For a typical Burnaby, Coquitlam or Surrey house with a furnace from the early 2000s, this is the rebate worth planning around. The heat pump carries the home through most of the heating season and cools it in summer; the gas furnace takes over on the coldest days. The rebate returned with stricter rules than before, so read the checklist below before anyone quotes you.
What the rebate pays
| Stream | Maximum rebate | Two-upgrade bonus | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | Up to $4,000 | $300 | FortisBC residential natural gas customers |
| Income-qualified | Up to $8,000 | $350 | Households under the income limit (4 people: $94,900) |
The previous version of this rebate paid up to $5,000 on the residential side. That figure doesn’t apply to systems installed under the October 15, 2026 rules.
Eligibility checklist
- The equipment being replaced is a gas furnace at least 15 years old that is the home’s primary heating. Warranty replacements and insurance claims are excluded, and so is replacing an existing dual fuel system.
- The new system is a central ducted air-source heat pump with a new compatible high-efficiency gas furnace, run by a connected thermostat, and listed on FortisBC’s Qualified Dual Fuel Systems List.
- It has an AHRI certified reference number covering the heat pump’s outdoor unit, its indoor unit and the furnace model.
- The switchover is set at or below the regional maximum for the life of the product: 5°C or lower in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, 2°C or lower in the Southern Interior and Northern BC.
- The installer is a Technical Safety BC licensed gas contractor, a member in good standing of the Home Performance Contractor Network, and listed on the HPCN for this rebate at the time of installation.
- The system is installed on or after October 15, 2026, sized so the heat pump meets the home’s heat demand down to the switchover temperature, and commissioned on site.
- The home is a year-round primary residence at least 12 months old (detached, duplex, triplex, row home, townhouse or mobile home on a permanent foundation) with a FortisBC residential account.
Extra rules for the $8,000 income-qualified rebate
- Household income at or under the limit for your household size: 1 person $51,100 · 2 $63,600 · 3 $78,200 · 4 $94,900 · 5 $107,600 · 6 $121,400 · 7+ $135,100.
- Home at least 10 years old, no more than 3,500 sq ft, assessed under $1.2 million, and the only property you own in BC.
- Proof of income for every household member 18 or older. FortisBC may also schedule a verification visit.
- One rebate per home. It can’t be combined with other FortisBC, provincial or federally funded rebates for the same system.
Several other income-qualified rebates came back the same day: see the income-qualified guide for windows, insulation, bathroom fans and thermostats.
The installer’s part of the paperwork
You claim the rebate, but your contractor’s records come first. FortisBC requires the installer to:
- Complete commissioning at installation and submit the data on site through FortisBC’s DSMAlly mobile app.
- Photograph the existing furnace and the new system in the app. The old furnace can’t be photographed once it’s been hauled away.
- Give you a copy of the commissioning sheet, the AHRI certificate and an itemized invoice with model and serial numbers.
Applying, step by step
- Check the furnace age. The manufacture date is on the rating plate inside the burner door. If income-qualified, ask FortisBC for pre-qualification before booking.
- Verify the installer. Look them up on the HPCN directory and confirm they’re listed for dual fuel.
- Get the AHRI number in writing on your quote and confirm it covers all three components.
- Install, commission, photograph. The DSMAlly submission happens on install day.
- Claim online within six months of paying the invoice, then allow up to 90 days for FortisBC to process it.
How ROMA helps with the dual fuel rebate
ROMA has replaced gas furnaces, boilers and water heaters in Greater Vancouver homes since 1999, from Vancouver Specials with basement suites to heritage houses on radiators. When you call about the dual fuel rebate, a licensed technician starts with the facts that decide eligibility: the age on the rating plate, what fuel heats the house, whether it’s your primary home, and whether the household may be income-qualified.
You get a plain answer about which rebate fits and what it should pay, and a free, flat-rate estimate on qualifying equipment if you want one. Where a program needs an HPCN-listed contractor, we show you how to check any installer on the HPCN directory before you book. Phone (604) 704-0300 or email info@romaheating.ca.
Is dual fuel the right fit for your house?
Dual fuel suits homes with working ductwork, a gas furnace at or past 15 years and a family that would like air conditioning. If the house is heated by a boiler and radiators, a ducted dual fuel system isn’t a simple swap; ROMA works on hydronic systems every week and will tell you what does make sense there. Compare with the other heat pump rebates.