What would a heat pump cost to run in BC?
Most heat-pump "savings" claims are sales math. This one uses real BC energy prices to show your true running cost, and how much you actually save versus gas, oil, propane, or baseboard.
Your heat pump running cost, in 30 seconds
Pick your current heating, your home, and your climate zone, see annual and monthly cost and your savings.
An honest number, not a sales pitch
Installers are paid to say "huge savings." The truth depends entirely on what you heat with today.
Beating gas? Modestly.
BC's cheap gas and cheap hydro are close, a gas-to-heat-pump switch often saves only ~$100/yr on running cost. We show that honestly.
Beating oil or propane? Hugely.
Oil and propane are expensive, a switch can cut thousands a year. The calculator makes the gap obvious.
Beating baseboards? Big win.
Electric baseboard at full rate vs a heat pump at COP ~2.8 typically saves around $1,500/yr on a 2,000 ft² home.
Should you actually do it?
Running cost is only half the decision. The full kit does the rebates, net cost, and payback.
BC Heat Pump Decision Kit
Everything the free calculator does, plus the money-and-decision math:
- ✓ Rebate stacker, which BC stream you actually qualify for (income-qualified up to ~$16k, electric-baseboard, oil/OHPA) and your net cost
- ✓ Cold-climate sizing verdict, will a heat pump cover your load, or do you need backup heat?
- ✓ Payback period, net install cost vs annual savings, in years
- ✓ Fuel-switch reality check, flags the standard gas rebates that ended in 2025
BC heat pump guides
Plain-English answers to the questions BC homeowners ask before switching.
BC heat pumps, common questions
How much does a heat pump cost to run in BC?
For a typical 2,000 ft² coastal-BC home needing ~18,000 kWh of heat a year, a heat pump at a seasonal COP of ~2.8 uses about 6,400 kWh, roughly $840/year on BC Hydro's ~13.1¢/kWh rate. Colder zones and bigger homes cost more. See the full breakdown →
Will a heat pump save me money vs gas in BC?
Usually only a little. BC's natural gas and hydro electricity are both cheap, so a gas-to-heat-pump switch often saves just ~$90–150/year in running cost, the bigger reasons are cooling, comfort, and carbon, not your bill. Switching from oil, propane, or electric baseboard saves far more. The honest payback math →
Do I need a cold-climate heat pump in BC?
On the mild south coast, a standard heat pump covers most homes. In the Interior and the north, a cold-climate model (and sometimes backup heat) is worth it. How to decide →
What heat pump rebates can I get in BC in 2026?
It depends which bucket you're in. The standard gas-to-heat-pump fuel-switch rebates ended in April 2025; today the big stacks are income-qualified (up to ~$16k), electric-baseboard conversions (~$5–10k), and federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability for oil homes. Most installer guides still quote the old numbers. What you really qualify for →