Wednesday April 9, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Electric heat pumps will be more affordable for low- and moderate-income households, including renters and those who live in multi-unit residential buildings, as announced today in BC.
“Every British Columbian deserves reliable, affordable, and clean heating and cooling,” says Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions.
Dix made the announcement today in Victoria.
“Since our government started providing incentives for people to make the switch to heat pumps, we’ve seen a huge uptake across the province, but cost is still a barrier for many,” said Dix.
“That’s why we’re prioritizing funding to make clean-energy solutions and year-round comfort accessible to British Columbians who need them most, including for owners and renters who live in multi-unit buildings.”
With federal and BC Hydro contributions:
The CleanBC Energy Savings Program, launched in June 2024, is funded through the Province and leverages contributions from BC Hydro and the federal government to support greater access to home energy retrofits for low- to moderate-income households, including renters.
The successful program, which supports the installation of affordable heat pumps for income-qualified, single-family homes, will expand to include individual suites in multi-unit residential buildings starting mid-2025.
8,300 heat pump rebates:
With $50 million in each of the next two fiscal years — 2025-26 and 2026-27 — the Province plans to deliver as many as 8,300 new heat pump rebates to British Columbians.
Households in individual suites in multi-unit residential buildings could be eligible for up to $5,500 for a ductless mini-split heat pump.
In addition, the Province will partner with BC Hydro and FortisBC to expand their Energy Conservation Assistance Program to offer heat-pump installations to the lowest-income households in single-family homes and individual suites.
Year-round heating and cooling:
“Heat pumps provide year-round comfort with efficient cooling in the summer and heat in the winter, and they can be up to 300% more efficient than electric baseboard heating,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO, BC Hydro.
“We are pleased the Province will partner with BC Hydro and FortisBC to expand their Energy Conservation Assistance Program as we work to ensure more British Columbians have access to heat pump technology,” said O’Riley in today’s BC government news release.
Improving on the 2024 program:
In September 2024, the Province launched a Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program to support rental, strata and equity co-op buildings to make the switch to more energy-efficient and cleaner technologies.
A key feature of the new actions being announced by the Province is the expansion of heat pump rebates into individual suites, rather than the entire building.
Accord with the Greens:
This action supports the 2024 Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord with the BC Green caucus, which commits the government to contribute $50 million annually toward electric heat pumps for the next two fiscal years, ensuring they are accessible to low- and moderate-income households.
===== RELATED:
- Heat pump subsidy for BC homeowners announced in Victoria by federal environment minister Guilbeault (May 13, 2024)
- BC Premier pushes heat pumps at COF in Halifax (November 6, 2023)
- BC Premier: do heat pump rebate across Canada (October 30, 2023)
- Heat realities: air conditioners for isolated seniors (May 11, 2023)
- NEWS SECTIONS: ENVIRONMENT & CLEAN TECH | BC HYDRO