British Columbia runs some of the most generous heat pump rebates in North America. The programs were overhauled in 2025, though, and a lot of the advice floating around online is simply out of date. If you're a Surrey homeowner trying to figure out what you can actually claim, this guide walks you through the whole thing as it stands right now: the real numbers, who qualifies, the deadlines, and the small details that decide whether you get paid.
We install heat pumps across Surrey, White Rock, Langley, and the rest of the Lower Mainland, and we file these rebate applications week in, week out. What follows is the same explanation we give homeowners at the kitchen table, no sales pitch.
A note on the numbers
First, understand the two rebate streams
Almost all the confusion about BC heat pump rebates comes from not realising there are two completely separate programs, each with its own rules, amounts, and application process. Figure out which one applies to you and everything else falls into place.
Standard rebates
No income test. Open to any eligible homeowner. Smaller amounts (up to $8,000 combined), and in 2026 it's mostly for homes on electric heat.
Income-qualified (Energy Savings Program)
Based on household income and home value. Much larger amounts (up to $16,000+), and it's the main path for gas, oil, and propane homes.
You can only claim one primary heating-system rebate per home across all government programs, so it's one stream or the other, not both. The rest of this guide goes deep on each.
The 2025 change that catches most people out
Here's the single most important thing to know in 2026, and the thing that trips up nearly every gas-heated homeowner in Surrey:
Fuel-switching rebates for gas, oil & propane ended in the standard stream
This is why you'll still see "up to $6,000" and "gas furnace rebate" claims on older blog posts and even some installer websites. That information is now wrong. Homes on electric baseboards or an electric furnace are the ones that still get an easy, no-strings rebate.
Stream 1: Standard rebates (no income test)
This is the simplest path, and in 2026 it's built around homes that currently use electric resistance heat (baseboards, electric furnace, or radiant). Two rebates stack here:
| Rebate | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CleanBC Better Homes | Up to $4,000 | Electric → qualifying air-source heat pump |
| BC Hydro whole-home | Up to $4,000 | Stacks with the above; cold-climate unit required |
| BC Hydro partial-home | Up to $1,500 | When the heat pump heats part of the home |
| Realistic combined total | Up to $8,000 | Whole-home electric conversion, no income test |
To qualify for the standard stream you need to:
- Currently heat with a hard-wired electric system (baseboards, electric furnace, or radiant). Any backup heat must also be electric.
- Install a qualifying, ENERGY STAR / cold-climate (ccASHP) rated heat pump with a variable-speed compressor and a valid AHRI certificate.
- Use a contractor registered with the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN).
- Own and live in the home year-round, with your own BC Hydro, FortisBC, or municipal utility meter.
- Submit the application within 6 months of the installation date.
Good news: no pre-registration here
Stream 2: Income-qualified rebates (up to $16,000 and more)
The CleanBC Energy Savings Program (ESP) is where the big money is, and it's the program gas-heated Surrey homes now rely on. Rebates are tiered across three income levels, and they cover up to 100% of your project cost up to the maximum. Here are the 2026 maximums for a home switching off natural gas or propane:
| System type | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central ducted / 3-head multi-split | $16,000 | $12,000 | $10,500 |
| 2-head multi-split / two mini-splits | $14,000 | $10,500 | $8,000 |
| Single-head mini-split | $7,500 | $5,500 | $4,000 |
| Combined space & water heat pump | $19,500 | $16,500 | $14,000 |
Source: CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program rebate eligibility requirements (effective for invoices dated on or after April 1, 2026). Oil-heated homes follow a similar table with a $10,000 floor on single-head systems.
The non-negotiable rule: pre-register first
Income thresholds: do you actually qualify?
Eligibility is based on your household size and the combined pre-tax income of everyone in the home over 18 (excluding dependants). These are the 2026 ceilings. Earn at or under the figure in a column and you qualify for that level:
| People in home | Level 1 (max) | Level 2 (max) | Level 3 (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $47,007 | $61,697 | $99,891 |
| 2 | $58,522 | $76,810 | $124,358 |
| 3 | $71,945 | $94,428 | $152,884 |
| 4 | $87,350 | $114,647 | $185,620 |
| 5 | $99,072 | $130,032 | $210,528 |
| 6 | $111,735 | $146,653 | $237,438 |
| 7+ | $124,402 | $163,277 | $264,353 |
Notice how generous Level 3 is. A family of four earning up to $185,620 still qualifies for up to $10,500. A lot of middle-income Surrey families assume they earn too much and never check. That's leaving real money on the table.
