How much rebate you get
BC Hydro and CleanBC programs offer $4,000–$13,000 for heat pump in Nanaimo. The exact amount depends on your income and the scope of your project (up to $13,000 for a gas/oil-to-heat-pump swap, or $7,000 if you're switching between gas/oil systems).
Who qualifies
- You own your home in Nanaimo
- Your current system matches the upgrade type (e.g., gas furnace for a heat pump upgrade)
- Your HPCN-certified installer files the rebate claim
- Income-qualified households see higher rebates
How much you get depends on your income tier
The CleanBC heat pump rebate isn't a flat number — standard households see the lower end of the $4,000–$16,000 range, moderate-income households get an enhanced rebate, and income-qualified households (e.g. a family of four earning up to roughly $57,200) can get up to $16,000 — often enough to cover the entire installation. On top of the heat pump, switching off gas or baseboard heat usually qualifies for a separate electrical/panel upgrade rebate of up to $5,000.
What you'll actually save each month
Rebates cover the upfront cost, but the number that decides whether this is worth it is the payback period — how long until the monthly savings pay back what you spent out of pocket. Here's the real math, using BC's actual current utility rates rather than a rough guess:
- BC Hydro electricity (2026): 10.97¢/kWh for the first 675 kWh/month, 14.08¢/kWh above that, plus a $0.2253/day basic charge. (Check current BC Hydro rates →)
- FortisBC natural gas (2026): roughly $1.66/GJ for the gas itself, plus delivery charges that bring most bills up meaningfully higher — your own FortisBC bill's "total rate" line is the number to use, not the commodity price alone. (Check current FortisBC rates →)
A modern cold-climate heat pump typically moves 2.5–3.5 units of heat per unit of electricity it uses (its "coefficient of performance"), which is why it beats resistance electric baseboard heating on cost even though both run on the same BC Hydro rate. Against a gas furnace, the comparison depends on your home's insulation, size, and how cold your winter gets — there's no single number that's honest for every Nanaimo house.
Get your real payback number: Plug in your current heating bill and system type in our free assessment tool and it'll estimate your monthly savings and payback period using these same current BC Hydro/FortisBC rates — not a generic average.
How to claim it
- Check your income tier and rough total with the free rebate assessment
- Book a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation — required before work starts, and it sets your rebate ceiling
- Get quotes from HPCN-certified installers in Nanaimo
- Work is installed by your program-registered contractor
- Book the post-retrofit evaluation and file your rebate applications with your utility
- Rebate arrives in 4–8 weeks
Full income-tier breakdown, stacking math, and brand comparisons: Complete BC heat pump rebate guide →
Heat Pump installers in Nanaimo
Real companies based in Nanaimo, pulled from their current Google reviews. We're not paid to list anyone here.
Next steps
View all Nanaimo rebate programs → or read guides on heat pump in BC →