It will now be easier for low-income households to get a break on their utility bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
The provincial government announced that their suite of programs, in partnership with BC Hydro and Fortis BC, would be boosted. Minister of Energy Bill Bennett explained that when the province calculated the cost for fixing old energy infrastructure and adding what they deemed to be necessary new infrastructure, utility bills went up significantly. At that time he promised low-income bill payers that they would get help. This was that response.
One of the most important parts, he said, was including more people in the eligible group.
"[The threshold] was $44,000. It is now $57,000," he said. "So by making it easier to qualify we have almost doubled the number of families that are eligible for these benefits."
The benefits include free energy assessments for your home, free energy saving products, rebates for various upgrades and improvements aimed at reducing your energy consumption, and the free Energy Saving Kit (contains energy-saver light bulbs, weather stripping, fridge/freezer thermometer, a high-efficiency shower head, etc.).
Another major new step, said Bennett, was adding a whole other avenue of eligibility. Instead of only individual homeowners, now not-for-profit agencies and First Nations can qualify if they administrate houses for low-income residents. He urged organizations like the Prince George Metis Housing Association and Native Friendship Centre to look into the possibilities "because this part of the program is so new I don't doubt many eligible organizations have not even heard this news, yet," and they could be gaining benefits to pass on to low-income residents in their housing programs.
"People in the low income end of things are struggling," he said. "The price of gasoline, the price of insurance, your kids clothing, food, everything... So when you see a significant increase in Hydro rates, as government you have to do something. We said we would, and we are quite pleased with the work that's been done to make this happen for those people."
He credited "really bright people with a lot of experience designing conservation programs" at Fortis BC and BC Hydro for coming up with the new package of money-saving energy initiatives.
The incentives are helpful at chipping away at B.C.'s energy conservation targets. But Bennett said he is getting set to announce some additional incentives that hit bigger. Northern B.C. is going to play a significant role in these ones.
"Large industry like the chemical companies, the mines, the pulp mills - they consume the most energy in the province," he said. "There are lots of ways, lots of new technologies they can invest in, to help us in our energy-saver goals. We will be announcing some new programs for them, too. I hope to have something to say about that in the next couple of weeks, actually."
