Natural gas water heater rebate

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Please note final deadlines to apply for the natural gas water heater rebate:

  • Eligible equipment must be installed and all invoices must be dated on or before December 31, 2023.
  • You have up to six months from the invoice date to submit your rebate application.
    • Example: if the invoice date is October 15, 2023, your rebate application must be submitted by April 15, 2024.

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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 and the terms and conditions below.

General eligibility

  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Applications must be submitted within six months of the paid invoice date.
  5. Rebates cannot exceed the paid cost on the invoice.
  6. Only one rebate per home for a primary space heating system and a water heater is allowed.1

View full program rebate requirements.

Natural gas water heater specific requirements

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

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

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Please note final deadlines to apply for natural gas water heater rebates:

  • Eligible equipment must be installed and all invoices must be dated on or before December 31, 2023.
  • You have up to six months from the invoice date to submit your rebate application.
    • Example: if the invoice date is October 15, 2023, your rebate application must be submitted by April 15, 2024.

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  1. 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.
  2. 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.

  3. 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.

We’re here to help

If you have questions about rebates, contact us online or call us at 1-855-909-2329.

1 A primary space heating system is a furnace, boiler, combination system or an air source heat pump. Natural gas fireplaces are considered secondary space heating systems. Primary space heating and water heater rebates are offered in conjunction with BC Hydro and CleanBC Better Homes rebates.

2 Every home is different. Installation costs are averages and can vary depending on the installation requirements in each home.

Rebate bundle: Home renovations

Window and door rebates

Heat pump rebate

Heat pump water heater rebate

Home renovation bonus rebates

Insulation rebates

Natural gas boiler and combination heating and hot water system rebates

Natural gas fireplace rebate

Natural gas furnace rebates

Natural gas water heater rebate

Install two or more eligible energy-efficiency upgrades (boiler and combination system rebates count as two upgrades) and you could qualify for home renovation bonus rebates from $300 to $2,000.