Quick quiz: how a heat pump works
Ten questions on the machine itself. Tap an answer to see why.
Short answer: If you heat with electric baseboards or an electric furnace, BC Hydro pays up to $4,000 for a whole-home heat pump or $1,500 for a partial one, plus up to $1,000 extra for installs finished Aug 1 to Oct 31, 2026. If you heat with gas, oil or propane, only income-qualified homes get a rebate now: up to $13,000 at the lowest income level.
Chilliwack is at the east end of the Fraser Valley, where outflow winds can make winter feel much colder than the thermometer says. Chilliwack has a mix of older rural homes, some on oil or propane, and newer subdivisions on gas. Homes still on oil or propane are the ones with the most to gain from switching.
Which heat pump rebate fits your home in Chilliwack?
| Your home now | Who pays | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Electric baseboards or electric furnace (any income) | BC Hydro | Up to $4,000 whole home, $1,500 partial, plus up to $1,000 bonus for installs done Aug 1 - Oct 31, 2026 |
| Gas, oil or propane, income-qualified | CleanBC Energy Savings Program | Up to $13,000 (Level 1), $7,000 (Level 2), $3,500 (Level 3) for a central or 3-head system |
| Electric heat, income Level 1 | CleanBC Energy Savings Program | Up to $5,000 (Level 1 only) |
| Gas, oil or propane, not income-qualified | None right now | The general fuel-switching rebate ended April 11, 2025 |
What "whole home" really means for BC Hydro
To get the full $4,000, the heat pump has to meet 100% of your home's heating at -5°C. The contractor proves this with a heat load calculation. If it covers at least half your heating, you get the $1,500 partial rebate instead. Other rules: your installer must be a member of BC Hydro's Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN), and the unit must be on BC Hydro's eligible list (variable-speed, with an AHRI number, HSPF2 of 8.5 or more and SEER2 of 15.2 or more). Apply within six months of your invoice.
Income-qualified? Check this first
If your household income is under the CleanBC limits, you may get most or all of the cost covered. For a family of four, Level 1 is up to $94,900, Level 2 up to $118,600 and Level 3 up to $189,800 (combined pre-tax income). See can you get a free heat pump in Chilliwack for the full table.
What's different in Chilliwack
- The City of Chilliwack has an information page on CleanBC rebates and top-ups. We could not confirm a separate, current city-funded cash top-up.
My tip for Chilliwack: Size matters here. Ask your installer to size the heat pump for Chilliwack's cold outflow days, not an average winter day. BC Hydro's whole-home rebate needs a heat load calculation anyway.
What to do next
- Check your current heat. Electric, gas, oil or propane decides which rebate you can get.
- Check your income against the CleanBC table. If you qualify, pre-register before any work starts.
- Hire a qualified contractor (an HPCN member for BC Hydro). They do the heat load calculation and pick an eligible model.
- Ask about insulation too. Doing two upgrades can add a bonus, and a tighter home needs a smaller heat pump.
- Apply within six months of your final invoice.
Questions people ask
Is the BC Hydro heat pump rebate for gas homes?
No. BC Hydro's rebate is only for replacing electric heat. Gas, oil and propane homes can only get a rebate through the income-qualified CleanBC Energy Savings Program right now.
Is the BC Hydro whole-home rebate based on 80% of my space?
No. BC Hydro's whole-home rebate needs the heat pump to meet 100% of your heating at -5°C. Covering 50% or more gets the $1,500 partial rebate.
Did CleanBC rebates change in 2026?
Yes. For invoices on or after July 6, 2026, the income-qualified maximums dropped. The top amount for a gas-to-heat-pump switch is now $13,000 at Level 1, and electric-to-heat-pump is $5,000 at Level 1 only.
Is Chilliwack too cold for a heat pump?
No. Cold-climate heat pumps keep heating well below -5°C. BC Hydro's whole-home rebate already requires the system to meet 100% of your heat at -5°C, and your backup heat covers rare colder days.
Ready to check your home in Chilliwack?
Compare top-rated local installers, ranked by Google reviews. Free for homeowners, and we'll tell you honestly if the math doesn't work for your home.
Compare top-rated Chilliwack installers →Sources, checked September 26, 2026: CleanBC Energy Savings Program rules (July 6, 2026) · BC Hydro heat pump rebates.
