What BC Hydro pays for windows and doors in Nanaimo
We re-read BC Hydro's window and door page on October 2, 2026. The rebate is for homes heated mainly by electricity. FortisBC lists $100 per opening for its gas customers, except in the City of Vancouver.
Windows and doors
Paid for each window or door that replaces an existing one between a heated space and outdoors.
Cap
That is 20 openings at $100 each. A bay window counts as one opening.
Energy rating
The window or door must have a maximum U-factor of 1.22 W/m2-K, which is BC Hydro's Tier 2 level.
More than one upgrade
BC Hydro adds a bonus when you finish more than one eligible upgrade.
Lower incomes
Income-qualified customers can apply for free upgrades.
City of Nanaimo loan
Up to $15,000, repaid on your property tax over ten years. Covers heat pumps, insulation, windows and doors, and solar.
Canada’s new heat pump rebate is worth up to $10,000. Get an email the day it opens
Planning a heat pump too? This one is on top of the rebates above, and we’ll email you the day it opens.
- 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.
Read everything we know so far Official page: canada.ca
Rebate plus loan on a typical job
Say replacing 14 windows and 2 doors costs $20,000. That is 16 openings, so the rebate pays $1,600. The remaining cost could be financed through the City's loan, up to $15,000, and repaid on the property tax bill over 10 years with no interest. The $20,000 is an example only.
How the Nanaimo loan fits
The City of Nanaimo opened its zero-interest retrofit loan in September 2026. You need taxes in good standing and must register with the free Home Energy Navigator first. The loan can reach $15,000, is repaid on the property tax bill over 10 years, and covers windows and doors as well as heat pumps, insulation and solar.
Nanaimo's homes in numbers
The 2021 Census counted 43,165 households in Nanaimo. About 16,895 (39%) live in homes built before 1981, and 7,880 are owner-occupied detached houses from that period. About 22% live in apartments and 67% own. About 5.2% say their home needs major repairs.
Mild winters
Nanaimo's average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 2.2°C and the coldest day was -10.2°C. Heating loads are modest, so condensation and drafts are the main reasons to replace old windows.
Counting openings and certification
Each rough opening counts as one. A bay window is one. Skylights are excluded. Units need a U-factor of 1.22 W/m2-K or lower and a listing from CSA, Intertek, Labtest, QAI or NFRC.
Reading a U-factor label
The rebate needs a U-factor of 1.22 W/m2-K or lower, and lower means less heat loss. Many window labels show the older imperial scale instead. To convert, multiply the imperial number by 5.678. A label that says U-0.30 equals 1.70 W/m2-K, which is too high. A label that says U-0.21 equals about 1.19 W/m2-K and passes. Ask the contractor to quote the metric value for each model so you do not have to convert.
Timing and paperwork
You have six months from the invoice date to apply, and the application needs the invoice and a photo of the manufacturer label on each unit. BC Hydro publishes a window and door checklist and a sample invoice. Ask the contractor to fill in the invoice the way the sample does, listing each window or door separately. A vague invoice is the usual reason a claim is sent back.
If your income is lower
BC Hydro sends income-qualified customers to the CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program instead, and the two cannot be combined. The 2026 program document lists no insulation or window rebates, so the free Energy Conservation Assistance Program is the route to ask about.
How to claim in Nanaimo
- Register with the Home Energy Navigator if you want the City loan.
- Get quotes that list the U-factor of each unit.
- Photograph each label on installation day.
- Keep the invoice and apply to BC Hydro or FortisBC within six months.
- Ask the City how the loan and rebate combine on your project.
Common questions
Can windows be financed through the Nanaimo loan?
Yes. The City's loan covers windows and doors, heat pumps, insulation and solar.
How much can I borrow?
Up to $15,000 at zero interest, repaid on your property taxes over 10 years.
How cold does Nanaimo get?
The average January low was 2.2°C and the coldest day in 2015 to 2024 was -10.2°C.
How many openings are paid?
Up to 20, at $100 each.
What if I heat with gas?
FortisBC lists $100 per opening for gas customers.
What to do next
See Nanaimo insulation rebates and heat pump rebates.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 9, 2026: BC Hydro window and door rebates, City of Nanaimo retrofit loans, FortisBC window and door rebates, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01. All Nanaimo rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →
