What heat pump rebates pay in Richmond
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.
A Richmond example
A Richmond townhome under 1,200 square feet with baseboards gets one mini-split that meets the whole load at -5°C. BC Hydro pays $4,000, plus up to $1,000 if finished and paid by October 31, 2026.
Winter in Richmond
Richmond's average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 1.5°C, and the coldest reading was -14.4°C. A cold-climate unit will run near its best efficiency most of the winter. NRCan measured an average COP of about 3.0 at 4.9°C, close to a normal Richmond winter night.
Homes in Richmond
The 2021 Census counted 81,080 households in Richmond. About 71% own and 30% live in a detached house (24,440 homes). Of all households, 7,175 own a detached house built before 1981.
Townhomes count, condos do not
BC Hydro's home renovation rebate covers detached houses, townhomes and row homes. Apartments and condos are excluded. If you are in a townhome strata, get council approval for the outdoor unit before you sign.
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 Richmond
These Richmond 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
Is a heat pump efficient in Richmond's damp winters?
Damp air near freezing can make the outdoor unit defrost more often. That is normal. Ask about the defrost cycle.
Can I get a rebate for my Richmond condo?
Not from the Home Renovation Rebate. See our BC strata guide for condo options.
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 Richmond insulation rebates and heat pump water heater rebates.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 3, 2026: BC Hydro heat pump rebates, BC Hydro program eligibility, 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 Richmond rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →