BC homeowners lose real money every year in two opposite ways: they renovate without claiming rebates they qualified for, or they plan a project around a program that no longer exists. The second mistake is everywhere right now, because the internet is full of outdated pages still advertising federal grants that closed to new applicants. This guide sticks to what is actually on the table in BC in 2026 — the income-qualified CleanBC Energy Savings Program, the BC Hydro and FortisBC rebates anyone can apply for, and an honest word about the federal programs that are gone.
The short version: the biggest single rebate in BC is the CleanBC Energy Savings Program, worth up to $13,000 toward switching from gas, oil or propane to a central heat pump if your household income qualifies. If it does not, the BC Hydro / FortisBC Home Renovation Rebate still pays up to $4,000 for a heat pump, $5,500 for insulation, $2,000 for windows and doors, and more — no income test. And the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan are closed to new applicants, no matter what an old blog post tells you.
1. BC Renovation Rebates at a Glance
All amounts are maximums (“up to”) for 2026. Programs change, so treat this as a planning snapshot and confirm the current figures at betterhomesbc.ca before you sign a contract.
| Program | Who qualifies | What it covers | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| CleanBC Energy Savings Program | Income-qualified households switching off gas, oil or propane | Central heat pump | $13,000 (Level 1) |
| BC Hydro / FortisBC Home Renovation Rebate | Homeowners, no income test | Heat pump (electrically heated homes) | $4,000 |
| BC Hydro / FortisBC Home Renovation Rebate | Homeowners, no income test | Insulation | $5,500 |
| BC Hydro / FortisBC Home Renovation Rebate | Homeowners, no income test | Windows and doors | $2,000 ($100 per opening) |
| BC Hydro / FortisBC Home Renovation Rebate | Homeowners, no income test | Heat pump water heater | $1,000 |
| BC Hydro / FortisBC Home Renovation Rebate | Homeowners, no income test | Solar | $5,000 |
| FortisBC dual-fuel rebate | Gas-heated homes keeping a gas furnace as backup | Dual-fuel heat pump system | $4,000 ($8,000 income-qualified) |
2. The Big One: CleanBC Energy Savings Program
This is the province’s income-qualified program, and it is aimed squarely at homes heated with fossil fuels. If your home runs on a gas, oil or propane furnace or boiler and you switch to a central heat pump, the rebate is tiered by household income:
- Level 1: up to $13,000
- Level 2: up to $7,000
- Level 3: up to $3,500
For a household of four, the 2026 thresholds are roughly: under $94,900 for Level 1, $94,900 to $118,600 for Level 2, and $118,600 to $189,800 for Level 3. Thresholds scale with household size, so check your own bracket rather than assuming. The current round of the program covers invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026 — work invoiced before that date falls under the older rules, which is one more reason to verify your situation before booking the install.
Two conditions catch people out:
- Your contractor matters. Heat pump installations must be done by a contractor in the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) for the rebate to apply. A cheaper quote from a non-HPCN installer can cost you the entire rebate.
- Your home must qualify. It has to be your primary residence and at least 12 months old. New builds and vacation properties are out.
3. BC Hydro and FortisBC Home Renovation Rebates (No Income Test)
If your income is above the CleanBC Energy Savings Program thresholds, or your home is already electrically heated, the utility rebate program is your main route. There is no income test — the amounts are simply smaller. The headline numbers for 2026:
- Heat pump: up to $4,000 for electrically heated homes
- Insulation: up to $5,500 — often the best dollar-for-dollar rebate on the list, since attic and wall insulation is comparatively cheap work
- Windows and doors: up to $2,000, calculated at $100 per opening
- Heat pump water heater: up to $1,000
- Solar: up to $5,000
Pairing rebates with the right upgrades matters more than chasing any single amount. Our guide to energy-efficient home upgrades in BC walks through which upgrades pay back fastest in our climate, rebate or no rebate.
