What heat pump water heater rebates pay in Vancouver
We re-read BC Hydro's heat pump water heater page on October 2, 2026. BC Hydro and FortisBC pay only when you replace an electric water heater. Replacing a gas tank earns nothing from them, and the CleanBC amounts below are for income-qualified households only.
BC Hydro
For replacing an electric primary water heater with a heat pump model on NEEA's Tier 2 or higher list.
FortisBC
For replacing a standard electric storage tank with a high-efficiency heat pump water heater.
Income-qualified (CleanBC)
Level 1 households replacing a fossil-fuel or electric water heater. Level 2 gets up to $2,800 from electric. Applies to a primary water heater only.
More than one upgrade
BC Hydro adds a bonus when you finish more than one eligible upgrade.
A Vancouver special
A house replaces an electric tank with an eligible heat pump model and earns up to $1,000. Adding attic insulation that brings 1,100 square feet from R-22 to R-50 earns 0.02 x 28 x 1,100 = $616. That is $1,616 before any multi-upgrade bonus, by our arithmetic on the published rules.
Who in Vancouver can use this
The 2021 Census counted 305,335 households in Vancouver. About 62% live in apartments and 55% rent, so most households do not control their water heater. Only 18,275 own a detached house built before 1981. Condo owners should look at BC Hydro's Condo and Apartment Rebate Program, which includes heat pump water heaters. Vancouver's average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 1.7°C, a mild climate for a tank that draws heat from the air.
Gas tank or electric tank?
This is the rule that surprises people. Heat pump water heater rebates from BC Hydro and FortisBC start with an electric tank. A gas tank swap is a different case, and households above the income limits have no rebate for it. Income-qualified households can apply to CleanBC, which pays up to $3,500 at Level 1. Only one primary water heating rebate is allowed per home, so you cannot collect from two programs for the same tank.
Condos, rentals and consent
The home rebate does not cover condo or apartment units. BC Hydro runs a separate Condo and Apartment Rebate Program that includes heat pump water heaters. In a rental house the BC Hydro account holder applies, and anyone else needs the account holder's signed consent form.
Choose from the NEEA list
BC Hydro pays only for models that sit in Tier 2 or higher on NEEA's Advanced Water Heater Specification list for heat pump water heaters. Ask the installer for the exact model number and check it against the list before you sign. Put the model on the invoice. A tank that is not on the list will not be paid, no matter how efficient it looks.
No exclusion here
BC Hydro excludes the City of Vancouver only from the Tier 2 window and door rebate. The heat pump water heater, insulation and heat pump rebates all still apply to eligible homes. See our Vancouver window page for the exception.
Top-rated installers in Vancouver
These are the top-rated heat pump and HVAC companies near Vancouver by Google reviews, weighted by number of reviews. Ask whether each one installs heat pump water heaters before you book. Nobody pays to be listed.
See all Vancouver installers →
How to claim in Vancouver
- Check that the tank you are replacing is electric and is your primary water heater.
- Pick a model from NEEA's Tier 2 or higher list and get it on the quote.
- Have a licensed contractor install it and keep the invoice.
- Apply online within six months of the invoice date.
- If your income is lower, ask about the CleanBC program before paying.
Common questions
Is Vancouver excluded from the water heater rebate?
No. Only the Tier 2 window and door rebate excludes the City of Vancouver.
Can I claim as a condo owner?
Not under the Home Renovation Rebate. BC Hydro runs a separate Condo and Apartment Rebate Program.
What if my tank is gas?
BC Hydro and FortisBC do not pay for a switch from gas. CleanBC pays up to $3,500 for income-qualified households.
Is there a bonus?
BC Hydro lists a bonus of up to $2,000 for more than one eligible upgrade.
How much does a heat pump water heater save?
BC Hydro's page cites ENERGY STAR data that these tanks use about 50% less energy than a standard electric tank.
What to do next
See Vancouver insulation rebates and heat pump rebates.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 2, 2026: BC Hydro heat pump water heater rebates, BC Hydro program eligibility, FortisBC heat pump water heater rebate, CleanBC Energy Savings Program requirements, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01. All Vancouver rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →