What BC Hydro pays for windows and doors in Victoria
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 the same $100 per opening for its gas customers.
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.
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
A Victoria character house
An older two-storey with 15 windows and one back door is 16 openings. At $100 each that is $1,600. A bay window counts as one opening even when it has several panes, so a bay front is cheaper for the rebate than listing each pane. These sums come from the posted rule.
Victoria's homes in numbers
The 2021 Census counted 49,220 households in Victoria. Of those, 31,310 (64%) live in homes built before 1981, the highest share in our BC list. But 70% of households are in apartments and 60% rent, so only 4,515 are owner-occupied detached houses from before 1981. For that smaller group, old windows may be the biggest comfort gain available.
Mild winters, loud streets
Victoria's average January low from 2015 to 2024 was 3.0°C and the coldest day was -10.6°C. Heating bills are lower than in the Interior, so the savings from windows alone are modest. Many people replace windows here for noise, condensation and draft control, with the rebate covering part of the cost.
How openings are counted
The rebate counts rough openings, not panes. Each rough opening where a window or door was replaced is one opening. A bay window made of several sections is one opening. Skylights are not eligible. Windows and doors must replace existing units in the building envelope, between a heated space and an unheated space like the outdoors.
Hiring a contractor
All upgrades must be installed by a licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid BC business licence for the trade. Self-installation is not eligible. The windows and doors must be new, in good working order, and not previously installed in another home. Rebates also cannot exceed the cost on the invoice, so ask each bidder to price the units and the install separately.
If your old windows are wood frames you want to keep, repair or add storm panels may be worth pricing. Those do not earn a rebate, but they can cost less.
Strata and rentals
Condo and apartment buildings are not eligible for this program, and BC Hydro runs a separate program for them. In a rental house the BC Hydro account holder applies, and anyone else needs the account holder's signed consent form. Townhomes qualify only when each unit has its own meter and the account is not in a strata corporation's name.
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 Victoria
- Confirm that your heat is mainly electric and the home is at least 12 months old.
- Get quotes that list each window or door with its U-factor.
- Keep the invoice and photos of the manufacturer label on each unit.
- Apply online within six months.
- Add insulation or a water heater to the same application to check the bonus.
Common questions
How many windows can I claim?
Up to 20 openings at $100 each, for a $2,000 maximum. Count rough openings, not panes.
Does a bay window count as more than one?
No. A bay window is one rough opening.
Are skylights eligible?
No. BC Hydro's page says skylights are not eligible.
Can I install the windows myself?
No. Self-installation is not eligible. A licensed contractor with a GST number and a BC business licence must install them.
Does the U-factor matter?
Yes. It must be 1.22 W/m2-K or lower.
What to do next
Pair this with Victoria insulation rebates or water heater rebates for the bonus.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 9, 2026: BC Hydro window and door rebates, BC Hydro program eligibility, FortisBC window and door rebates, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01. All Victoria rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →
