Rebates are rarely lost because a home didn’t qualify. They’re lost because a step happened in the wrong order. Follow this sequence and keep the checklist at the bottom.
Step 1: Check eligibility before you buy anything
- Is the program open, and does your install date fall inside its window? (The FortisBC dual fuel rebate only covers installs on or after October 15, 2026.)
- What are you replacing? Fuel type and equipment age decide most rebates (e.g. a gas furnace at least 15 years old for dual fuel).
- Is the home your primary residence, and are you the FortisBC account holder?
- Could your household be income-qualified? Check the income table; the amounts are much higher.
Step 2: Get pre-approval if the program requires it
The CleanBC Energy Savings Program requires an eligibility code before work starts. FortisBC income-qualified rebates recommend a pre-qualification code.
Step 3: Choose a qualifying contractor
Most heat pump and dual fuel rebates require a member of the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) who is listed for the specific rebate at the time of installation. For anything involving gas, the contractor must also hold a Technical Safety BC gas contractor licence. Check both yourself. It takes two minutes, and it’s the single biggest reason claims are refused.
Step 4: Install, permit and commission
- The equipment must be on the program’s qualifying list. For dual fuel, the AHRI reference must cover the outdoor unit, indoor unit and furnace.
- A program-approved heat load calculation is required for heat pumps.
- Gas work needs a TSBC permit.
- For dual fuel, the contractor submits commissioning through the DSMAlly app with photos of the old and new systems on installation day.
Step 5: Apply and track your rebate
The homeowner applies, not the contractor. Submit online within the deadline (6 months from the paid invoice for most FortisBC rebates). FortisBC quotes up to 90 days for processing. Keep copies of everything.
Document checklist
- Paid, itemized invoice showing make, model and serial numbers, and the installer’s company name and licence.
- AHRI certificate or reference number for the installed system.
- Photos of the old equipment’s rating plate (proves age) and of the new installation.
- Gas permit number (for gas work) and heat load calculation.
- Your FortisBC account number.
- Pre-approval or eligibility code, if your program uses one.
- For income-qualified rebates: CRA Notices of Assessment for every adult.
Five mistakes that cost homeowners their rebate
- Buying first and checking eligibility after.
- Hiring an installer who isn’t HPCN-listed for that specific rebate.
- Throwing out the old furnace before it’s photographed.
- Installing a model that isn’t on the qualifying list, or with the wrong switchover setting.
- Missing the application window.
How BC Wide helps with the rebate application
BC Wide’s own TSBC-licensed gas fitters and Red Seal technicians install and service furnaces, heat pumps and dual fuel systems across Greater Vancouver, never subcontractors. That matters for rebates: the person filling in commissioning data is the person who installed your system, so details match the paperwork.
Phone or email us with your furnace age, home size and city. We’ll confirm which rebate fits, give you a free written estimate for qualifying equipment, and explain how to check any contractor’s listing on the HPCN directory. We answer (604) 473-9690 seven days a week, or write to info@bcwide.ca.