Heat pump rebates for gas-heated homes in BC

Heat pumps have the most rebate money behind them and the longest rulebooks. For a home on natural gas, three questions settle which program applies: how old the furnace is, what the household earns, and which region of BC you’re in.

Match your home to a heat pump rebate

Why most gas homes end up with dual fuel

Think of dual fuel as two heat sources sharing one set of ducts: a central air-source heat pump and a new high-efficiency gas furnace. Above the switchover temperature (5°C or lower on the coast, 2°C or lower in the Interior and North) the heat pump heats the house; below it the furnace fires. You keep the reassurance of gas on the coldest nights, gain summer cooling, and FortisBC contributes up to $4,000, or $8,000 for income-qualified homes.

• Gas stays as the backup for cold snaps.
• One system handles both heating and air conditioning.
• It uses the ductwork most Greater Vancouver gas homes already have.
• The system must be on FortisBC’s Qualified Dual Fuel Systems List with one AHRI reference for outdoor unit, indoor unit and furnace.

Rules every heat pump rebate shares

• Correct sizing to the program’s rules (for dual fuel, the heat pump must meet the home’s heat demand down to the switchover temperature).
• An installer who is an HPCN member listed for that rebate, and TSBC-licensed for any gas work.
• Equipment from the program’s qualifying list. Self-installs never qualify.
• You apply yourself, usually within six months of the paid invoice.

The federal heat pump rebate

Greener Homes, both grant and loan, is over. On October 8, 2026 the federal government announced a National Heat Pump Rebate of up to $10,000 for households below median income and $2,000 for others, described as stackable with provincial programs. It hasn’t launched; Ottawa points to early 2027. FortisBC’s dual fuel terms currently bar combining with federally funded rebates for the same system, so how the two interact is an open question we’ll update when the rules are out.

PST on heat pumps

Heat pumps have been exempt from BC’s 7% PST since April 1, 2022, while gas heating equipment carries 12% PST. On a dual fuel installation, only the heat pump portion is exempt. Confirm the current rules with the Ministry of Finance before relying on the saving.

How ROMA helps with the heat pump 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 heat pump 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.

Choosing equipment that actually qualifies

ROMA sizes systems from a room-by-room heat load, not a rule of thumb, because that’s what decides whether the heat pump can carry the house down to the switchover point. Ask any installer to show you the qualified-list entry and AHRI reference before you sign.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources we checked

• FortisBC: Dual fuel heating system rebate
• FortisBC: Dual fuel heating system rebate (income-qualified)
• Better Homes BC: Income-qualified program
• Better Homes BC: CleanBC rebate programs
• Prime Minister of Canada: National Heat Pump Rebate announcement
• BC Provincial Sales Tax Exemption and Refund Regulation