Natural gas water heater rebate

Upgrade to a qualifying natural gas ENERGY STAR^® water heater and you could get rebates from $200 to $1,000.

Before beginning work, make sure you qualify for this rebate by reviewing the Program Rebate Requirements, as outlined in the terms and conditions and the eligibility and rebate details below.

General eligibility

The home must have:
- a residential FortisBC natural gas account (except for strata unit owners installing EnerChoice® fireplaces) and/or
- a residential FortisBC or municipal electricity account of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland or Nelson Hydro
If the registered owner of the property where upgrades were made is not the utility account holder (e.g. landlord/tenant) the owner must have the account holder complete the Utility Account Holder Consent form.
The home must be a year-round primary residence at least 12 months old and be either a single-family, duplex, triplex, row home, townhouse or mobile home on a permanent foundation. New construction, additions and garage upgrades are not eligible. Apartments and condos are eligible for fireplace rebates only.
Applications must be submitted within six months of the paid invoice date.
Rebates cannot exceed the paid cost on the invoice.
Only one rebate per home for a primary space heating system and a water heater is allowed.¹

View full general eligibility requirements.

Natural gas water heater specific requirements

All upgrades must be installed by a Technical Safety BC licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid BC business license for the trade applicable to the upgrade being installed. Self-installations are not eligible.
The existing primary water heating system must be replaced with a new, eligible natural gas water heater. Warranty replacements are not eligible.

Review the terms and conditions

Rebate eligible natural gas water heaters

Make sure the natural gas water heater you’re planning to purchase is eligible for a rebate by using our search tool. Only models listed here qualify. Enter a manufacturer or model number to start your search.

Note: some results may include an asterisk “*” in place of characters. As long as the characters before and after the asterisk match your model number, your model is eligible.

Search for rebate-eligible products

Eligible water heater

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Manufacturer

Model number (min 3 characters)

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Manufacturer	Model

Rebate details

If it’s time to replace your old water heater, you have choices beyond a standard storage tank, including high-efficiency tankless and condensing models. Compare each type below and choose a qualifying natural gas ENERGY STAR water heater for a rebate of up to $1,000.

Upgrade	Rebate	Features²
Storage tank Eligible models	$200	Efficiency: good Life expectancy: 10 to 13 years Pros: can handle multiple, simultaneous demands for hot water quick recovery means there’s less chance of running out of hot water (some units can heat up to five gallons per minute) Cons: some heat will be lost through the flue gases exhausted to the outdoors electrical outlet required, so it won’t work during a power outage
Condensing tankless Eligible models	$1,000	Efficiency: ultimate Life expectancy: about 20 years Pros: heats water as you need it takes up less space than a storage tank can be wall mounted condensing technology means heat from flue gases is recovered instead of lost, helping to save energy and costs if you are upgrading from a storage tank to a tankless model, you may be entitled to a discount on your homeowner’s insurance Cons: you may have to wait a few seconds for hot water when you turn on the tap most won’t work during a power outage requires a drain for water condensation leaving the system
Condensing storage tank Eligible models	$1,000	Efficiency: ultimate Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years Pros: offers the benefits of a standard storage tank with much higher efficiency good for large households and can handle multiple, simultaneous demands for hot water quick recovery means there’s less chance of running out of hot water (some units can heat up to five gallons per minute) Cons: requires a drain for water condensation leaving the system
Two-upgrade bonus	$300	Install an eligible natural gas water heater and make an additional Home Renovation Rebate upgrade and you could qualify for our $300 two-upgrade bonus.

How can I tell if my water heater needs replacing?

There’s no repairing a leaky water heater. If you notice any of these signs it may be time to get a new one. You can purchase your water heater from a retailer, but to be eligible for this rebate it must be installed by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas contractor with a valid GST number.

leaking or pooling water on the top around the water connections and/or under or near the heater
rust stains on laundry or in showers or sinks may be evidence of rust buildup in the water heater
rusty water comes out of the taps
slow hot water recovery time – it takes longer to heat up water or the water doesn’t get as hot even though heat settings haven’t changed
bubbling or boiling noises in your tank as water heats up

How to apply

Purchase a qualifying water heater and have it installed by a gas contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC. You can find a gas contractor through our online directory.
Apply online and include a copy of the paid invoice showing details of all work performed, including:
- purchase date
- make and model number
- installation permit number
- gas contractor’s Technical Safety BC licence number
See a sample invoice for water heaters for specific requirements.
Applications may take up to 90 days to process.

Note: the rebate application link below takes you to Account login. Once you've registered and/or logged in you can start your rebate application. Hint: we recommend using Google Chrome® for the best experience.

Start your rebate application

For more tips on using the online rebate application, read our how-to guide.

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