Rebate programs for homes in your community
Rebate programs1 and support are available for Indigenous communities making energy-efficiency improvements and upgrades to their homes. We also facilitate and sponsor group lunches or dinners to discuss conservation and energy efficiency opportunities with community members.
Indigenous Communities Conservation Program
Please determine which climate zone you're in to see which rebates and deadlines are applicable for your community.
The Indigenous Communities Conservation Program is for Indigenous communities in FortisBC’s service area that are planning, or are already in the process of improving the energy efficiency of existing homes in their community. This program must be administered through your housing department.
We’re there to work with your community throughout the upgrade process, from assisting with applications to ensuring eligible energy-efficient products are selected. Before beginning work, review the program terms and conditions to see details about eligibility and requirements for upgrades.
How to apply for rebates
- Apply to the program by completing the online form.
- Once we receive your information, we will send you a Microsoft Excel workbook that you can use to log the energy-efficiency upgrades completed at each home.
- When the work is complete, you can send us the Microsoft Excel workbook, along with paid invoices and any other required documentation.
- Please see the program terms and conditions for full details.
Available rebates
This table summarizes rebates available for improving the health, safety and energy efficiency of existing homes in Indigenous communities. Review the terms and conditions for upgrade-specific requirements.
| Upgrade1 | Rebate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dual fuel heating systems | up to $15,000 per home | For eligible systems listed on the central ducted heat pump (dual fuel) product list replacing a furnace that's at least 10 years old and used for primary space heating. Add an eligible ENERGY STAR connected thermostat for an additional $200 rebate. |
| Northern top-up for dual fuel heating systems2 | $3,000 per home | Eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N) |
| Air source heat pumps | up to $5,000 per home | For eligible central (ducted) or variable-speed multi- or mini-split (ductless) air source heat pumps in homes primarily heated by electricity supplied by FortisBC. |
| Insulation | up to $2,000 per area | For adding/upgrading insulation to meet minimum R values in
|
| Windows and doors | U-factor 1.22 W/m2K or lower; $750 per window, maximum $7,500 per home | For replacing existing exterior windows and doors with eligible windows and doors. See terms and conditions or contact us for more information. |
| Health and safety improvements | up to $1,500 per home | For supporting activities (e.g. drywall repair, soffit repair, pest management, mold/moisture remediation, radon, and asbestos remediation) necessary for rebate-eligible building envelope upgrades (insulation, windows or doors) to occur. |
| Ventilation | up to $1,200 per ventilation system; maximum $2,400 per home | For installing eligible ENERGY STAR bathroom fans and ducting to outside (if they enable energy-saving upgrades to occur, such as windows or insulation). |
| High-efficiency gas water heaters | condensing tankless or condensing storage tank: up to $3,000 per home
| For eligible ENERGY STAR condensing tankless water heaters or condensing storage tank water heaters used for primary water heating. |
| Electric heat pump water heaters | up to $2,500 per home | For eligible Tier 2 or higher models used for primary water heating in homes that use electricity supplied by FortisBC. |
| ENERGY STAR® certified appliances | chest freezer: up to $500 per home refrigerator: up to $1,000 per home | For replacing existing appliances that were manufactured before 2008 with comparably sized eligible fridges and freezers in homes that use electricity supplied by FortisBC. |
| Two-upgrade bonus offer | $300 per home | Bonus for having at least two eligible upgrades installed. Not all rebates qualify toward the bonus offer. See terms and conditions or contact us for more information. |
The Indigenous Communities Conservation Program is for Indigenous communities in FortisBC’s service area that are planning to, or are already in the process of improving the energy efficiency of existing homes in their community. This program must be administered through your housing department.
We’re there to work with your community throughout the upgrade process, from assisting with applications to ensuring eligible energy-efficient products are selected. Before beginning work, review the program terms and conditions to see details about eligibility and requirements for upgrades.
How to apply for rebates
- Apply to the program by completing the online form.
- Once we receive your information, we will send you a Microsoft Excel workbook that you can use to log the energy-efficiency upgrades completed at each home.
- When the work is complete, you can send us the Microsoft Excel workbook, along with paid invoices and any other required documentation.
- Please see the program terms and conditions for full details.
