On July 6, 2026, CleanBC quietly narrowed the Better Homes Energy Savings Program (ESP) rebate for electric-to-heat-pump conversions. Before that date, most electric-heated homes on Vancouver Island could pull down a meaningful ESP rebate on a switch. After it, the electric-to-heat-pump ESP is Income Level 1 only. The oil-to-heat-pump path is unchanged. The BC Hydro rebate is separate and still open to everyone who qualifies on the equipment side.
If you got a quote before July 6 that included a big ESP number, and someone is still quoting you the same rebate stack today, the math is probably wrong. Here’s the current picture.
What actually changed
Three things moved on July 6, 2026:
Electric-to-heat-pump ESP rebate — now L1 only. Prior to July 6, electric-heated households at L1 or L2 income tiers could pull ESP dollars on the switch. After July 6, only L1 qualifies for the electric conversion path.
Assessed-value cap tightened. The ESP has an eligibility ceiling on your home’s assessed value. That cap came down on April 1, 2026, and remains at the tightened level.
Codes expire in three months. The registered-contractor code that pre-authorizes your ESP rebate has a shorter shelf life than it used to. Install has to happen while the code is still live.
What did NOT change: oil-to-heat-pump conversions still qualify at their existing tiers (up to $13,000 at L1 for a central ducted system). BC Hydro’s $4,000 base rebate remains open to anyone with qualifying equipment on BC Hydro service, and the $1,000 fall bonus continues through the October 31 deadline.
Who still qualifies for the electric-to-heat-pump ESP
L1 income tier households. BC Hydro publishes the L1 threshold; it moves annually. Roughly speaking L1 is a household income at or below the low-income cutoff for your household size — a single person in the mid-$40K range, a family of four in the mid-$70K range, as of the last published table. Check the current number on the Better Homes BC eligibility page before assuming.
If you qualify at L1, the electric-to-heat-pump ESP for a central ducted system is up to $5,000. Combined with the BC Hydro base ($4,000) and fall bonus ($1,000 through Oct 31), the electric-conversion stack for L1 households can hit up to $10,000.
Everyone else on electric baseboard. BC Hydro’s $4,000 base still applies. The fall bonus still applies through October 31. Total available on the electric switch without ESP: up to $5,000.
That’s a real gap from what was available in June. If you were counting on ESP dollars to make the conversion pencil out and you’re above L1, the math has changed and it’s worth re-running before signing anything.
Who still qualifies at the higher oil-to-heat-pump tiers
Oil conversions were left alone. The ESP for oil-to-heat-pump remains up to $13,000 at L1 for central ducted, with L2 and standard-income tiers stepping down from there. If you’re on oil, the July 6 cut did not affect you.
Two related notes for oil households:
- OHPA closed to new applications July 31, 2026. If a contractor mentions OHPA as current, they haven’t updated.
- Oil tank removal timing matters. Coordinate the tank pull with the install, not after — some rebate paths require the sequence.
The Electrical Service Upgrade rebate (ESP1)
Older Island homes on 100-amp service often need a panel upgrade before a heat pump install. The ESP1 rebate covers up to $5,000 of that upgrade for eligible households. This is a separate rebate from the heat pump ESP — it stacks with it.
Rules for ESP1: registered electrical contractor, panel upgrade tied to an eligible heat pump install, income-tested at the same tiers as the ESP.
If your assessment turns up a panel upgrade requirement, the ESP1 conversation should be on the table the same day. Our panel upgrade guide covers when the upgrade is actually needed vs. when it’s optional.
The three scenarios in September 2026
Scenario A — L1 electric household. ESP up to $5,000 + BC Hydro base $4,000 + BC Hydro fall bonus $1,000 (paid by Oct 31) = up to $10,000. Plus ESP1 up to $5,000 if a panel upgrade is needed.
Scenario B — Above-L1 electric household. BC Hydro base $4,000 + BC Hydro fall bonus $1,000 = up to $5,000. No ESP dollars.
Scenario C — Oil household (any tier). ESP up to $13,000 at L1 (less at higher tiers) + BC Hydro base $4,000 + BC Hydro fall bonus $1,000 = up to $18,000 at L1. Highest available stack in BC right now.
What to expect from us
A Comfort Specialist visits your home, checks your panel, does a heat-loss calculation, and issues a written quote with the specific rebate math for your income tier and fuel source. No guessing — we’re a registered CleanBC contractor and know exactly which numbers apply to your situation.
Family-owned. Island-grown. 4.9 ★ Google Rated across the Island.
Call (236) 361-8293 or reach us through our contact page. We’ll call within one business day to book the assessment.
— The Sasquatch Field Team
