The short answer: keeping gas backup does not automatically rule out the federal National Heat Pump Rebate. Its current rules do not require removal of the existing heating system. FortisBC’s separate dual-fuel rebate, however, requires a new compatible furnace alongside the new heat pump. These are different system paths, and FortisBC prohibits combining its dual-fuel rebate with other funded rebate programs.
For a homeowner in Surrey, Langley, Burnaby or the Fraser Valley, the right question is not “Which headline is biggest?” It is “Which complete system suits my home, and which published program fits that system?” This guide is checked against the official federal and FortisBC pages on November 5, 2026.
Choose a free home-assessment time or send your existing-system details and an optional photo. Grove reviews the installation scope; the program administrator decides eligibility and payment.
Federal rebate: whole-home heat pump, existing heat may stay
The federal route lists $2,000 for eligible households above its income threshold or up to $10,000 for eligible households at or below the published after-tax threshold. Amounts depend on household income and installed equipment cost; neither amount is a promised invoice credit.
Eligible installations from November 1, 2026 may apply when the portal opens in early 2027. No payment is made before the program launches and a complete application is approved. Verify the exact AHRI number on the federal eligible-products list, and ensure the heat pump is appropriately sized for the whole home. Purchasing an outdoor unit by itself or adding cooling to a few rooms is not proof of eligibility.
The system must be purchased from and installed by an HVAC contractor. Existing gas heat need not be removed under current federal rules, but retaining it does not make every equipment combination eligible. One rebate per household and the no-previous-federal-heat-pump-funding rule at the address still apply. Both planned and emergency installations can be reviewed; no federal pre- or post-energy audit is required.
FortisBC: replace a 15+ year primary furnace with a new matched system
FortisBC currently lists up to $4,000 standard or up to $8,000 income-qualified for qualifying installations completed on or after October 15, 2026. The existing primary gas or eligible piped-propane furnace must be at least 15 years old. The replacement is a new central ducted air-source heat pump integrated with a new compatible high-efficiency gas furnace and connected thermostat.
The eligible AHRI match must reference the outdoor unit, indoor unit and furnace. FortisBC requires the applicable contractor licence and HPCN listing, a program-approved heat-load calculation, commissioning and installation-day photos and records. Rule-of-thumb sizing is not accepted. Lower Mainland switchover controls must meet the current maximum 5°C setting. An application is due within the published six-month invoice deadline; FortisBC says processing may take up to 90 days.
Read the full FortisBC guide and income-qualified property conditions. A photo and approximate furnace age are useful first steps, not confirmation that the home qualifies.
Do not add federal and FortisBC rebate headlines
FortisBC’s dual-fuel rebate cannot be combined with other FortisBC, provincial- or federal-funded rebate programs. The federal announcement’s general provincial-combination language does not override that restriction. Do not market an $18,000 federal-plus-FortisBC total or assume one administrator’s approval satisfies another.
B.C. federal income limits: after-tax income, equal to or below
For the higher federal rebate, use the federal 2025 tax-return calculation: line 23600 minus line 43500; repeat for a spouse/common-law partner and add both amounts. These B.C. annual after-tax limits are not gross salary:
| Household size | At or below |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $46,981 |
| 2 people | $92,884 |
| 3 people | $119,850 |
| 4 people | $145,019 |
| 5 or more people | $170,187 |
View the complete national federal table and eligibility details. Income meeting the table is only one condition.
FortisBC income-qualified limits: a separate household-income rule
FortisBC says annual combined household income from all sources must be below its maximum. Its account, ownership, primary-residence, home-age, size and assessed-value limits also apply:
| Household size | Must be below |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $51,100 |
| 2 people | $63,600 |
| 3 people | $78,200 |
| 4 people | $94,900 |
| 5 people | $107,600 |
| 6 people | $121,400 |
| 7 or more people | $135,100 |
Do not send Grove your SIN, tax returns, CRA login or Notices of Assessment. Government and utility income verification belongs in their authorized application processes. Our public estimate request is for your home and equipment plan.
Three planning situations—not promised rebate awards
Your furnace is working, but you want whole-home cooling
A home assessment can compare an eligible whole-home heat-pump design retaining existing heat with a full replacement. Check the furnace’s condition, duct capacity, matched equipment, electrical scope and winter heat-loss needs. The current FortisBC replacement route is not a subsidy simply for adding a heat pump to that old furnace.
Your primary gas furnace is more than 15 years old
Compare a new matched dual-fuel system against a whole-home electric heat-pump design. Review each program’s conditions independently, alongside the total installed scope and operating-cost assumptions. An aging furnace does not by itself establish FortisBC approval.
You have electric baseboards or an electric furnace
Review the federal whole-home route and BC Hydro’s separate all-electric replacement requirements. BC Hydro currently lists up to $4,000 whole-home or $1,500 qualifying partial-home, with its own equipment, design and contractor conditions. For condo units, start with the separate condo guide and strata requirements; do not treat room-by-room cooling as automatically whole-home federal heating.
Installation quality is the decision that lasts after the rebate
Ask how the installer will assess heat loss, supply and return airflow, duct leakage, electrical capacity, outdoor-unit noise and clearance, condensate drainage, defrost, backup controls and commissioning. A product name or rebate number does not solve a poor air-distribution design. See Grove’s documented installation projects for examples of duct and system-design decisions.
Heat pumps do not necessarily lower the heating bill for every gas-heated home. Compare the home’s demand, local energy rates, equipment performance and control settings rather than relying on a universal savings percentage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my gas furnace and still review the federal heat-pump rebate?
The current federal requirements do not require removal of existing heat. However, the eligible heat-pump system must be properly sized to heat the whole home, purchased from and installed by an HVAC contractor, and identified by AHRI number on the eligible-products list. Household and other program rules also apply.
Can I add the federal rebate to the FortisBC dual-fuel rebate?
No. FortisBC’s published dual-fuel terms prohibit combining its rebate with other FortisBC, provincial- or federal-funded rebate programs. Compare the eligible system paths separately instead of adding the advertised amounts.
Does a new heat pump attached to my old furnace qualify for FortisBC?
Not under FortisBC’s current dual-fuel replacement route. It requires a new compatible high-efficiency furnace alongside the new central ducted heat pump and connected thermostat, replacing a qualifying 15+ year primary furnace. The matched system and full requirements must be checked.
Are the federal and FortisBC income tables the same?
No. The federal higher rebate uses published after-tax household income thresholds, with income equal to or below the limit. FortisBC uses annual combined household income from all sources below its separate maximum, plus account and property criteria. Neither income screen alone confirms approval.
Your next step: a home-specific estimate
Book a free in-home assessment using the available 90-minute estimate slots, or send your heating details and optional equipment photo. Bring the current fuel, approximate furnace age and comfort goals. Grove is an independent contractor, not affiliated with or endorsed by FortisBC or the Government of Canada. The administrator decides eligibility, funding and payment.
Official sources
ECCC — National Heat Pump Rebate rules and income table
NRCan — eligible AHRI heat-pump systems