Dual fuel ducted heat pump rebate

Space heating is the largest use of energy in homes. A properly installed heat pump is two to three times more efficient than other alternatives and can provide you with both heating and cooling for today’s cold winters and hot summers.

A dual fuel heating system combines a ducted heat pump and a gas or propane furnace for back up heating, distributing heat and cooling through ductwork connected to vents in each room. A switch-over set point temperature determines when the backup furnace turns on.

Overview

Rebate amount

Up to $10,000 (plus Northern top-up)

Who can apply

B.C. citizens who live in an eligible home and have residential electric utility accounts with BC Hydro or FortisBC

Deadline

Application must be submitted within 6 months of the invoice date

Qualifying products

Must be on the qualified product list

Funding provided by

The Province of British Columbia, FortisBC and Pacific Northern Gas (PNG)

Rebate amount

Requirements

HSPF ≥ 10.00 and SEER ≥ 16.00
or HSPF2 ≥ 8.50 and SEER2 ≥ 15.20**
Variable speed compressor is not required

Primary fuel before upgrade

Rebate

Tank propane

Northern top-up*

$1,500
$3,000

Piped propane or natural gas from PNG

Northern top-up*

Pacific Northern Gas top-up***

$1,500
$3,000
$3,500

Piped propane or natural gas from FortisBC****

Northern top-up*

$10,000

$3,000

*Eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N) and must be connected to BC Hydro electric service.

**The CleanBC Home Renovation Rebate Program and FortisBC programs accept either the HSPF/SEER or HSPF2/SEER2 testing standard data from AHRI. The new HSPF2/SEER2 testing standard tests heat pumps to a higher standard that better represents homes in Canada, resulting in different efficiency data. An eligible heat pump that meets either the HSPF/SEER requirements or the HSPF2/SEER2 requirements and is on our qualified product list will qualify for a rebate.

***Pacific Northern Gas (PNG) offers up to $2,500 in rebates to customers who have received a Dual-Fuel Ducted Heat Pump Rebate from CleanBC. There is an additional incentive of $1,000 available to customers who replace their furnace with an ENERGY STAR® natural gas furnace and install a heat pump. Learn more about the PNG top-up.

****Eligible homes in the FortisBC gas territory with a natural gas or piped propane furnace may be eligible for the FortisBC Dual Fuel Heating System Rebate. Please visit the FortisBC Dual Fuel Heating System webpage for additional details.

Eligibility requirements

In order to qualify for this rebate, all of the following requirements must be met. Please read them carefully. Contact an Energy Coach if you have questions.

Please note: You may be eligible for one primary space heating system rebate per home, regardless of the number installed. For example, you cannot get a rebate for a furnace and a heat pump, even if you install a dual fuel ducted heat pump. Your second rebate application will be denied.

Requirements for the home

You must live in an eligible home:

The home must be a year-round primary residence that is at least 12 months old.
You must have a residential electric utility account with FortisBC or BC Hydro.
The home must be one of the following types:
- Single family home (detached dwelling)
- Secondary suite in a single-family home (detached dwelling), with its own separate utility meter
- Mobile home that is permanently fixed, sits on a foundation and is structurally complete with installed and connected plumbing, heating, electrical, water and sewer services; towing apparatus and axle must be removed
- Duplex, triplex, row home or townhome, where each unit has its own natural gas and/or electricity meter; utility accounts must be in the name of the resident and/or homeowner. Utility accounts in the name of a strata corporation are not eligible.
Your home must be primarily heated with:
- Natural gas or piped propane supplied by FortisBC
- Natural gas or piped propane supplied by Pacific Northern Gas
- Tank propane not supplied by FortisBC or Pacific Northern Gas

Requirements for your contractor

The new dual fuel heating system must be installed:

By a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member to be eligible for rebates. To identify contractors in your region, use the Find a Contractor search tool. Self-installations are not eligible.
- Contractors interested in becoming registered in to become a HPCN member can register at homeperformance.ca/contractornetwork.
In accordance with the Heat Pump Best Practices Guide for Existing Homes

Requirements for the upgrade

The new heat pump must:

Replace the existing primary heating system.
Be sized to function as the primary heating system of the home.
Have a minimum capacity of 12,000 BTU (1 ton).
Serve a main living area (e.g. family room, living room, or open-concept kitchen-living room).
Have an AHRI certified reference number that references all components of the heat pump.
- The AHRI certified reference number for dual fuel ducted heat pumps must show the outdoor unit, indoor unit and furnace.
Be listed as a qualified system on the Qualified Heat Pump Product List.
Have the thermostat, outdoor temperature switch-over control or equipment control board set to the following temperatures for the life of the system:
- Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland: <5^oC
- Southern Interior and Northern BC: <2^oC
Be sized to ensure that it has the capacity to meet the heat demand at or below the required temperature set points.
Be installed in accordance with the Heat Pump Best Practices Installation Guide for Existing Homes.
A heat load calculation is required and must be submitted to access the rebate, see What are the load calculation requirements for heat pumps?

Requirements for the equipment being replaced

Your home must have had a natural gas or propane furnace as the primary heating system for at least 12 consecutive months. This may be confirmed by reviewing your utility billing history.
- Dual fuel rebates are not available for replacing an electrical or wood heating system.
- Boilers are not eligible for a dual fuel ducted central heat pump rebate.
FortisBC customers only: The dual fuel heating system must be replacing an existing gas or propane furnace that is at least 10 years old.

Deadlines

The application must be submitted within 6 months of the invoice date of the upgrade.

How to apply

Before you begin

Carefully read the Program Requirements and Additional Terms and Conditions to confirm your eligibility.
Purchase an eligible dual fuel heating system and have it installed by an eligible contractor.
Once your upgrades are installed, complete the online application and upload all supporting documentation including copies of all receipts and invoices. See sample invoices.