Quick read plus a quiz

7 Sneaky Ways to Lose Your Rebate (and the Easy Fix for Each)

Most lost rebates are not about money. They are about order, paperwork and one small rule nobody mentioned. Here are seven traps, and how to step around each.

On this page
  1. Quick quiz: would you keep your rebate?
  2. Key takeaways
  3. The seven traps
  4. Common questions
  5. Keep reading

By Sam Menard · 6 min read · Updated October 23, 2026

Quick quiz

Quick quiz: would you keep your rebate?

Five questions. Tap an answer to see why.

1. You have a gas furnace in BC. Does BC Hydro's heat pump rebate apply?

BC Hydro's rebate is for replacing electric heat. Gas homes should look at other programs, such as FortisBC for its own customers.

2. In Ontario's heat pump stream, what comes first?

Written pre-approval comes before the install.

3. What does a BC Hydro battery need to reach the $5,000 rebate?

Peak Saver enrollment, within 14 days of the in-service date. Tesla battery models are excluded.

4. A solar system under an Ontario net metering agreement is eligible for the Home Renovation Savings stream.

False. The stream's requirements say systems under net metering are not eligible.

5. When should you check a product against the qualified list?

Before. Swapping equipment after the fact is the hardest fix.

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Key takeaways

  • Read the program's rules before you sign anything.
  • In Ontario, get written pre-approval first. In BC, keep your invoice date in mind.
  • Use an installer the program recognizes, and a model on its list.
  • A battery needs Peak Saver enrollment to reach the top BC Hydro rebate.

Rebate programs are written for the government's needs, not yours. They ask for things in a set order and check every box. Miss one, and the cheque does not come.

These seven traps come from the official program pages we track. Rules change, so confirm each one on the program page before you spend money. Our rebate tracker shows what changed lately.

The seven traps

  1. 1Buying before you get pre-approval

    Ontario's Home Renovation Savings heat pump stream asks for written pre-approval before the install. Apply after and you may get nothing.

    Easy fix: ask your installer for the pre-approval email before the first day of work.

  2. 2Hiring an installer the program does not recognize

    BC Hydro's heat pump rebate needs a Heat Pump Contractor Network (HPCN) member, and its solar and battery rebates need a licensed contractor who is an HPCN member. A friendly handyman will not qualify.

    Easy fix: check the contractor against the official list before you sign. Our BC rankings mark registered contractors with a green badge.

  3. 3Replacing the wrong kind of heat

    BC Hydro's heat pump rebate is for homes that replace electric heat, like baseboards or an electric furnace. Gas, oil or propane homes get nothing from BC Hydro for a heat pump. FortisBC customers are a different group, and have their own rebates.

    Easy fix: find your heat source and your utility first, then pick the program.

  4. 4Skipping Peak Saver with a battery

    A BC Hydro battery rebate can reach $5,000, but only with Peak Saver enrollment, and the terms ask you to enroll within 14 days of the in-service date. A battery-only system without enrollment gets no rebate. Paired with solar and without enrollment, the cap is $1,500.

    Easy fix: put the enrollment date on your calendar the day the system is switched on.

  5. 5Waiting too long to apply

    BC Hydro's heat pump rebate must be applied for within six months of the invoice. Some programs add extra windows for bonuses, and those can be short.

    Easy fix: apply the week the invoice arrives, with the photos and receipts attached.

  6. 6Choosing solar that is set up the wrong way

    Ontario's solar and storage stream does not accept systems under an Ontario net metering agreement, and it needs written approval from the program and your utility before you buy.

    Easy fix: tell the installer the stream's rules on day one and ask them to design to those.

  7. 7Buying a product that is not on the list

    Rebates pay for models on a qualified list. All Tesla battery models have been excluded by BC Hydro since March 12, 2025, with a narrow exception for earlier applications. Heat pumps must be on the program's list too.

    Easy fix: get the model number on the quote and check it against the list yourself.

Every rebate rule has a reason. If a step feels odd, it is probably the one that gets checked.
Want a number for your home? Run our rebate calculator, or see your rebates and the top-rated installers near you.

Common questions

Can I fix a missed step after the install?

Sometimes, but not often. Programs set their own rules for exceptions. Ask the program office early, in writing.

Who should check the paperwork?

You should, even when the installer files it. Ask for a copy of everything that is sent.

Do these rules apply to every province?

No. This article covers BC Hydro and Ontario's Home Renovation Savings. Other places have their own rules, which we list on each region's hub page.

Where can I see the current rules?

On the program pages listed below. We also show the date we last read each one on our city pages.

Keep reading

Sources, read October 23, 2026: BC Hydro: renovating your heating system, BC Hydro: Peak Saver, BC Hydro: ineligible product information, Home Renovation Savings: solar and storage requirements.

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