In advance of the launch of a new Social Housing Program, BC Hydro will no longer be accepting applications to the Social Housing Retrofit Support Program (SHRSP) as of May 23rd, 2025.

All projects under the existing program with a BC Hydro component will be honoured and will follow the same process that has been in place under the program to date.

FortisBC will continue to offer the program for its gas and electric customers without any disruptions or changes to funding levels for Fortis related projects.

Information about the new program will be available on BC Hydro’s website in June 2025. For any information or clarifications, customers should contact BC Hydro’s Social Housing team by emailing socialhousing@bchydro.com.

Through FortisBC’s Social Housing Retrofit Support Program, charities and non-profit housing providers can receive energy study and feasibility funding, implementation support funding, and incentives on a variety of high-efficiency natural gas and electric upgrades for your renovation projects.

Additional incentives are available for non-profit housing providers through CleanBC’s Social Housing Incentive Program. Funding is available for energy studies, implementation support, and custom energy efficiency measures.

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Available Incentives

TypeIncentive
Energy Study FundingOffers up to $8,000 for the completion of an energy study.

FortisBC can provide additional funding, up to $20,000, for a gas absorption heat pump feasibility study. You’ll need to work with your engineering consultant to submit a feasibility study proposal to be considered for this funding.
Implementation Support FundingUp to $11,000 is offered for implementation support, such as project management, project specification, engaging contractors and preparing required documentation and invoices for submission.
Incentives for Energy Conservation MeasuresYou can access a variety of energy conservation measures.

Visit the program’s website to see all incentives and incentive amounts in detail.

Eligibility Requirements

  • You must be a registered charity that provides assistance to low-income persons, or a housing provider that is:
    • A local government
    • A housing society registered under the Societies Act
    • A housing co-operative housing registered under the Cooperative Association Act
    • A governing body of an Indigenous band, provided the housing is primarily for low-income households.
  • You must be a commercial FortisBC gas customer under any rate class other than Rate 1, and/or be a commercial electricity customer of either FortisBC or one of the following municipal providers: Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland and Nelson Hydro.
  • The building where energy efficiency upgrades will be implemented must be an existing multi-unit residential building with a minimum of nine units. Spaces being retrofitted should be common areas. Recreational spaces can qualify.
  • Participants must be approved before accessing funding and incentives through this program.

How to Apply

  1. Carefully review the terms and conditions to confirm your eligibility.
  2. Contact your FortisBC key account manager to request an application.
  3. If your project involves measures for electricity only and your building is in BC Hydro’s service area (including New Westminster), contact your key account manager at BC Hydro or email energy@bcnpha.ca.

Deadlines

  • For deadline information, please contact your key account manager or technical advisor.

Other

  • Check out the Energy Conservation Assistance Program that can help income-qualified residents save energy with a free home energy evaluation, installation of energy-saving products and advice.
  • Check out our incentive search tool for other energy efficiency upgrades incentives.
  • Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.
  • By using, visiting, or browsing CleanBC and the Energy Coach service, you accept and agree to these Terms of Use.

Program Contact Information