AC replacement cost in British Columbia after rebates (2026)
Last verified October 19, 2026 against official program pages. How we check
As of October 19, 2026, no program open today pays for a like-for-like central air conditioner in B.C.. A central AC typically costs $4,760 to $4,990 installed (a Canada-wide range: no B.C.-specific figure is published).
A heat pump also cools, and replacing your AC with one gets about $5,000 back from programs open today: about $2,000 to $11,000 after rebates.
Every program here is listed on British Columbia home energy rebates, and the heat pump ones on heat pump rebates in British Columbia. The biggest typical amount comes from Home Renovation Rebate Program. How programs combine is in our stacking guide.
Worked example: a heat pump instead, B.C.
Cold-climate air-source heat pump, installed
- Typical installed cost
- $7,000–$16,000*
- Your rebates open today
- − $5,000
- You’d pay about
- $2,000–$11,000
- + $2,000 more if the National Heat Pump Rebate opens before you install. Not counted above.
*Typical range from BC Hydro (BC Hydro estimate from 2022, by home size; checked October 17, 2026), not a quote. Program administrators decide eligibility. Your installer’s quote decides the cost.
What you’d pay in B.C., worked out
Typical cost minus the typical rebate from programs open today. Program maximums, loans and city-only programs are not subtracted. Some don’t need an energy assessment: see heat pump rebates without an assessment.
| Home | Typical cost | Rebates open today | You’d pay about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central AC, like for like | $4,760–$4,990 | None found | $4,760–$4,990 |
| Home | Typical cost | Rebates open today | You’d pay about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump insteadHome Renovation Rebate Program + BC Hydro Air Source Heat Pump Bonus Rebate (Fall 2026) | $7,000–$16,000 | − $5,000 | $2,000–$11,000 |
Cost: Canadian Climate Institute (Dunsky technical report), published February 14, 2024, checked October 17, 2026. Modelled installed cost for a detached house (mid-cost case, 2024 report). Typical, not a quote. Heat pump cost: BC Hydro, published April 8, 2022, checked October 17, 2026. BC Hydro estimate from 2022, by home size. Typical, not a quote. Rebates: program pages, last verified October 19, 2026.
Enter your quote
See what you’d pay in B.C. after the typical rebates open today.
Typical rebates open todayNone found
You’d pay aboutEnter a quote
+ $2,000 more if the National Heat Pump Rebate opens before you install. Not counted above.
Program administrators decide eligibility. Some programs cap a rebate at a share of the cost, so a small job can get less. See every program for your home
Key facts
- Typical central AC cost
- $4,760–$4,990 (a Canada-wide range: no B.C.-specific figure is published). Source: Canadian Climate Institute (Dunsky technical report), published February 14, 2024, checked October 17, 2026. Modelled installed cost for a detached house (mid-cost case, 2024 report). Typical, not a quote.
- Central AC rebates
- None in our data.
- Heat pump instead
- $7,000–$16,000 installed, about $5,000 back, so about $2,000–$11,000. Source: BC Hydro, published April 8, 2022, checked October 17, 2026. BC Hydro estimate from 2022, by home size. Typical, not a quote.
- Announced, not open
- National Heat Pump Rebate: $2,000 more if it opens before you install. Not counted above.
- Last verified
- October 19, 2026. Program administrators decide eligibility. Your installer’s quote decides the cost.
Programs that pay for a central AC in B.C.
- Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialBritish Columbia
CleanBC Energy Savings Program (ground-oriented homes)
Income-tested rebates, paid directly to registered contractors, that cover up to the full cost of a heat pump or heat pump water heater for lower- and middle-income B.C. households.
$16,500
max rebate, income-qualified
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenUtilityBritish Columbia
Home Renovation Rebate Program
Rebates for B.C. households of any income for heat pumps in electrically heated homes, insulation, windows and doors, and heat pump water heaters, plus larger heat pump rebates for northern homes leaving oil, gas or propane.
$12,500
max rebate
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenUtilityBritish Columbia
FortisBC Heat Pump Rebate for Income-Qualified Customers
Heat pump rebates of up to $12,000 for income-qualified FortisBC electricity customers replacing electric heat.
$12,000
max rebate, income-qualified
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026UpcomingFederalCanada-wide
National Heat Pump Rebate
A new federal rebate announced on October 8, 2026 that will pay $2,000 toward an eligible cold-climate air-source heat pump, or up to $10,000 for households below the median income. Applications are not open yet.
$2,000
max rebate
Up to $10,000 if income-qualified
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialBritish Columbia
CleanBC Energy Savings Program Condo and Apartment Rebate
Income-tested rebates of up to $5,000 for an in-suite heat pump and up to $3,500 for a heat pump water heater in electrically heated condos and apartments.
$8,500
max rebate, income-qualified
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenUtilityBritish Columbia
FortisBC Heat Pump Loan
Low-interest financing of up to $6,500 at 1.9% over ten years for FortisBC electricity customers replacing electric heat with an air source heat pump.
$6,500
max loan
Loan - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenUtilityBritish Columbia
BC Hydro Condo and Apartment Rebate Program
Rebates of up to $2,250 for an in-suite heat pump and $1,000 for a heat pump water heater in electrically heated condos, apartments and stacked townhomes, with no income test.
$3,250
max rebate
Rebate - Last verified October 19, 2026Closing soonUtilityBritish Columbia
BC Hydro Air Source Heat Pump Bonus Rebate (Fall 2026)
A limited-time extra $500 to $1,000 for BC Hydro customers who replace electric heat with an eligible air source heat pump installed, invoiced and paid between August 1 and October 31, 2026.
$1,000
max rebate
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenFederalCanada-wide
Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program
Federally funded, no-cost home energy upgrades for low- and median-income homeowners and tenants. You apply through your province's or utility's partner program, not through Ottawa.
Free
Free upgrade - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialBritish Columbia
PST Exemption on Heat Pumps
Heat pumps bought in B.C. are exempt from the 7% provincial sales tax, while fossil-fuel heating equipment is taxed at 12%.
Varies
Instant discount - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenUtilityBritish Columbia
Energy Conservation Assistance Program
Free home energy evaluation and no-cost installation of upgrades such as heat pumps, insulation and draft-proofing for income-qualified B.C. households.
Free
Free upgrade
Questions people ask
Comparing options? See heat pump cost in British Columbia.
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