The CleanBC Energy Savings Program (ESP) is the income-qualified side of CleanBC Better Homes. It pays much larger heat pump rebates than the standard program, the registered contractor claims the money for you, and the amounts depend on two things: your income level and the fuel you heat with today. The CleanBC Energy Savings Program income limits run from $51,100 (one person, Level 1) up to $270,200 (seven or more people, Level 3). The current rebate table applies to invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026, and this guide puts all of it on one page for Greater Victoria homeowners.
What are the CleanBC Energy Savings Program income limits?
Your level is set by household size and combined pre-tax household income. Find your row, then read across: you are in the lowest level whose limit your income is at or under.
| People in the home | Level 1 max income | Level 2 max income | Level 3 max income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $51,100 | $63,900 | $102,100 |
| 2 | $63,600 | $79,500 | $127,200 |
| 3 | $78,200 | $97,700 | $156,300 |
| 4 | $94,900 | $118,600 | $189,800 |
| 5 | $107,600 | $134,500 | $215,200 |
| 6 | $121,400 | $151,700 | $242,700 |
| 7 or more | $135,100 | $168,900 | $270,200 |
Level 3 is the one most Victoria families miss. A household of four earning up to $189,800 qualifies, but only if it is switching a ground-oriented home from natural gas, propane or oil space heating to a heat pump. Electrically heated homes cannot use Level 3.
Property value limits
Income is not the only test. For participants registering on or after April 1, 2026, the program requirements set a cap on the property's total assessed value:
- Levels 1 and 2: assessed value at or under $1,200,000.
- Level 3: assessed value at or under $1,820,000.
Check your latest BC Assessment notice before you start. In Greater Victoria's higher-value neighbourhoods, this cap rather than income can be what rules a home out.
How much does the Energy Savings Program pay in 2026, by fuel and level?
These are the maximum heat pump rebates for ground-oriented homes (detached houses, duplexes, row homes) for invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026. The northern BC top-up is left out because it does not apply in Greater Victoria.
| Current heat and upgrade | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil: central ducted or 3-head multi-split | $13,000 | $7,000 | $3,500 |
| Oil: 2-head multi-split or two single-head mini-splits | $11,000 | $5,500 | $3,000 |
| Oil: single-head mini-split | $7,000 | $5,000 | $3,000 |
| Oil: air-to-water (space heating only) | $13,000 | $7,000 | $3,500 |
| Oil: combined space and water heat pump | $16,500 | $11,500 | $7,000 |
| Gas or propane: central ducted or 3-head multi-split | $13,000 | $7,000 | $3,500 |
| Gas or propane: 2-head multi-split or two single-heads | $11,000 | $5,500 | $1,000 |
| Gas or propane: single-head mini-split | $5,500 | $4,500 | $1,000 |
| Gas or propane: air-to-water (space heating only) | $13,000 | $7,000 | $3,500 |
| Gas or propane: dual fuel ducted heat pump | $12,000 | $5,000 | $3,000 |
| Gas or propane: combined space and water heat pump | $16,500 | $11,500 | $7,000 |
| Electric: central, 3-head, 2-head or single-head | $5,000 | Not offered (wood-heated homes only) | Not offered |
| Electric: air-to-water | $5,000 | Not offered (wood only) | Not offered |
| Electric: combined space and water | $8,500 | Not offered (wood only) | Not offered |
Three details in that table change real decisions:
- Gas homes at Level 3 get only $1,000 for a one- or two-head ductless system, while oil homes get $3,000. At Level 3, a ducted or 3-head system ($3,500) is worth pricing.
- Electric homes are Level 1 only. A baseboard home above the Level 1 income limit uses the standard rebate (up to $4,000 whole home) instead. Until October 31, 2026 that standard route also has a BC Hydro bonus of up to $1,000.
- The combined space and water heat pump is the top tier at $16,500. Our combined space and water heat pump rebate guide explains when it beats a separate heat pump plus water heater.
