Utility comparison

BC Hydro vs FortisBC Rebates: Which Pays More?

By Sam Menard · Updated September 26, 2026

Short answer: It depends on who supplies your electricity. Most of BC is BC Hydro; Kelowna and some southern Interior towns are FortisBC. For the same upgrades, the two pay about the same: $4,000 for a heat pump that replaces electric heat, $100 per window, the same insulation rates, $1,000 for a heat pump water heater. FortisBC pays more for income-qualified heat pumps (up to $12,000). BC Hydro is the only one with solar and battery rebates (up to $10,000) and Peak Saver.

Side by side: BC Hydro vs FortisBC rebates (2026)

UpgradeBC HydroFortisBC
Heat pump (replacing electric heat)Up to $4,000 whole home / $1,500 partial, + up to $1,000 bonus Aug 1 - Oct 31, 2026Up to $4,000 whole home / $1,500 partial
Heat pump, income-qualifiedThrough CleanBC: up to $5,000 from electric (Level 1), up to $13,000 from gasUp to $12,000 central, $9,000 mini/multi-split, $5,000 partial (electric customers)
InsulationAttic up to $900; walls or basement up to $1,200Same rates
Windows and doors$100 each, up to $2,000$100 each, up to $2,000 (gas or electric customers)
Heat pump water heaterUp to $1,000 (from electric)$1,000 (from electric tank)
Smart thermostatFree Mysa/Sinopé for baseboards (from Oct 2026); Peak Saver rewardsUp to $150 for electric central heat
Solar panels$1,000/kW, up to $5,000None found
Home batteryUp to $5,000 with Peak SaverNone found
EV charger50% up to $350, + $200 power management50% up to $350
Fridge, washer, dryerNone listed Sept 2026Fridge up to $100; washer or dryer up to $250 (electric customers)
Multi-upgrade bonusUp to $2,000$300, or $750-$2,000 based on EnerGuide improvement

Which utility am I on?

Look at your electricity bill. Most homes in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Kamloops, Vernon, Prince George and the rest of BC Hydro's area use BC Hydro. Kelowna gets electricity from FortisBC. Penticton, Summerland, Grand Forks and Nelson Hydro customers use FortisBC's electric rebates. Many homes get electricity from BC Hydro and natural gas from FortisBC; that's normal.

Can I stack BC Hydro and FortisBC rebates?

Only where each utility supplies what you're upgrading. For example, a BC Hydro electricity + FortisBC gas home could get a BC Hydro heat pump rebate if it replaces electric baseboards, and use FortisBC's window rebate as a gas customer. But you can't get two heat pump rebates for one heat pump, and FortisBC electric customers are not eligible for BC Hydro programs.

Switching off gas? Here's the honest picture

The general CleanBC rebate for switching from gas to a heat pump ended April 11, 2025. Today, gas homes get heat pump money only through the income-qualified CleanBC Energy Savings Program: up to $13,000 at Income Level 1, $7,000 at Level 2 and $3,500 at Level 3, plus a $3,000 northern top-up at or north of 100 Mile House. See the free heat pump guide.

Solar and batteries: BC Hydro only

BC Hydro pays $1,000 per kW of solar (up to $5,000) and $500 per kWh of battery (up to $5,000 with Peak Saver, or $1,500 paired with solar without it). Tesla products are not eligible. Since July 1, 2026, new solar customers are paid 10 cents per kWh for power they send to the grid. Is the BC Hydro solar rebate worth it?

What to do next

  1. Find your electric utility on your bill.
  2. If you have electric heat, a heat pump is the biggest rebate either utility offers.
  3. If your income may qualify, check the CleanBC limits first; they can cover most of the cost.
  4. Hire a contractor who knows your utility's rules (an HPCN member for BC Hydro).

Questions people ask

Is my home on BC Hydro or FortisBC?

Check your bill. Most of BC gets electricity from BC Hydro. FortisBC supplies electricity in parts of the southern Interior, like Kelowna, and several city utilities (Penticton, Summerland, Grand Forks, Nelson) use FortisBC's rebates. FortisBC also supplies natural gas in most of BC.

Can I get both BC Hydro and FortisBC rebates?

Sometimes, but not for the same thing. Each utility rebates the energy it supplies. You can't claim two heat pump rebates for one system. If you're a FortisBC electric customer, you can't use BC Hydro programs at all.

Which pays more for a heat pump?

For replacing electric heat, both pay up to $4,000. For income-qualified homes, FortisBC's electric program pays up to $12,000, while BC Hydro customers use the CleanBC program (up to $5,000 from electric heat at Level 1, or up to $13,000 from gas).

Does FortisBC give a rebate for switching from a gas furnace to a heat pump?

Not a general one. For gas homes, heat pump money now comes from the income-qualified CleanBC Energy Savings Program. The general fuel-switching rebate ended April 11, 2025.

Does FortisBC offer solar or battery rebates?

We didn't find one on FortisBC's residential rebate list. BC Hydro's solar and battery rebates (up to $10,000) are for BC Hydro customers.

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Sources, checked September 26, 2026: BC Hydro heat pump rebates · FortisBC heat pump rebate · FortisBC income-qualified heat pump rebate · CleanBC Energy Savings Program rules (July 6, 2026) · BC Hydro insulation rebates · FortisBC insulation rebates · BC Hydro window and door rebates · FortisBC window and door rebates · FortisBC connected thermostat rebate · FortisBC home renovation bonus rebates.

Also: BC Hydro solar and battery rebates · BC Hydro ineligible products (Tesla) · BC Hydro self-generation rate.

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