
⚠ Existing heat pump — read carefully
Under current ESP rules, replacing, adding to, or adding a secondary heat pump to a home where an existing heat pump is already used as primary or backup heat is generally not eligible for the heat-pump conversion rebate. Do not assume a heat pump replacement project qualifies automatically.
CONVERSION REQUIREMENTS
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
The rebate is not a single number. A single-head mini-split, a two-head configuration and a central ducted or three-head multi-split each have different maximum amounts under the current program. Knowing your configuration is the starting point — not the end of the eligibility process.
Single-zone ductless
Single-head mini-split
One indoor head, one outdoor unit. The current program has a lower maximum for this configuration than multi-head or ducted systems. See the rebate table above for applicable ESP level amounts.
Multi-zone ductless
2-head multi-split / 2 single heads
Two indoor zones from one outdoor unit, or two separate single-head systems. The current program maximum differs from both single-head and ducted configurations.
Central ducted
Central ducted / 3-head multi-split
A whole-home ducted system or qualifying 3-head multi-split. This configuration has the highest current maximum under ESP Level 1 for gas or propane conversions — see the rebate table for exact amounts by level.
BEFORE YOU INSTALL
The current program requires pre-registration and eligibility confirmation before installing upgrades. Do not buy or install equipment based only on an estimated rebate.
Pre-register with the program
Eligible participants receive an eligibility code before installation begins. Applications on or after July 6, 2026 must receive an eligibility code before installing.
Install within the valid period
The eligibility code is currently valid for upgrades completed within three months of approval. Beyond that period, the participant must re-apply.
Use a Registered Contractor
Heat-pump upgrades must be purchased, supplied and installed by a Registered Contractor approved for the applicable program. Self-installations are not eligible.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment must meet specific program criteria. The exact eligible combination should be confirmed before any equipment is ordered.
APPLICATION
Supporting documents can include the compliant invoice and, depending on the conversion, evidence related to the existing heating system and its removal.
Under current rules, the Registered Contractor submits the rebate application and supporting documentation within six months of the invoice date.
Climax Energy can assist with the application process where applicable, but final eligibility and payment are determined under the program rules — we do not guarantee approval.
ELECTRICAL
The current ESP program summary includes an electrical service upgrade category. Where a qualifying heat pump project also requires an electrical service upgrade, there may be a separate program rebate — with maximums that vary by ESP income level for qualifying projects.
Important: Electrical upgrades are not automatic
Not every heat pump project requires a service upgrade, and not every electrical project qualifies for the program's electrical rebate. The two are evaluated separately. Do not assume an electrical upgrade is needed — or that it automatically qualifies for additional support.
Detailed pages on Heat Pump Electrical Requirements and Does a Heat Pump Need a 200A Panel? are coming soon. Call Climax Energy to discuss the electrical side of your specific project.
NET COST
An approved rebate reduces what the homeowner pays net — but qualification must be established first. Never assume the highest possible rebate applies to every project.
Project price
What you pay for the installation
The total installed cost covers equipment, labour, electrical work, line routing, ductwork changes and any other project-specific scope. This is the figure your contractor quotes before any rebate is applied.
Heat Pump Cost in Vancouver →Potential net cost
After an approved rebate is applied
For qualifying projects, an approved rebate reduces the net amount paid. The rebate cannot exceed the eligible upgrade cost. Qualification must be confirmed before assuming a net figure — homeowners who do not qualify pay the full installed price.
ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST
Use this as a starting-point checklist. Final eligibility is confirmed through the official program — not by a contractor or this website.
WHY CLIMAX ENERGY
We help identify the program requirements that may apply to your project before equipment is ordered or installation begins.
We select equipment from the qualifying product list that meets program efficiency and performance requirements alongside the home's actual heating load.
A CSA-F280-12 heat-load calculation may be required to confirm the system is properly sized. We can provide documentation that supports the application.
We work with central ducted systems, ductless mini-splits and conversion projects — and understand which configurations qualify for which rebate tiers.
Electrical service upgrade support, where applicable under the program, is reviewed as part of the overall project scope — not assumed to be necessary for every project.
We assist with the documentation and application process where applicable. Final eligibility and payment are determined by the program — we are transparent about that distinction.
FAQ
Climax Energy can review the proposed system and help identify the program requirements that may apply before installation.