Electrical Service Upgrade Rebate

The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program is offering a $500 rebate for upgrading your electrical service to 100, 200, or 400 amp service for your home when upgrading from a fossil fuel primary space or water heating system to a primary electrical space or water heating system.

Electrical Service Upgrade Rebate

Overview

Rebate amount

$500

Who can apply

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

Deadline

Application must be submitted within 6 months of the invoice date

Qualifying products

Must upgrade your electrical service to 100, 200 or 400 amp service (from your electric utility provider) in combination with a rebate eligible upgrade from a fossil fuel (oil, propane or natural gas) primary space or water heating system to a space heating heat pump or hot water heat pump

Funding provided by

The Province of British Columbia

If you are new to CleanBC Better Homes rebates, learn how the rebate process works.

Rebate amount

Requirements

Must upgrade your electrical service to 100, 200 or 400 amp service (from your electric utility provider) in combination with a rebate eligible upgrade from a fossil fuel (oil, propane or natural gas) primary space or water heating system to a space heating heat pump or hot water heat pump.

Primary fuel before upgrade

Rebate

Fossil Fuel (oil, propane, or natural gas)

$500

Related rebates

If you apply for this rebate you should also consider the following:

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.

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 utility account with FortisBC, BC Hydro, or a municipal utility.
  • 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.
  • Must be converting from a fossil fueled primary space or water heating system to electric primary space or water heating system to be eligible to receive this rebate.
  • Your home must be primarily heated with:
    • Natural Gas or piped-propane supplied by FortisBC
    • Natural Gas supplied by Pacific Northern Gas
    • Oil or propane not supplied by FortisBC
    • Wood or other solid fuels

Requirements for your contractor

All new equipment must be installed:

  • By a licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid B.C. business license for the trade applicable to the upgrade being installed (e.g. Heat pumps must be installed by a licensed residential heating and cooling contractor). Self-installations are not eligible, and
  • You must have an invoice from the utility (BC Hydro or FortisBC) and an invoice from the electrical contractor for the work provided.  Applications without both invoices will not be eligible.

Requirements for the upgrade

The new electrical service must:

  • Be for an upgrade to 100, 200, or 400 amp electrical service (from your electric utility provider).
  • Completed within 6 months of an eligible heat pump or heat pump water heating system upgrade.

Note: Eligible expenses covered by the rebate are:

    • utility connection fees
    • electrical panel upgrade
    • service mast alterations or replacement
    • conduit replacement, meter base alterations or replacements
    • weather head alteration or replacement
    • labour

Deadlines

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

How to apply

Before you begin

  1. Carefully read the Program Requirements and Additional Terms and Conditions to confirm your eligibility.
  2. Purchase an eligible heat pump and have it installed by a licensed contractor.
  3. If you are switching from oil, propane, or natural gas to a heat pump, include proof of your fossil fuel system removal.
  4. Once your upgrades are installed, complete the online application and upload all supporting documentation including copies of all receipts and invoices. See sample invoices.

I am...

Apply here

A BC Hydro Electric customer that is converting to a heat pump or heat pump water heater from natural gas, propane or oil.BC Hydro online application
A FortisBC Electric customer that is converting to a heat pump or heat pump water heater from natural gas, propane or oil.BC Hydro online application
Please Note: If you are submitting an application that includes both a heat pump and a natural gas fireplace or natural gas hot water heater, use the BC Hydro online application.

Who to contact

Questions about the rebate?

Contact an Energy Coach to get clarification or help with understanding this rebate.

Questions about your application?

FAQs and more