4. Heating With Gas? The FortisBC Dual-Fuel Option
Plenty of Fraser Valley homes heat with natural gas and are not ready to give the furnace up entirely — cold snaps make people nervous about a heat pump alone. FortisBC’s answer is the dual-fuel rebate: up to $4,000 for a system that pairs a heat pump with your gas furnace as backup, rising to $8,000 for income-qualified households. The heat pump does the work in mild weather (which is most of a Fraser Valley winter) and the furnace takes over on the coldest days. If you are comparing the full switch against dual fuel, run both sets of numbers — the CleanBC full-switch rebate is bigger, but only if your income qualifies and you are comfortable retiring the furnace.
One practical warning: a heat pump install sometimes exposes an undersized electrical panel, and a panel upgrade is rarely covered by the rebate itself. Budget for it separately — our electrical panel upgrade cost guide shows what that work runs in BC.
5. Closed: The Federal Programs You Keep Hearing About
Say it plainly, because a lot of websites will not: the Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed to new applicants, and so is the Canada Greener Homes Loan. They were real programs, they helped a lot of households, and they are done for anyone who has not already been accepted into them. If a contractor’s flyer or a renovation blog is still leading with a “$5,000 federal grant” or a “$40,000 interest-free federal loan” as if you can apply today, that page is out of date — ask the person quoting it to show you the live application page.
This matters practically, not just factually. A renovation budget built on a closed grant has a hole in it. Build your plan on the provincial and utility programs above, and cover the remaining cost deliberately — our guide to financing a home renovation in BC compares HELOCs, refinancing and renovation loans for exactly that gap.
6. Before You Spend a Dollar
Rebates reward paperwork done in the right order. Protect yourself with four habits:
- Confirm before you commit. Amounts are “up to” maximums, eligibility rules shift, and programs open and close. Check betterhomesbc.ca for the current state of every program in this article before signing anything.
- Use the right contractor. For heat pumps, that means an HPCN contractor — confirm your installer is in the network before the work starts, not after.
- Mind the dates. CleanBC’s current round keys off invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026. An install done a week too early can land under different rules.
- Keep every document. Invoices, product model numbers and before-and-after details are what rebate applications are made of. Photograph the old equipment before it leaves your house.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest home renovation rebate available in BC in 2026? The CleanBC Energy Savings Program, at up to $13,000 for income-qualified households switching from gas, oil or propane heating to a central heat pump (Level 1). Level 2 pays up to $7,000 and Level 3 up to $3,500. For a household of four, the income thresholds run from under $94,900 (Level 1) up to $189,800 (Level 3).
Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant still open? No. The Canada Greener Homes Grant and the Canada Greener Homes Loan are both closed to new applicants. Many websites still describe them as available, but they are out of date. Homeowners who were already accepted into those programs are in a different position — new applications are what has ended.
Do I need a special contractor to get a heat pump rebate? Yes. Heat pump installations must be completed by a contractor in the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) for CleanBC and utility rebates to apply. Your home must also be your primary residence and at least 12 months old.
How much can I get for insulation or new windows in BC? Under the BC Hydro and FortisBC Home Renovation Rebate, insulation pays up to $5,500 and windows and doors pay up to $2,000, calculated at $100 per opening. There is no income test for this program, and amounts are maximums — confirm current figures at betterhomesbc.ca.
I heat with natural gas. Is there a rebate that lets me keep my furnace? Yes — FortisBC offers a dual-fuel rebate of up to $4,000 (up to $8,000 for income-qualified households) for a heat pump paired with a gas furnace as backup. Income-qualified households switching away from gas entirely may do better under the CleanBC Energy Savings Program, at up to $13,000.
Planning an Energy Upgrade in Abbotsford?
Rebates can take a real bite out of a heat pump, insulation or window project — if the paperwork and the contractor are right from day one. If you want help lining your project up with the programs above, call us at (236) 613-0038 and we will talk through your home, your heating system and a realistic plan — no pressure, just straight answers.