Available rebates
This table summarizes rebates available for improving the health, safety and energy efficiency of existing homes in Indigenous communities. Review the terms and conditions for upgrade-specific requirements.
| Upgrade1 | Rebate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dual fuel heating systems | up to $15,000 per home | For eligible systems listed on the central ducted heat pump (dual fuel) product list replacing a furnace that's at least 10 years old and used for primary space heating. Add an eligible ENERGY STAR connected thermostat for an additional $200 rebate. |
| Northern top-up for dual fuel heating systems2 | $3,000 per home | Eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N) |
| Air source heat pumps | up to $5,000 per home | For eligible central (ducted) or variable-speed multi- or mini-split (ductless) air source heat pumps in homes primarily heated by electricity supplied by FortisBC. |
| High-efficiency gas furnaces | 95 to 96.9% AFUE: $2,000 per home
97 to 99% AFUE: $3,000 per home | For eligible furnaces with 95 to 96.9% AFUE or 97 to 99% AFUE used for primary space heating eligible ENERGY STAR connected thermostat for an additional $200 rebate. |
| High-efficiency gas boilers | $2,000 per home | For eligible boilers primary space heating that are at least 94% AFUE (annual fuel efficiency). |
| Insulation | up to $2,000 per area | For adding/upgrading insulation to meet minimum R values in
|
| Windows and doors | U-factor 1.22 W/m2K or lower; $750 per window, maximum $7,500 per home | For replacing existing exterior windows and doors with eligible windows and doors. See terms and conditions or contact us for more information. |
| Health and safety improvements | up to $1,500 per home | For supporting activities (e.g. drywall repair, soffit repair, pest management, mold/moisture remediation, radon, and asbestos remediation) necessary for rebate-eligible building envelope upgrades (insulation, windows or doors) to occur. |
| Ventilation | up to $1,200 per ventilation system; maximum $2,400 per home | |
| High-efficiency gas water heaters | condensing tankless or condensing storage tank: up to $3,000 per home
| For eligible ENERGY STAR condensing tankless water heaters or condensing storage tank water heaters used for primary water heating. |
| Electric heat pump water heaters | up to $2,500 per home | For eligible Tier 2 or higher models used for primary water heating in homes that use electricity supplied by FortisBC. |
| ENERGY STAR® certified appliances | chest freezer: up to $500 per home refrigerator: up to $1,000 per home | For replacing existing appliances that were manufactured before 2008 with comparably sized eligible fridges and freezers in homes that use electricity supplied by FortisBC. |
| Two-upgrade bonus offer | $300 per home | Bonus for having at least two eligible upgrades installed. Not all rebates qualify toward the bonus offer. See terms and conditions or contact us for more information. |
For Indigenous communities that are building new non-profit housing or homes owned or rented by low-income community members, this program aligns with the BC Energy Step Code and provides funding for building high-performance single family homes, duplexes and townhouses. Homes built to BC Energy Step Code 3 or higher using dual fuel space heating (or electric space heating in FortisBC's electricity service area) may qualify for performance rebates of:
- Step Code 3 - $15,000
- Step Code 4 - $20,000
- Step Code 5 - $25,000
Additional funding is available for hiring program-qualified energy advisor support, and for installing energy-efficient appliances such as drain water heat recovery, communicating thermostats and more.
We also provide funding to support energy-efficient design of homes. For homes built to Step Code 3, 4 or 5, you may be eligible to receive up to $7,000 toward consulting fees of Integrated Design Process (IDP) consultants, building science consultants and/or mechanical design specialists.
This program must be administered through your housing department. Review the New Home Program terms and conditions or contact us for full details.
Having gas and electric appliances regularly inspected and maintained by a licensed contractor can help keep them operating safely and efficiently. It can also help extend the life expectancy of equipment, and many appliance manufacturers require regular servicing to maintain appliance warranties.
These rebates are available to Indigenous communities for annual maintenance of the following equipment in homes. This program must be administered by your housing department and is not available to individual households. Terms and conditions apply.
| Appliance service | Rebate (per household)1 |
|---|---|
| Gas furnace or boiler | $100 |
| Electric heat pump (in FortisBC’s electricity service area) | $100 |
| Gas storage tank water heater | $50 |
| Gas tankless water heater | $100 |
| Gas fireplace | $50 each (up to two per household) |
More energy-saving programs for community members
Individual households in your community may be eligible to receive a free kit with energy-saving products they can install themselves at home, or a free home energy evaluation and installation of energy-saving upgrades. Funding and support is available to help administer and promote these programs to your community members – contact us for details. Note: households in Indigenous communities do not need to provide proof of income to participate in these programs.
Let’s get in touch
If you have questions about services, programs and rebates for Indigenous communities, email us or call 1-866-884-8833 and select option 4.
1Terms and conditions apply. FortisBC may modify or cancel programs at any time. Full terms and conditions available on individual program pages.
2This program is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.