What BC Hydro pays for insulation in Squamish
We re-read BC Hydro's insulation page on October 2, 2026. The rebate is for homes heated mainly by electricity. FortisBC lists the same formula for its gas customers.
Attic
Capped at $900, at least R12 added.
Walls and basement
Capped at $1,200 each for wall cavity, sheathing, and basement or crawlspace.
Floors and other spots
Capped at $1,000, at least R20 added.
More than one upgrade
For finishing more than one eligible upgrade.
Lower incomes
Free upgrades for income-qualified customers.
A Squamish 1980s house
A 1,000 square foot attic at R-22 topped to R-50 adds R-28. That pays 0.02 x 28 x 1,000 = $560. Add R-12 to 700 square feet of exterior wall for 0.09 x 12 x 700 = $756. The total is $1,316, by our arithmetic on the published formula.
Squamish's homes in numbers
The 2021 Census counted 9,185 households in Squamish. Of those, 3,115 (34%) live in homes built before 1981, and 1,645 are owner-occupied detached houses from that period. About 41% live in single-detached houses, 25% in apartments, and 70% own. Only 5.4% say their home needs major repairs.
A mild average and a cold tail
Squamish's average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 0.2°C. The coldest day in the same record was -28.1°C, a deeper cold than Kelowna's -24.0°C or Penticton's -24.8°C. That gap is why an attic that seems fine most of the year can still cost a lot on a few nights.
A fast-growing town with newer builds
Squamish has grown quickly, so many homes are newer than the pre-1981 group. If you have a 1990s or 2000s house, ask the contractor to measure what is there before quoting. The attic must add at least R12 to qualify, so a house with good insulation may have little left to earn.
Which insulation to choose
BC Hydro accepts batts, loose fill, board and spray foam. Compare quotes by finished R-value rather than thickness, because each material gives a different R-value per inch. For a Squamish attic, loose fill is the usual way to add depth over what is already there. Rigid board and spray foam suit basement walls and rim joists. The rebate cannot exceed the invoice cost, and all insulation must follow the program's best-practice guide for air sealing.
Who can apply
The BC Hydro account holder applies. If you live in the house but the account is in someone else's name, the account holder must sign a consent form. Row homes and townhouses qualify when each unit has its own meter and the account is not held by a strata corporation. Condos and apartments are not covered, but BC Hydro runs a separate program for them.
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 for lower incomes the free Energy Conservation Assistance Program is the route to ask about.
Rules to check
- The home must be mainly electric-heated and at least 12 months old.
- An HPCN member must do the work.
- Fix pest and moisture problems first.
- Apply within six months of the invoice date.
We did not find Squamish insulation companies in our Google review data. Use BC Hydro's contractor search to find current network members.
How to claim in Squamish
- Check that your heat is mainly electric and the account is in your name.
- Ask for quotes listing the existing and added R-value.
- Keep the final invoice.
- Apply online within six months.
- Add another upgrade to check the bonus.
Common questions
How cold does Squamish get?
The average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 0.2°C. The coldest day was -28.1°C.
Can a newer house qualify?
It can, if the insulation you add reaches at least R12 in an attic. A well-insulated house may have little room to improve.
Who must do the work?
A Home Performance Contractor Network member.
What if I heat with gas?
FortisBC lists the same formula for gas customers.
Is there a free option?
Yes, for income-qualified customers.
What to do next
See Squamish window rebates and heat pump rebates.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 2, 2026: BC Hydro insulation rebates, BC Hydro program eligibility, BC Hydro qualified contractors, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01. All Squamish rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →