Insulation rebates
Adding or upgrading insulation is a cost-effective renovation to increase the energy efficiency and comfort of your home all year round.
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 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.
- Applications must be submitted within six months of the paid invoice date.
- Rebates cannot exceed the paid cost on the invoice.
View full general eligibility requirements.
Insulation specific requirements
- Batt, loose fill, board and spray foam are eligible insulation types.
- Insulation must be installed for the purpose of reducing heat loss from the home. Soundproofing insulation and any insulation type installed in an outbuilding is not eligible for rebates.
- Insulation must be installed by a Home Performance Contractor Network member, and in accordance with the Best Practice Guide Air Sealing and Insulation Retrofits for Single Family Homes. Self-installations are not eligible.
- A home defined as “substantially reconstructed,” by the Homeowner Protection Act (as per Regulatory Bulletin: Substantially Reconstructed Homes and the Home Owner Protection Act (No. 6)) is not eligible. A substantially reconstructed home can include structural repairs, renovation where exterior walls and/or existing plumbing, electrical or gas lines are moved or it requires a New Home Registration Form under the Homeowner Protection Act.
- Insulation upgrades made to a home that require installations to meet code compliance and new building construction requirements, including and not limited to renovations that require a “New Construction” or “Addition/Alteration” building permit are not eligible.
- If there are any issues with pest infestations or rodent tunnels in insulation, they must be remediated before receiving the rebate.
Review the terms and conditions
Rebate details
| Upgrade location | Rebate | Minimum R-value of new insulation added1 |
|---|---|---|
| Attic - flat and cathedral ceiling | $0.02 x square feet x R-value added, up to $900 | R12 |
| Exterior wall cavities | $0.09 x square feet x R-value added, up to $1,200 | R12 |
| Exterior wall sheathing | $0.09 x square feet x R-value added, up to $1,200 | R3.8 |
| Basement/crawlspace walls2 | $0.09 x square feet x R-value added, up to $1,200 | R10 |
| Other - exposed floor, floor over crawlspace2, basement or crawlspace header | $0.07 x square feet x R-value added, up to $1,000 | R20 |
| Two-upgrade bonus | Install insulation in two or more eligible areas, each with a minimum rebate value of $500, and you could qualify for our $300 two-upgrade bonus. | N/A |
2Rebate available for crawlspace walls or floor over crawlspace, but not both
R-value explained
- R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow. As heat spontaneously flows from warm areas to colder areas, the higher the R-value of insulation, the more effectively it will prevent (resist) heat from escaping your home in winter. In summer it does the opposite, by helping to prevent warm outside air from entering your cooler home.
- Insulation products must meet the applicable Canadian national thermal insulation standards. Only products with Canadian thermal resistivity values (R-values) provided by the manufacturer are accepted. “System values” or values of materials not tested to Canadian national thermal insulation standards cannot be used for determining the amount of insulation added.
How to apply
- Apply online within six months of your invoice date with the following information:
- your FortisBC natural gas and/or electricity account number, or municipal electricity account number from Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland or Nelson Hydro or, if you’re not the utility account holder (e.g. rental property), please have the account holder complete the consent form
- your email
- scanned copies of all paid invoices showing details of all work performed, including:
- the purchase date
- installation permit numbers (if applicable)
- the location(s) of installation
- type of insulation (batt, loose fill, board or spray foam)
- R-value of new insulation added
- starting and final R-value of insulation
- total amount of insulation added in square feet
- If you’re not the utility account holder (e.g. property is a rental), have the account holder complete the Utility Account Holder Consent form.
- 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.
For more tips on using the online rebate application, read our how-to guide.
Third-party offers and services
Home Performance Contractor Network
Home Performance Contractor Network members who have completed training with FortisBC and BC Hydro on industry best practices for installing insulation are listed on CleanBC’s website. Note: FortisBC does not guarantee or assume any liability for any work performed by Home Performance Contractor Network members and is simply offering training to better educate contractors.
IOE Consulting
As we work to continuously improve our programs, we will be asking a small percentage of applicants to provide access to their home to verify the installation of their new insulation. This work is being carried out by IOE Consulting.
The site visit may be conducted either in-person or virtually using an app such as FaceTime or Google Hangouts. IOE staff will always call or email in advance to book a site visit appointment with you. Their staff also carry photo ID badges identifying them as FortisBC contractors.
Additional resources
Stay safe. Test your home for radon.
Radon is a naturally occurring, odourless gas in the soil that can enter your home through the foundation or plumbing. Exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test. Learn more about the health risks of radon and home testing and mitigation.
Best practice guide for air sealing and insulation retrofits
Insulation must be installed in accordance with the BC Housing’s Best practice guide for air sealing and insulation retrofits.
Upgrading insulation isn't a DIY job
Read one homeowner's story about her home insulation experience.
We’re here to help
If you have questions about rebates, contact us online or call us at:
Natural gas customers - 1-855-909-2329
Electricity customers - 1-855-909-2331
This program is funded in part, by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.