Other ESP rebates you can add
| Add-on | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical service upgrade (100, 200 or 400 A) | $5,000 | $3,500 | $1,500 | Fossil fuel to heat pump conversions only, done within six months of the heat pump install |
| Heat pump water heater | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Homes with oil or gas water heating |
| Health and safety | $800 | $800 | Not offered | Per program requirements |
| Ventilation | $1,600 | $1,600 | Not offered | Per program requirements |
The electrical service upgrade rebate is a big one for older Victoria homes on 60 or 100 amp service. It covers BC Hydro connection fees, panel or sub-panel upgrades, the service mast, meter base and labour, but only when the home is converting from oil, propane or natural gas. Electrically heated homes do not get it.
What changed on July 6, 2026?
The program's requirements page now applies its rebate table to "invoices dated on or after July 6, 2026", and eligibility codes for applications received on or after that date are valid for upgrades completed within three months of your approval date. In practice:
- Use the table above for any quote you sign now. Many contractor pages and even the CRD's Home Energy Navigator page still quote "up to $19,000" for fossil fuel switches, which does not match the current table.
- Electric-heated homes can only use Level 1 for a heat pump; Level 2 amounts for that row are now limited to wood-heated homes.
- Plan the install before you pre-register. A three-month clock is short if you need an electrical service upgrade from BC Hydro first.
Federal money is gone, which makes the ESP more important. The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed, and the federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program stopped taking applications on July 31, 2026.
How do you pre-register for the Energy Savings Program?
The order matters. Install first and you lose the rebate.
- Read the eligibility rules. The home must be your year-round primary residence, at least 12 months old, with a residential electricity account with BC Hydro, FortisBC or a municipal utility.
- Gather income proof. Accepted documents include a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment or Proof of Income Statement, SAFER or Guaranteed Income Supplement letters, and proof of BC Hydro or FortisBC ECAP participation, among others.
- Pre-register online and get your eligibility code. You apply once, and the approval report lists every ESP rebate you qualify for. The code can be reused for several upgrades but is valid for three months.
- Get quotes from registered contractors. All upgrades must be installed by a program Registered Contractor; self-installs are not eligible. Ask each contractor to confirm registration and that the model is on the Qualified Heat Pump Product List.
- Install within three months. The heat pump must heat all conditioned space, and all fossil fuel heating equipment (piping, appliances, fuel containers and vents) must be removed. A fossil fuel backup is not allowed, except for the gas dual fuel line item.
- The contractor claims the rebate; you pay the rest. The registered contractor submits the application and documents within six months of the invoice date and receives the rebate, so you pay the balance rather than the full price up front.
Worked examples for Greater Victoria households
| Household | Level | Upgrade | Maximum ESP rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couple in Esquimalt, $75,000 income, oil furnace, ducted house on 100 A | Level 2 | Central ducted heat pump + 200 A service upgrade | $7,000 + $3,500 = $10,500 |
| Family of four in Saanich, $160,000 income, gas furnace | Level 3 | Central ducted heat pump + service upgrade | $3,500 + $1,500 = $5,000 |
| Single senior in Victoria, $45,000 income, oil boiler and oil hot water | Level 1 | Combined space and water heat pump + service upgrade | $16,500 + $5,000 = $21,500 |
| Family of three in Langford, $70,000 income, electric baseboards | Level 1 | 3-head multi-split | $5,000 |
Each example assumes the home is under the assessed value cap and the equipment qualifies. The Saanich example could also apply for the District's 0% property-tax financing for oil and gas homes; our guide to paying for a heat pump in BC covers that and the Central Saanich program.
Energy Savings Program vs the standard CleanBC rebate
| Standard (Home Renovation Rebate) | Energy Savings Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Income test | None | Levels 1-3 by household size |
| Oil or gas home in Victoria | $0 | Up to $13,000 ($16,500 combined) |
| Electric home | Up to $4,000 whole, $1,500 partial | Level 1 only, up to $5,000 |
| Pre-registration | Not required | Required before install |
| Who applies | You, within six months of invoice | Registered contractor, within six months of invoice |
| Cash up front | Full price, rebate later | Balance only |
For the full picture of the standard program, read our CleanBC heat pump rebate guide for Victoria. If you want a contractor to check your level and price the right system, request a free written quote or see the rebate section on our home page.