What BC Hydro pays for insulation in Richmond
Amounts come from BC Hydro's insulation page, re-read on October 2, 2026. They apply to owner-held homes heated mainly by electricity. Gas-heated homes can look at FortisBC.
Attic
Capped at $900. New material must add at least R12.
Crawlspace and basement walls
Capped at $1,200. Needs at least R10 added.
Exposed floor
Floors over a crawlspace are in the $1,000 cap line. At least R20 added.
Second-upgrade bonus
For completing more than one eligible upgrade.
Income-qualified
A free evaluation and upgrades through BC Hydro and FortisBC.
A crawlspace-first example
Adding R-20 under 1,000 square feet of floor over a crawlspace gives 0.07 x 20 x 1,000 = $1,400, so the $1,000 cap applies. Topping an attic by R-26 over 900 square feet pays 0.02 x 26 x 900 = $468. That is $1,468, from our arithmetic on the published rules.
Richmond's stock in numbers
The 2021 Census counted 81,080 households in Richmond. About 21,040 (26%) live in homes built before 1981, and 7,175 are owner-occupied houses from that era. Another 42% of Richmond households live in apartments and 29% rent, so the pool for this rebate is smaller than the city's size suggests. It is also a place where many residents own, with 71% of households owner-occupied.
Floors can matter as much as attics
Richmond lies on the Fraser River delta. The ground is flat and damp. If your house has a crawlspace, heat and moisture can move through the floor, so the program lines for exposed floors and crawlspace walls deserve a close look. Ask a contractor to inspect the crawlspace before quoting and to explain how they will keep it ventilated and dry.
Moisture problems must be fixed before new insulation goes in. The program does not pay if mould or pests remain.
Mild winters, modest savings
Richmond's average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 1.5°C and the coldest day was -14.4°C. That is one of the milder records in our BC list. The savings from insulation are real but smaller than in the Interior, so look at the rebate against the quote rather than assuming a quick payback. BC Hydro says upgrades can cut at least 10% of a home's energy cost.
What you need
- An electrically heated, owner-held home with a BC Hydro account.
- A Home Performance Contractor Network installer.
- An invoice that lists the insulation type, R-value and area.
- An application within six months of the invoice.
Top-rated installers in Richmond
These are Richmond's top-rated insulation companies by Google reviews, weighted by number of reviews. Nobody pays to be here.
How to claim in Richmond
- Have the contractor inspect the attic and the crawlspace and note the current R-value.
- Ask for a priced plan that lists each area with the R-value added.
- Make sure the invoice is dated and lists the area for each space.
- Apply online within six months.
- Add a heat pump or water heater upgrade in the same application if you can.
Common questions
Does a crawlspace count as eligible?
Yes. Basement and crawlspace walls pay $0.09 per R per square foot up to $1,200, and floors over a crawlspace fall in the $1,000 cap line.
What if the crawlspace is damp?
Fix the moisture first. The program requires that pests and moisture problems be resolved before new insulation goes in.
Can I use this if I own a townhouse in Richmond?
Side-by-side row homes and townhouses can qualify when each unit has its own meter and the account is not in a strata corporation's name. Condos use BC Hydro's separate program.
How cold does Richmond get?
The average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 1.5°C and the coldest day was -14.4°C.
Is there a free option for lower incomes?
Yes. Income-qualified customers can apply for free upgrades through the Energy Conservation Assistance Program.
What to do next
Look at Richmond window rebates and heat pump rebates.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 2, 2026: BC Hydro insulation rebates, BC Hydro Home Renovation Rebate Program, FortisBC insulation rebates, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01. All Richmond rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →