At a glance
# BC Better Homes Energy Savings Program for Ground Oriented Homes
The Better Homes Energy Savings Program can reduce the cost of qualifying heating upgrades for income-eligible British Columbia households. You pre-register, receive an eligibility code and use a registered contractor. The contractor receives the approved rebate and deducts it from your invoice; you pay the remaining balance. Official program overview
This guide covers the ground-oriented home rules for invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026. Earlier invoices require their applicable historical rules. Condos and apartments have a separate set of July 6 requirements, so an exclusion from this pathway does not exclude them from every ESP offer. Ground-oriented requirements
Source: Energy Savings Program — Better Homes BC; Energy Savings Program condo and apartment rebate requirements; Better Homes - Energy Savings Program rebate requirements
Who may qualify
Income eligibility depends on household size and combined annual pre-tax adult income, excluding dependants. For example:
| Household size | Level 1 maximum | Level 2 maximum | Level 3 maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| One person | $51,100 | $63,900 | $102,100 |
| Two people | $63,600 | $79,500 | $127,200 |
| Four people | $94,900 | $118,600 | $189,800 |
Level 3 is limited to eligible ground-oriented homes converting natural gas, propane or oil space heating to an electric heat pump. Consult the full table for other household sizes. Income levels and pathway restrictions
The home must be a year-round BC primary residence at least 12 months old. Eligible configurations include detached homes, qualifying fixed mobile homes and individually metered attached homes. For registrations from April 1, 2026, assessed-value ceilings are $1.2 million for Levels 1 and 2 and $1.82 million for Level 3. Utility, existing-heating and property conditions also apply. Home eligibility rules
Source: Energy Savings Program — Better Homes BC; Better Homes - Energy Savings Program rebate requirements
How much the rebate can cover
For an eligible fossil-fuel conversion to a central ducted or three-head multi-split heat pump, the published ceilings are $13,000 at Level 1, $7,000 at Level 2 and $3,500 at Level 3, limited to eligible costs. These are equipment-specific ceilings, not a universal award. Electric-heating conversions, smaller systems, combined space-and-water systems and add-ons have different rules. Current rebate tables
Ask for a written quote showing the precise equipment, eligible costs, proposed rebate and your balance. Comparing the final out-of-pocket amount is more useful than comparing advertised maximum rebates. Have the contractor identify any work that falls outside the approved upgrade.
Source: Better Homes - Energy Savings Program rebate requirements
Keep the two deadlines separate
For applications received from July 6, 2026, upgrades must be completed within three months of approval; expired codes require a new application. Separately, the contractor must submit the rebate claim and supporting documents within six months of the invoice date. Approval and claim deadlines
Pre-registration must happen before installation. Tenants need the owner's signed consent. Equipment must be new, and the program may request records or a site verification. Funding remains limited and is not guaranteed, even when planning around a published maximum. July 6 participant terms
Source: Better Homes - Energy Savings Program rebate requirements; Official program requirements (PDF)
Before you commit
Start from the official application portal link, obtain your eligibility report and check the code's expiry against the proposed installation date. Keep the approval, quote and final invoice together. Ask the program to confirm any interaction with previous rebates rather than assuming separate funding offers can be added together.
Check the quote against the approved code
Make a comparison sheet with one row for each proposed system. Record the indoor and outdoor model numbers, the rooms served, the work included, the price before the rebate and the amount you would owe. Ask the contractor to explain differences in electrical work, removal of old equipment, permits and commissioning. A lower balance can be useful, but it is not a substitute for a complete installation scope.
Use the eligibility report as the reference document for the quote. If a salesperson quotes a different income level or equipment category, resolve that difference before signing. Ask who submits the claim and what happens if an installation delay takes the project beyond the code's validity. Do not let a verbal assurance replace the program's written confirmation. The separate claim deadline does not extend an expired approval code.
Keep an installation and payment record
Save the approval report, signed quote, invoices and any correspondence about changes in one folder. Before the installation date, ask what access the crew needs and how long heating may be interrupted. After installation, request a demonstration of the controls and a clear explanation of maintenance responsibilities. Record the equipment installed so you can compare it with the approved quote.
For a wider review of comfort priorities, use our long-term home comfort guide. If arranging a rebate-funded upgrade is difficult because you cannot cover the balance, compare the separate ECAP no-cost assistance pathway. Its assessment and contractor process are different; it is not an additional cash deduction to add to an ESP quote.
Sources and source-check dates
- Energy Savings Program — Better Homes BC — Government of British Columbia / CleanBC Better Homes. Checked .
- Energy Savings Program condo and apartment rebate requirements — Government of British Columbia / CleanBC Better Homes. Checked .
- Better Homes - Energy Savings Program rebate requirements — Government of British Columbia / CleanBC Better Homes. Checked .
- Official program requirements (PDF) — Government of British Columbia / CleanBC Better Homes. Checked .