What heat pump rebates pay in Nanaimo
We re-read BC Hydro's heat pump rebate page on October 3, 2026. These rebates are for homes that heat with electricity today. The CleanBC amounts are for income-qualified households only.
BC Hydro whole home
Replacing electric heat; the heat pump meets 100% of the load at -5°C.
BC Hydro partial
The heat pump meets at least half of the heating load.
Limited-time bonus
Installed, invoiced and paid August 1 to October 31, 2026. Apply by November 30, 2026.
Income-qualified (CleanBC)
Level 1 switching from gas, oil or propane to a central or 3+ head system. Level 2 up to $7,000, Level 3 up to $3,500. From electric heat, Level 1 only, up to $5,000.
Nanaimo: Federal heat pump rebate coming in early 2027: up to $10,000 for households below the median income and $2,000 for other eligible homeowners. BC Hydro and CleanBC rebates can already be claimed, and Ottawa says the federal rebate can be combined with provincial programs. Read what is confirmed or decide whether to wait.
Canada’s new heat pump rebate is worth up to $10,000. Get an email the day it opens
Ottawa says you can add it on top of provincial rebates like the ones on this page.
- 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.
How Ottawa says it will work (plans, not final rules)
- Apply online when your heating breaks or gets old
- Approved in 24 hours no home energy audit needed
- Payment approved in 5 days sent by direct deposit after you upload receipts
Read everything we know so far Official page: canada.ca
A Nanaimo example
A Nanaimo house with baseboards gets a $14,000 multi-split. BC Hydro pays $4,000 (plus up to $1,000 if finished and paid by October 31, 2026), and a City loan can spread the rest over 10 years at zero interest.
Winter in Nanaimo
Nanaimo's average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 2.2°C, and the coldest reading was -10.2°C. That is one of the mildest climates we cover. A cold-climate heat pump should run efficiently almost all winter, and backup heat will rarely come on.
Homes in Nanaimo
The 2021 Census counted 43,165 households in Nanaimo. About 67% own and 51% live in a detached house (22,215 homes). Of all households, 7,880 own a detached house built before 1981.
City of Nanaimo zero-interest loan
The City of Nanaimo offers zero-interest home retrofit loans of up to $15,000, repaid on your property tax over 10 years. Heat pumps qualify. You must be a Nanaimo homeowner with taxes in good standing and register with the free Home Energy Navigator. The loan can cover what is left after the BC Hydro rebate.
Only for homes replacing electric heat
BC Hydro's heat pump rebate is only for homes that are heated mainly by electricity today: baseboards or an electric furnace. If your home heats with natural gas, oil or propane, BC Hydro pays nothing for the switch. The gas-to-heat-pump rebate for all households ended on April 11, 2025. Income-qualified households can still use the CleanBC Energy Savings Program.
What the heat pump must do
For the $4,000 whole-home rebate, the heat pump must keep 22°C inside at -5°C outside, shown by a CSA F280-12 heat loss calculation. It must be on BC Hydro's eligible list, with HSPF2 of 8.5 or higher and SEER2 of 15.2 or higher. A home over 1,200 square feet needs a multi-split or central system. If the unit meets at least half your heat, it can earn the $1,500 partial rebate instead.
The bonus ends October 31, 2026
BC Hydro is adding up to $1,000 for heat pumps that are installed, invoiced and paid between August 1 and October 31, 2026. Apply by November 30, 2026. It is first come, first served. After October 31, the normal $4,000 and $1,500 amounts still apply.
Top-rated installers in Nanaimo
These Nanaimo heat pump installers have the best Google ratings with enough reviews to trust. Ratings and review counts from Google Maps. Ask each one if they are HPCN members.
How to claim it
- Check your bill: BC Hydro or FortisBC, and confirm your home heats with electricity.
- Hire a contractor in the Home Performance Contractor Network (required since June 1, 2026).
- Get a CSA F280-12 heat loss calculation and the model's AHRI number in the quote.
- Install, then pay the invoice in full.
- Apply online within six months of the invoice date.
Common questions
Who can get the Nanaimo retrofit loan?
City of Nanaimo homeowners with property taxes in good standing who register with the Home Energy Navigator.
Is a heat pump worth it in Nanaimo's mild climate?
Mild winters are where heat pumps work best. It will run efficiently on most winter days.
Do I need an HPCN contractor?
Yes. Since June 1, 2026, BC Hydro pays only for installs by a Home Performance Contractor Network member. Self-installs do not qualify.
Can I get a rebate if I heat with gas?
Not from the utility rebate. It is only for replacing electric heat. Income-qualified households can use the CleanBC Energy Savings Program, which pays up to $13,000 at Level 1 for central or 3+ head systems.
How long do I have to apply?
Six months from the invoice date for BC Hydro. For the limited-time bonus, apply by November 30, 2026.
What to do next
Planning more than one upgrade? See Nanaimo insulation rebates and heat pump water heater rebates.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 9, 2026: BC Hydro heat pump rebates, BC Hydro program eligibility, City of Nanaimo zero-interest retrofit loans, Find an HPCN contractor, CleanBC Energy Savings Program requirements, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01, NRCan cold-climate heat pump field test, Winter temperatures, Open-Meteo historical archive 2015 to 2024. All Nanaimo rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →
