At a glance
# BC Energy Conservation Assistance Program for Free Home Energy Upgrades
British Columbia's Energy Conservation Assistance Program, or ECAP, offers income-qualified households a free energy evaluation and, where approved, free installation of recommended upgrades. It is useful for homeowners who need help improving efficiency without arranging a conventional rebate-funded renovation themselves. Eligibility alone does not guarantee work: the evaluation and available funding determine what can be offered. BC Hydro program details
What assistance looks like
Possible measures include insulation, draftproofing, bathroom ventilation, connected thermostats and eligible heating-system upgrades. The offer varies by utility, home type and existing heating. For example, FortisBC's electric-heating pathway lists ductless heat pumps, while its natural-gas pathway includes qualifying dual-fuel systems. Do not assume every listed measure is available to your home. FortisBC upgrade pathways
There is no general cash allowance to spend with a contractor of your choice. ECAP assigns its delivery contractors, and only upgrades identified through the program evaluation can be offered. This makes the evaluation the right starting point, before buying equipment. Evaluation and contractor rules
Source: Free home energy evaluation and upgrades; Free home energy evaluation and upgrades
Check income and occupancy
The published annual household income ceilings are listed below. FortisBC income limits
| People in the household | Maximum pre-tax income |
|---|---|
| One | $51,100 |
| Two | $63,600 |
| Three | $78,200 |
| Four | $94,900 |
| Five | $107,600 |
| Six | $121,400 |
| Seven or more | $135,100 |
BC Hydro uses the previous year's combined income of household members aged 18 and older; children count toward household size. Income requirements
Applicants must be at least 19 and occupy the home as their primary, year-round residence. The property must be suitable for improvements, and assessed value can affect eligibility. Renters need signed landlord consent. A service address normally cannot participate more than once every ten years; strata consent may also be needed. Application and participation terms
Source: Free home energy evaluation and upgrades; Free home energy evaluation and upgrades; Energy Conservation Assistance Program application (Updated June 29, 2026)
Apply through the right utility
Use the utility route associated with your primary heating:
- BC Hydro: BC Hydro or New Westminster electric heating, PNG gas, or the listed oil, propane, diesel and wood pathways.
- FortisBC: FortisBC gas or electricity, plus the listed Grand Forks, Summerland, Penticton and Nelson Hydro electric-heating pathways.
Apartment and condominium applicants should check the BC Hydro-specific route rather than assume the FortisBC offers apply. Both online and mailed applications are available. Application routing
Prepare utility details, accepted income evidence for each adult and any required consent. Use the current utility checklist rather than sending unrequested financial records. The official application identifies the household and property information needed.
Source: Free home energy evaluation and upgrades; Energy Conservation Assistance Program application (Updated June 29, 2026)
Availability and practical next steps
The program is first come, first served and funding-dependent. BC Hydro's August 25, 2026 update confirms PNG customers can apply. ECAP and the Energy Savings Program cannot fund the same upgrade. Current notices and funding restrictions
Before the visit, write down comfort problems, cold rooms and questions about your current heating. After an offer, ask which equipment will remain, what operation and maintenance you will be responsible for, and whether further visits are needed. Keep a copy of the agreed work for your records.
Prepare for the evaluation without buying upgrades first
Make a short room-by-room record before the visit. Note where you feel drafts, whether some rooms are hard to heat and which controls you find difficult to use. Keep recent utility bills nearby so you can identify the account holder and existing service. This is a useful briefing for the evaluator, rather than a diagnosis of which equipment the program must supply.
Ask how the visit will be arranged and who will identify themselves on arrival. For a rental, discuss access and landlord consent before an appointment is confirmed. If a household member needs a different way to communicate or move around the home, raise that when arranging the visit. Do not move heavy equipment or enter an unsafe attic to prepare photographs for an unsolicited contact.
Review the offered work and keep a handover record
When work is offered, ask for a plain-language description of what will be installed and which existing equipment will remain. Clarify the expected visits, access requirements and arrangements if the proposed scope changes. Keep any program documentation so that the installed work can be identified later. Ask the installer to show the household how to operate the controls before leaving.
Separate these questions from an independently purchased renovation. If you want additional work, obtain a separate price and establish whether it affects the program offer before agreeing. Our guide to comparing renovation quotes can help separate the scopes. The BC Energy Savings Program is another model of assistance, with different eligibility and payment arrangements; compare the two processes rather than treating their offers as interchangeable.
Sources and source-check dates
- Free home energy evaluation and upgrades — BC Hydro. Checked .
- Free home energy evaluation and upgrades — FortisBC. Checked .
- Energy Conservation Assistance Program application (Updated June 29, 2026) — BC Hydro. Checked .