On July 6, 2026, BC tightened the CleanBC Energy Savings Program (ESP). Some rebates ended, some were reduced in scope, and the program rules shifted for certain income levels. If you were considering a heat pump and wondering whether it's still worth it financially, the short answer is: yes, for most homeowners. But the details matter.
What changed July 6, 2026
The BC government announced the changes with short notice. According to the Home Performance Stakeholder Council, the changes were made to keep the program running rather than shut it down entirely due to provincial budget pressures.
Three things ended or changed:
- Insulation rebates under the CleanBC ESP ended July 6, 2026.
- Windows and doors rebates under the CleanBC ESP ended July 6, 2026.
- Electricity-heated homes at the higher ESP income levels lost access to the income-qualified stream.
Grace period for existing applicants
Importantly, heat pump rebates for gas, propane, and oil homeowners were not reduced in the official program tables. The amounts stay the same — what changed is the surrounding support (insulation, windows) that used to stack on top.
If you heat with natural gas: rebates still available
This is the question most Surrey homeowners are asking. The answer is yes. The income-qualified ESP still covers gas-heated homes, at the same rebate levels as before July 2026.
| System type | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central ducted / 3-head | $16,000 | $12,000 | $10,500 |
| 2-head multi-split | $14,000 | $10,500 | $8,000 |
| Single-head mini-split | $7,500 | $5,500 | $4,000 |
Income levels are based on household size and combined pre-tax income. A household of 4 people qualifies for Level 1 up to $87,350/year, Level 2 up to $114,647/year, and Level 3 up to $185,620/year. Most Surrey families earning under $185,000 will qualify for some level of rebate.
You must pre-register before any work begins
You can also stack a heat pump water heater ($3,500) and electrical panel upgrade ($5,000) on top of the heat pump rebate.
Not sure how much you'd get?
Answer six quick questions and our free calculator estimates your exact rebate in seconds.
If you heat with electric baseboards
The standard no-income-test path still applies and is unchanged. Any homeowner switching off electric baseboards can claim:
- $4,000 from CleanBC Better Homes — no income test, no pre-registration.
- $4,000 from BC Hydro's whole-home heat pump rebate, which stacks on top.
- Total: up to $8,000 combined, regardless of income.
What changed for electric-heated homes is that the income-qualified ESP path now has reduced coverage at higher income levels. But since the standard path gives up to $8,000 — which is more than the ESP path offers even at the lowest income level — this change has no practical impact for most electric-heat homeowners.
Oil and propane homes
Oil-heated homes continue to qualify for strong rebates through the ESP, with a $10,000 minimum on single-head systems and up to $16,000 for a central ducted system at Income Level 1. Propane homes follow the same table as natural gas.
Homes switching off oil have one additional requirement: the oil tank and all associated heating equipment must be removed as part of the installation. We coordinate this removal as part of the job.
BC Hydro and FortisBC rebates: unaffected
The July 6 changes applied only to the CleanBC ESP. BC Hydro and FortisBC both continue to operate their own independent rebate programs and were not part of the announcement:
- BC Hydro: up to $4,000 for whole-home heat pump replacement from electric heating.
- FortisBC: heat pump rebates including dual-fuel options (up to $5,000 for dual-fuel pairing).
- Both utilities continue to offer insulation and window rebates through their own programs.
If you were counting on the insulation or windows rebate through the CleanBC ESP, it is worth checking BC Hydro and FortisBC directly. Their programs are different in scope and eligibility but may cover similar upgrades.
Quick summary: what still works after July 6, 2026
| Scenario | Status |
|---|---|
| Gas or propane heat pump switch — income-qualified | Still available. Up to $16,000. |
| Oil to heat pump — income-qualified | Still available. Up to $16,000. |
| Electric baseboard to heat pump — any income | Still available. Up to $8,000. |
| Heat pump water heater (with ESP) | Still available. Up to $3,500. |
| Electrical panel upgrade (with ESP) | Still available. Up to $5,000. |
| Insulation rebate through CleanBC ESP | Ended July 6, 2026. |
| Windows and doors through CleanBC ESP | Ended July 6, 2026. |
Not sure what you qualify for?
We check your eligibility for free. No obligation. We know the current program rules inside out and handle the pre-registration paperwork as part of every job.