The home-value cap: a real Surrey catch
Income isn't the only test. The Energy Savings Program also looks at your home's BC Assessment value, and this is where Metro Vancouver homeowners get tripped up because property values here are high.
- Income Levels 1 & 2 (registering on or after April 1, 2026): home must be assessed at $1,200,000 or less.
- Income Level 3: home must be assessed at $1,820,000 or less.
What this means in practice for Surrey
Water heaters, electrical panels & other top-ups
The heat pump itself isn't the only thing the Energy Savings Program covers. If you qualify, you can stack these on top (Level 1 / Level 2 maximums shown):
| Upgrade | Up to | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump water heater | $3,500 | Roughly 3× the efficiency of an electric tank |
| Electrical service upgrade | $5,000 | Panel/service upgrade to support the heat pump |
| Insulation | $5,500 | Levels 1 & 2 only |
| Windows & doors | $9,500 | Levels 1 & 2 only |
Surrey isn't eligible for the northern top-up
How to apply, step by step
- 1
Figure out your stream
Electric heat with average-or-higher income → standard stream. Gas/oil/propane, or lower income → Energy Savings Program. We confirm this for free in about five minutes.
- 2
Pre-register (income-qualified only)
Apply through the Better Homes BC portal and wait for your eligibility code. Do not buy equipment or start work until it arrives.
- 3
Get a heat-load assessment & quote
An HPCN-registered contractor sizes the system properly (a CSA-F280 heat-loss calculation may be required) and specifies a qualifying unit from the approved product list.
- 4
Install with a registered contractor
Installation must meet program standards and, for fossil-fuel conversions, the old system has to be removed with proof (permit, inspection, or removal invoice).
- 5
Submit the paperwork
Itemised invoice showing the rebate, AHRI certificate, proof of removal where applicable, and photos. In the ESP, your contractor usually deducts the rebate right off your invoice.
- 6
Get paid
Standard-stream rebates are mailed/deposited after approval; ESP rebates are typically applied as an instant discount so you never front the full amount.
7 mistakes that quietly kill your rebate
- Starting work before you have your eligibility code (income-qualified stream). This is the #1 disqualifier. It's permanent.
- Hiring an installer who isn't HPCN-registered. No registration, no rebate, no exceptions.
- Assuming a gas-furnace home still gets the easy standard rebate. That ended in April 2025.
- Picking a heat pump that isn't on the qualified product list, or one without a variable-speed compressor and valid AHRI certificate.
- Missing the 6-month application window in the standard stream.
- Not removing the old fossil-fuel system (and keeping no proof of removal) when converting from gas or oil.
- Overlooking the assessed-value cap. Applying for Level 1 or 2 when your home is assessed above $1.2M will get you rejected.
Three real Surrey scenarios
1. Baseboard-heated townhome in Cloverdale
Electric baseboards, two professionals, home assessed at $850K. They're over the income limits but that doesn't matter. They use the standard stream: $4,000 CleanBC + $4,000 BC Hydro = up to $8,000, no income test, no pre-registration.
2. Gas-furnace house in Newton, family of four
Combined income $150K, home assessed at $1.1M. The standard gas rebate is gone, but they land in Level 3 of the Energy Savings Program (under $185,620 income, under $1.82M value). A central ducted system gets them up to $10,500, plus up to $1,500 toward a panel upgrade.
3. Single retiree in a Whalley condo, gas heat
Income $45K, so clearly Level 1. The catch: the Energy Savings Program's heat pump rebate is for ground-oriented homes, so an apartment-style condo unit isn't eligible for it. The right move is BC Hydro's separate condo & apartment rebate program. We'd point them there rather than over-promising.
The honest bottom line
Want your exact rebate number?
We'll check which stream you fall into, confirm the amount, and handle the entire application. No cost, no obligation.
