FortisBC Dual Fuel Rooftop Unit Rebates: Up to $225,000 for Fraser Valley Commercial Buildings

If your commercial or industrial building runs on rooftop HVAC units, there's a significant rebate available right now that most building owners in the Fraser Valley don't know about.

FortisBC is offering up to $225,000 per premise for commercial customers who upgrade to dual fuel rooftop units. Unlike some of the provincial programs that have paused applications, this one is actively accepting them.

Here's what you need to know.

A dual fuel rooftop unit (RTU) combines two heating technologies in one system: an electric heat pump and a gas-fired burner. The system switches between them automatically based on outdoor temperature, running on the heat pump when it's most efficient and switching to gas when temperatures drop below the switchover point.

The result is a system that delivers better efficiency than a gas-only RTU for most of the year, lower operating costs, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, all without sacrificing heating reliability in cold weather. For commercial buildings in the Fraser Valley, where winters are moderate but not mild, it's a particularly well-suited technology.

FortisBC structures this rebate at 30% of total project cost, with caps based on the efficiency level of the equipment you install. The current rebate amounts apply to projects with invoices dated July 4, 2025 or later:

• Standard efficiency dual fuel RTU: 30% of project cost, up to $150,000 per premise
• Condensing efficiency dual fuel RTU: 30% of project cost, up to $225,000 per premise

These are meaningful numbers for multi-unit commercial facilities, industrial buildings, and large agricultural operations with significant rooftop HVAC loads. A larger project with condensing-efficiency equipment can recover a substantial portion of the total investment through the rebate alone.

The program is open to commercial and industrial FortisBC gas customers. Key eligibility requirements:

• You must be a FortisBC gas customer under any rate class except Rate 1
• You must be an owner or long-term leaseholder of an existing commercial or industrial building, or a builder, developer, or owner of a new commercial or industrial construction project
• For existing buildings, the dual fuel RTU must replace a gas heating system that currently serves as the building's primary source of space heating
• Equipment must be installed by a contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC
• Products must appear on FortisBC's eligible product list at the time of purchase
• The system must be configured with a lockout (switchover) temperature consistent with your climate zone

Climate Zone Switchover Temperatures

FortisBC requires the dual fuel system to switch from heat pump to gas burner at a specific outdoor temperature based on your climate zone. The Fraser Valley falls under Climate Zone 4 (CZ-4), which means the lockout temperature must be set no higher than +3°C. For buildings in colder BC zones (CZ-5, CZ-6, CZ-7A, CZ-7B, and CZ-8), the switchover must be no higher than -3°C.

This is a detail that matters during installation. If the lockout temperature is configured incorrectly, the rebate application can be denied. Alpine handles this as part of every dual fuel RTU project.

A few things to keep in mind before you start:

• No formal pre-registration required. Unlike some provincial programs, you don't need pre-approval before purchasing equipment. FortisBC does recommend contacting them at [email protected] if you have questions about product eligibility before buying.
• Apply within 365 days of purchase. Your application and supporting documents must be submitted within one year of the product purchase date shown on your invoice.
• Updated rebate amounts apply to projects with invoices dated July 4, 2025 or later, so any qualifying installation from that date forward is eligible at the current rebate levels.

What You Need to Submit

When you apply, FortisBC requires:

• A copy of the product specification sheet
• Paid invoice(s) showing the product type, quantity, make, model number, and total installed cost (before tax)

Applications are submitted online through FortisBC's rebate portal.

The Fraser Valley has a large and diverse commercial and industrial base: warehouses, processing facilities, retail buildings, farm operations with commercial structures, and more. Many of these buildings run gas-fired RTUs that are aging and increasingly expensive to operate.

Upgrading to a dual fuel system addresses both the efficiency and the cost side of the equation. The heat pump component does the heavy lifting for most of the year, at a fraction of the operating cost of a gas burner. The gas furnace handles the coldest days, keeping you comfortable without compromise.

With a rebate covering up to 30% of project cost, and a maximum of $225,000 per premise for condensing units, a large commercial retrofit that might otherwise be difficult to justify financially becomes a much more straightforward business decision.

The rebate looks straightforward on paper, but a handful of small mistakes can shrink the payout or get an application denied outright. Here are the most common ones we see:

• Lockout temperature set incorrectly. If the switchover point isn't dialed in to the value FortisBC requires for your climate zone, the application can be rejected after installation. In CZ-4 (the Fraser Valley) that means no higher than +3°C.
• Equipment that isn't on the eligible product list. Buying a perfectly good dual fuel RTU that just happens not to appear on FortisBC's qualifying list at the time of purchase will disqualify the project. The list is updated periodically, so it has to be checked against the day you buy.
• Being on the wrong rate class. Rate 1 customers are not eligible. It's worth confirming your rate class with FortisBC before assuming you qualify.
• Missing the 365-day deadline. The application window starts on the invoice date, not the install date. Projects that drag through commissioning can run out of time before paperwork is filed.
• Incomplete supporting documents. A paid invoice that doesn't itemize product type, quantity, make, model number, and pre-tax installed cost will hold up the application. So will a missing product specification sheet.
• Unlicensed installer. The work must be done by a contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC. Self-installs and unlicensed labour disqualify the project regardless of equipment choice.
• Skipping ongoing maintenance. The rebate doesn't require it, but a dual fuel RTU only delivers the operating-cost savings that make the upgrade worthwhile if it's actually maintained. Our guide on proactive HVAC maintenance for Fraser Valley businesses covers what that looks like in practice.

Most of these are easy to avoid with a contractor who has run through the program before. A bit of planning up front protects the full rebate amount.

Alpine Refrigeration is licensed with Technical Safety BC and has handled commercial HVAC across the Fraser Valley for decades, including Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, Mission, and Hope. Beyond rooftop units, we install and service a full range of commercial systems including commercial boilers and other heating equipment, so we can look at a building's whole heating picture rather than just the rebate-qualifying piece.

For the FortisBC dual fuel RTU rebate specifically, we handle system sizing, climate-zone configuration, equipment selection from the eligible product list, and installation to program standards. We can also support the rebate application from start to finish so the paperwork lands the way FortisBC expects.

If your operation also includes agricultural facilities, it's worth knowing that other programs apply to that side of the business as well. Our overview of government rebates for energy-efficient agricultural HVAC upgrades in BC is a good starting point.

For a free, no-obligation assessment of what your building qualifies for, request a quote and we'll take it from there.

If your Fraser Valley commercial or industrial building runs on a gas-fired rooftop unit and you're a FortisBC gas customer on any rate class except Rate 1, you can claim 30% of the total project cost when you upgrade to a dual fuel RTU. Standard efficiency units are capped at $150,000 per premise; condensing efficiency units go up to $225,000.

The rebate applies to projects with invoices dated July 4, 2025 or later, and you have 365 days from the invoice date to file. The program is active right now and there's no pre-registration. The biggest risks to getting the full amount are equipment that isn't on the eligible list, an incorrectly configured lockout temperature, and incomplete documentation. Sorted out in advance, none of those are difficult to manage.