What if your next heating upgrade could cut winter bills and pay you back with thousands in rebates? If you live in rural Comox, the mix of federal, provincial, utility and CVRD incentives can make a heat pump more affordable than you might expect. The details depend on your current heating fuel, income, and whether your home sits in a Comox Valley electoral area. Here is how the programs work, what you can stack, and the steps to claim your incentives. Let’s dive in.
Who qualifies in rural Comox
If your home is in Comox Valley Regional District Electoral Areas A, B or C, you may be eligible for local top-ups in addition to federal and provincial rebates. You can confirm local incentives and supports on the CVRD rebates page for residents in the electoral areas and islands. Visit the CVRD’s list of current incentives to check eligibility by address and upgrade type.
Most programs focus on primary residences and specific dwelling types, and your current fuel matters. Some offers target oil, propane or natural gas conversions, while others apply to electric or wood systems. Income-tested streams can increase support for eligible households. For a program overview, start with the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program details.
The main rebate programs
Federal: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA)
The OHPA program provides income-tested support to help households switch from oil to an electric heat pump. The national base grant is up to $10,000, and in participating provinces like BC there can be additional top-ups under a co-delivery stream, plus a one-time $250 bonus where applicable. Eligibility, proof of recent oil use, and prequalification rules apply. Review the OHPA eligibility criteria before you plan your project.
Provincial: CleanBC Better Homes
CleanBC, administered by BC Hydro and FortisBC, offers rebates that vary by the fuel you are replacing and the heat pump type. Typical examples include up to $3,000 for many fossil-fuel-to-heat-pump conversions and up to $4,000 for some electric-to-heat-pump upgrades. There are also specialized rebates such as $1,000 for heat pump water heaters and a $500 electrical service upgrade rebate. Program amounts and invoice windows changed in 2024 and 2025, so always verify current offers and dates on the CleanBC Better Homes program page.
Utilities: FortisBC and BC Hydro
FortisBC lists a $5,000 Dual Fuel Heating System Rebate for an electric heat pump combined with a gas furnace for eligible installations, and it offers income-qualified options and financing. Check the FortisBC dual-fuel rebate page for current amounts and timelines. BC Hydro partners on the CleanBC program and publishes application details for its customers through the Better Homes site.
Local: CVRD municipal top-ups
Homeowners in CVRD Electoral Areas A, B and C may receive automatic municipal top-ups when applying through CleanBC. CVRD noted a $350 top-up for eligible electric heat pump installations and a $500 top-up for qualifying electrical panel upgrades in the electoral areas. See the CVRD announcement for coverage and how the automatic top-up works.
Rules and deadlines to know
Pre-register where required
Some streams require pre-registration before work begins, especially OHPA and certain income-qualified paths. Confirm your steps on the OHPA eligibility page and the specific CleanBC rebate page before you sign a contract.
Use an HPCN contractor
CleanBC-linked heat pump rebates require installation by a licensed contractor that is part of the Home Performance Contractor Network. Self-installations are not eligible. Confirm your installer’s HPCN status using the CleanBC contractor guidance.
EnerGuide evaluations
EnerGuide pre- and post-upgrade evaluations are required or strongly recommended for some streams and bonuses. OHPA does not always require EnerGuide for upfront payments, but it has its own documentation rules. Review the retrofit process guidance to understand where evaluations fit.
Program deadlines
The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed to new applicants. If you already applied, you must submit your final grant request by December 31, 2025. CleanBC updated or closed several offers around April 11–12, 2025, and opened new ones. Always check the CleanBC page for invoice date windows and final application deadlines.
Budgeting for rural upgrades
Older rural homes sometimes need an electrical service or panel upgrade to support a whole-home heat pump. CleanBC offers a $500 electrical service upgrade rebate, and CVRD lists a $500 top-up for panel upgrades in the electoral areas. Ask your installer to price panel work alongside your heat pump so you can plan the total project cost.
Permits and inspections may be required, and contractor availability can affect timing. The Home Energy Navigator’s CVRD page connects you with an Energy Concierge who can help you navigate rebates, EnerGuide advice, and contractor options.
How to stack rebates in rural Comox
- Confirm your address and fuel. Check whether your home is in CVRD Electoral Areas A, B or C and identify your current primary heating fuel. Review CVRD incentives and supports to see local top-ups.
- Get free local guidance. Contact the Home Energy Navigator’s Energy Concierge on the CVRD page for help mapping the best rebate path and contractor options.
- Check OHPA first if you heat with oil. Review OHPA eligibility and pre-register if required so you do not miss upfront funding.
- Review current CleanBC offers and dates. Visit the CleanBC Better Homes program page to confirm which rebates apply to your fuel type and the applicable invoice windows.
- Choose an HPCN contractor. Verify your installer’s HPCN status in the CleanBC contractor guidance before you sign.
- Plan for electrical needs. If a panel upgrade is likely, confirm the scope and reference the CleanBC electrical service upgrade rebate. Ask how the CVRD panel top-up is applied.
- Collect the right documentation. Keep itemized invoices, proof of payment, EnerGuide reports if required, and decommissioning paperwork for any oil or gas equipment.
- Submit applications on time. Follow the instructions for each program and track final deadlines, including the Greener Homes deadline if you are already enrolled.
Ready to talk through upgrade options as part of a move or renovation plan? Connect with our local team for neighborhood-savvy guidance on value-adding improvements and market timing. Reach out to the family-led professionals at Jane Denham Real Estate Group to get started.
FAQs
What rebates can rural Comox homeowners use for heat pumps?
- You can often combine federal OHPA funding for oil-to-heat-pump upgrades, CleanBC Better Homes rebates, utility offers from FortisBC or BC Hydro, and CVRD municipal top-ups for the electoral areas.
Can I combine federal OHPA with CleanBC and CVRD incentives?
- Often yes, but stacking rules vary by line item, so keep detailed invoices and confirm on the OHPA eligibility page and the specific CleanBC rebate page before applying.
Do I need to pre-register before installing a heat pump?
- Some programs require it, notably OHPA and certain income-qualified CleanBC paths, so check the OHPA eligibility page and the CleanBC program page before you start work.
Do I have to use a specific installer for CleanBC rebates?
- Yes, CleanBC heat pump rebates require a licensed installer who is a member of the Home Performance Contractor Network, and self-installations are not eligible.
Are EnerGuide home evaluations required for rebates?
- Some CleanBC streams and bonuses require or recommend EnerGuide evaluations, while OHPA does not always require them, so review the retrofit process guidance for your path.
What deadlines should I know right now?
- The Greener Homes Grant is closed to new applicants and existing participants must request final payment by December 31, 2025, while CleanBC offers have specific invoice windows shown on the program page.
Is there local help to navigate applications in the CVRD?
- Yes, the Home Energy Navigator’s CVRD page offers an Energy Concierge to help you choose rebates, line up evaluations, and find eligible contractors.
