Quick quiz: how rebate programs work
Seven questions that apply almost everywhere. Tap an answer to see why.
Short answer: Start with free habits (thermostat set-backs, cold-water laundry, blinds), then seal drafts for a few dollars. If you have baseboard heat, BC Hydro is giving out up to five free Mysa or Sinopé thermostats from October 2026.
Prince George is in northern BC, with long, cold winters. That shapes where your energy goes: heating in winter. Most Prince George homes heat with natural gas. A cold-climate heat pump can carry much of the load, with a furnace or electric backup for the coldest stretches.
Canada’s new heat pump rebate is worth up to $10,000. Get an email the day it opens
Applications are not open yet. Ottawa says they open in early 2027, and that you can add this rebate on top of provincial ones.
- Up to $10,000
- if your household earns below the median income
- $2,000
- for other homeowners who qualify
Stack it with the British Columbia rebate open today
Ottawa says you can combine them. Each program has its own rules. Amounts are the most you can get.
Applications open early 2027
Join the launch alert
- Launch-day email, with what to do first
- Who qualifies for the $10,000, once Ottawa says
- A short hello now, so you know it worked
Know someone with old heating? Send them this.
Only emails about this rebate. No spam, no sales calls. Unsubscribe anytime.
Read everything we know so far Official page: canada.ca
Free: do these this week
- Turn the heat down when you're asleep or out. Lower heat means less energy used.
- Use your blinds. Open south-facing ones on sunny winter days; close them at night.
- Wash in cold water and run full loads. Heating water is most of a washer's energy.
- Close doors and turn off baseboards in rooms you don't use.
- Clean or change filters on your furnace or heat pump so it doesn't work harder than it needs to.
Cheap: a few dollars each
- Weatherstripping around doors and windows.
- Foam gaskets behind outlet covers on outside walls.
- Pipe insulation on the first few feet of hot water pipe.
- LED bulbs in the lights you use most.
To find drafts, hold your hand near window and door frames on a windy day.
Free smart thermostats and Peak Saver
If your home has electric baseboards and you're a BC Hydro customer, you can get up to five free Mysa or Sinopé line-voltage thermostats starting in October 2026. They come pre-enrolled in Peak Saver, which pays a $50 reward each winter ($100 if income-qualified). Peak Saver events run November to March, last up to four hours, and you can opt out. Ecobee and Nest do not qualify, because they don't control baseboards.
Bigger upgrades, when you're ready
- Insulation: BC Hydro pays by area and R-value added, up to $900 for an attic and $1,200 for walls or basement (for electrically heated homes).
- Heat pump: up to $4,000 from BC Hydro if you replace electric heat.
- Heat pump water heater: up to $1,000 from BC Hydro when replacing an electric tank.
- Income-qualified? ECAP gives a free home energy evaluation and free upgrades.
What's different in Prince George
- Prince George is north of 100 Mile House, so income-qualified homes switching from gas, oil or propane can get the CleanBC northern top-up of $3,000 (or $1,500 for a single-head mini-split), for Income Levels 1 and 2.
My tip for Prince George: Ask for a model that holds its heating output at low temperatures, and ask how the backup will switch on. A good installer will show you the numbers for Prince George winters.
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest way to cut my heating bill?
Turning the heat down at night and when you're out costs nothing. Sealing drafts costs a few dollars. After that, insulation usually gives the most back.
Do Ecobee or Nest thermostats get a BC Hydro rebate?
No. BC Hydro's free thermostats and Peak Saver thermostat rewards are for line-voltage baseboard thermostats like Mysa and Sinopé.
Does a heat pump work in a Prince George winter?
Yes, as part of a system. A cold-climate heat pump handles most of the year. On the coldest days, backup heat takes over. For income-qualified homes, the northern top-up helps cover the cost.
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Compare top-rated Prince George installers →Sources, checked September 26, 2026: B.C. government: free smart thermostats (2026) · BC Hydro insulation rebates · BC Hydro heat pump rebates · BC Hydro heat pump water heater rebate · ECAP: free home energy evaluation and upgrades.
