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.
Coquitlam is in the Tri-Cities, where the hillside neighbourhoods get more rain and a bit more cold than the flats near the river. Coquitlam has plenty of split-level and hillside homes built in the 1970s to 1990s. Many have baseboard heat upstairs and a gas furnace or fireplace below, which is why partial-home setups are common here.
Which heat pump rebate fits your home in Coquitlam?
| 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 Coquitlam for the full table.
What's different in Coquitlam
- Coquitlam gets electricity from BC Hydro and gas from FortisBC. If your home uses both (say, baseboards upstairs and a gas fireplace below), both utilities' rebate rules can matter, so check each one.
- We could not confirm a current City of Coquitlam heat pump top-up.
My tip for Coquitlam: If part of your home is on baseboards and part on gas, remember the BC Hydro rebate is for replacing electric heat. Ask your installer which rebate your mix actually fits before you pick the system.
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.
Does Coquitlam add money on top of the provincial rebates?
We could not confirm a current City of Coquitlam top-up. Check coquitlam.ca before you count on one.
Ready to check your home in Coquitlam?
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Compare top-rated Coquitlam installers →Sources, checked September 26, 2026: CleanBC Energy Savings Program rules (July 6, 2026) · BC Hydro heat pump rebates.
