CleanBC Energy Savings Program

Active — limits apply

Income-tiered CleanBC rebates paid through registered contractors: up to $13,000 toward a heat pump and up to $3,500 for a heat pump water heater — rebates, not free installs

Run by Province of B.C. (CleanBC Better Homes), supported by BC Hydro and FortisBC · verified against the official page 2026-10-19

A two-storey Vancouver Special house on a rainy street above a mossy retaining wall

What it pays

up to $13,000 / $7,000 / $3,500Central or 3-head heat pump replacing oil, gas or propane (Level 1 / 2 / 3)
up to $5,000Heat pump replacing electric or wood heat (Level 1)
up to $3,500Heat pump water heater
up to $5,000Condo or apartment unit with electric heat: heat pump
up to $5,000 / $1,600 / $800Add-ons tied to the upgrade: electrical service, ventilation, health and safety
No longer offeredInsulation (invoices dated from July 6, 2026)

The audit question

No audit required

No EnerGuide evaluation is required. You pre-register for an eligibility code, and an Energy Savings Program contractor installs the upgrade and claims the rebate for you. The program may ask for a CSA F280 heat-load calculation to confirm a heat pump's size.

Who qualifies

B.C. households under the income limit for one of three levels: for example, a four-person household qualifies for Level 1 up to $94,900 before tax, Level 2 up to $118,600 and Level 3 up to $189,800. Level 3 is only for ground-oriented homes switching from gas, propane or oil to a heat pump. The home must be a year-round primary residence at least 12 months old, a household member must hold the BC Hydro, FortisBC or municipal electricity account, and the property's assessed value must be within the program limit ($1,200,000 for Levels 1 and 2, $1,820,000 for Level 3, for registrations from April 1, 2026). Renters need a landlord consent form.

How to apply, step by step

Check the income table and home requirements on the Better Homes BC Energy Savings Program page.
Pre-register in the program's portal with proof of income (a CRA Notice of Assessment for each adult) to get an eligibility code and a report listing your rebates. The code works for several upgrades but expires after 3 months.
Get quotes from contractors registered with the Energy Savings Program. Self-installs don't qualify.
After installation, the contractor deducts the rebate on your invoice and submits the claim within 6 months of the invoice date.
Lower income? Ask BC Hydro or FortisBC about free upgrades before paying for anything.

The gotchas

Insulation isn't covered for invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026. For insulation, look at the Home Renovation Rebate program or the free BC Hydro and FortisBC upgrades.
The heat pump has to replace the home's primary heating; replacing or adding to an existing heat pump isn't eligible, and homes leaving a fossil-fuel furnace or boiler must remove it (dual-fuel systems excepted).
Energy Savings Program rebates can't be combined with Home Renovation Rebate funding or the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program.
Your eligibility code covers upgrades completed within 3 months of approval; after that you re-apply.
Apply only through the official Better Homes BC portal; nobody needs to phone or visit you to register you.

Worth knowing

The Energy Savings Program pays rebates, not free installations: the registered contractor deducts the rebate from your invoice and you pay the rest. For invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026 it covers heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and related electrical, ventilation and health-and-safety add-ons; insulation rebates ended then. Free upgrades for lower-income households come through BC Hydro's Energy Conservation Assistance Program and FortisBC's free-upgrade program, which also deliver the federal Greener Homes Affordability Program in B.C. Better Homes BC's site says it isn't being updated during the provincial election period, so confirm amounts with the program (1-833-856-0333) before you sign.

Common questions

Is the CleanBC Energy Savings Program free?

No. It's an income-qualified rebate program: depending on your level it covers up to 100% of eligible costs up to a cap (for example, up to $13,000 for a central heat pump replacing oil, gas or propane at Level 1), and the contractor deducts the rebate from your invoice. Free upgrades come through BC Hydro's Energy Conservation Assistance Program and FortisBC's free-upgrade program. Verified October 8, 2026.

What are the CleanBC income limits?

Before-tax household income must be at or under the limit for your household size. Level 1 runs from $51,100 for one person to $135,100 for seven or more; Level 2 from $63,900 to $168,900; and Level 3 from $102,100 to $270,200, but Level 3 is only for ground-oriented homes switching from gas, propane or oil to a heat pump. Your property's assessed value also counts.

Does CleanBC still have insulation rebates?

Not in the Energy Savings Program for invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026. The Home Renovation Rebate program still pays $0.02–$0.09 × R-value added × square feet, up to $900–$1,200 per area, and income-qualified BC Hydro customers can get insulation installed free through the Energy Conservation Assistance Program.

How does it relate to the federal Greener Homes Affordability Program?

In B.C. the federal program is delivered by BC Hydro and FortisBC through their free-upgrade programs, not through the Energy Savings Program. If your income is low enough, start there.

I don't income-qualify — what's my B.C. path?

The Home Renovation Rebate program: up to $4,000 for a heat pump if you heat with electricity, or $4,000 from FortisBC for a dual-fuel system (a heat pump paired with a gas furnace) replacing a FortisBC gas furnace at least 15 years old, with more for northern homes leaving oil, propane or gas. It also pays for insulation, windows and doors, plus either the $300 Two Upgrade Bonus or the $750–$2,000 Home Energy Improvement Bonus. Book a pre-upgrade EnerGuide evaluation first if you're aiming for the larger bonus.

Official program page ↗ Always confirm details there before spending — programs change faster than any tracker.