Heat Pump Financing Program

NEXT INTAKE:

The deadline for the next intake is February 9, 2026. Participants in the winter 2026 intake will have their LAS bylaws adopted by Council on April 13, 2026, after which time they can install their heat pump and receive financing.

Program Information 

The District of Saanich offers up to $12,000 in 0% interest financing to help you upgrade your existing fossil fuel furnace or boiler to an efficient electric heat pump. The financing is repaid over 10 years through an additional levy on the home’s property tax payments. Program participants are also eligible for a grant to offset the cost of a professional Energy Evaluation. Free retrofit support and guidance from an Energy Concierge is available through the Capital Region’s Home Energy Navigator Program.

Get started today!

Program Contact Information

For more information, contact City Green Solutions, the program's administrator at:

Steps to Participate

Read the Heat Pump Financing Participants Guide [PDF - 1 MB] for more details on the process or find the in-depth visual overview [PDF - 758 KB]. 

Heat Pump Financing Eligibility and Eligible Upgrade Requirements 

Read the Heat Pump Financing Participants Guide [PDF - 1 MB] for full eligibility details. 

  • The homes must be an eligible home type (single family, duplex, or qualified townhouse or mobile home) located within the District of Saanich.
  • The home must be primarily heated with oil, natura gas and/or propane. 
  • Your property must be in good standing with regards to property taxes and municipal utility bills
  • You must apply to the program and have your financing agreement signed before starting any work.

Eligible Upgrades

  • Ducted Central, Ductless Mini-Split, Air-to-Water, or Combined Space and Hot Water Heat Pumps are eligible
  • For oil heated homes, all heating equipment and oil tank must be removed and you must obtain the required permits from the Saanich Fire Department.
    • Replacement of broken oil equipment is not eligible.
  • Electrical service upgrades required for the installation of the heat pump are eligible.
  • Additional heat pump air filtration systems, ducting modification and/or duct cleaning are eligible. 

Income-Qualified Participants

Half of the program spaces are reserved for income-qualified participants annually.  Read the Heat Pump Financing Participants Guide [PDF - 1 MB] for income-qualified details and thresholds. 

If the home is tenanted, either the homeowner or the tenant can qualify under the income-qualified stream. Tenants must submit a Tenant Consent Form to confirm the use of their personal information for this purpose. 

If you are an income-qualified household, we recommend you first pre-register for the CleanBC Energy Savings Program (replaced the Income Qualified (IQ) Program) at betterhomesbc.ca/rebates/energy-savings-program/. The Energy Savings Program will pay your contractor directly for the eligible rebate, and the balance is eligible for financing from Saanich.

Participants can submit proof of income from the past 18 months in any one of the following ways:

  • CleanBC Energy Savings Program Participant Opportunities Report; or
  • Notice of Assessment for two main income earners in the family (Canada Revenue Agency).

Form and Document Submission

You may submit this registration form, and other documents and forms throughout the program in the following ways:

1. By Secure Online Portal (TitanFile Secure Submit)

2. By Mail:

Saanich Heat Pump Financing Program
C/O City Green Solutions
214-620 View Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1J6

3. In person:

City Green Solutions
214-620 View Street
Hours: 9am-5pm, M-F

Or

Saanich Municipal Hall - 1st floor Reception
770 Vernon Avenue
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm, M-F

If you have any questions about the program or need support, please see our FAQs [PDF - 899 KB] or contact the program administrator at info@SaanichHeatPumpFinancing.ca or by phone at (778) 405-1123, (toll free: 1 (866) 381-9995 and ask about the Saanich Pump Financing Program).

Resources

Watch the recorded online webinar to learn more about the Saanich Oil Pump Financing Program, or check out the presentation! [Note: Eligibility criteria has been expanded since this webinar was hosted and now includes tenanted households and natural gas and propane-heated homes].

 

The Home Energy Navigator is a free local program that provides customized, expert support throughout your retrofit journey. We recommend registering for the Navigator to help you determine the right upgrades for your home, compare and select quotes, access rebates from all levels of government, and more. Register online today or by calling 1-866-381-9995 to connect with a free Energy Concierge.

Program Background and Rationale

Saanich is committed to eliminating carbon-intensive fossil fuel heating in our community in order to achieve our climate targets. Heat pumps provide efficient heating and cooling with renewable energy and should save you money on your heating bills compared to oil or natural gas. Check out BC Hydro’s resources on what a heat pump is and how it works.

This type of innovative financing, sometimes called Property Assessed Clean Energy or PACE financing, is the first of its kind in BC, but has been used by many jurisdictions across Canada and the US to encourage energy retrofits in existing buildings.

Read this story about one participant's success with the Heat Pump Financing Program!

Form and Document LibrarySaanich Heat Pump Financing Participant Guide

Thank you to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Real Estate Foundation of BC for their generous financial contributions that have made this program possible.