Energy Conservation Assistance

The Energy Conservation Assistance Program is a Power Smart initiative for BC Hydro customers with higher electricity consumption who may not be able to afford to make their homes more energy efficient.

Qualified applicants can receive a free home energy evaluation and energy efficiency upgrades to help reduce their consumption and save money on their bills.

See below for details, and don't forget our Energy Savings Kit Offer.

About the Energy Conservation Assistance Program

The Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) will provide qualified low-income BC Hydro residential account holders with a home energy evaluation, the installation of energy saving products, and personalized energy efficiency advice. All of this is free of charge to the participant.

Energy saving products that may be installed include:

  • Energy saving light bulbs (CFLs) indoor and outdoor
  • Faucet aerators for the kitchen and bathroom
  • Low-flow showerhead
  • Water heater pipe wrap and blanket
  • Draftproofing, such as weatherstripping, caulking and outlet gaskets
  • Insulation for attics, walls and crawlspaces
  • Low-wattage night light
  • Energy Star® refrigerator

Every home is different. Your home evaluator will determine which energy efficiency upgrades your home is eligible for. The installation of some products may require multiple visits.

Who qualifies for the program?

Do you have a BC Hydro residential account number?

Do you live in a low-income household in the Lower Mainland or Vancouver Island? Due to program capacity, services will initially be limited to customers living in these regions but there are plans to expand to other regions in 2010.

Is your annual electricity consumption over 8,000 kWh a year, or do your electricity bills exceed $500 per year?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you may qualify.

To qualify for this program you must be a BC Hydro residential customer with moderate to high electricity consumption (more than 8,000 kWh/yr) living in the Lower Mainland or on Vancouver Island.

Applicants must provide proof of income for every member of the household 18 years or older by providing a Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency. Your combined household income must be below the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) as published by Statistics Canada. Low-income cutoffs vary by where you live (population) and by the number of people in your household.

You can view the LICO table on the Energy Conservation Assistance Program application form [PDF, 125 Kb].

Help for renters

If you have a BC Hydro account but rent your home, you may be able to participate by having your landlord complete a Landlord consent Form [PDF, 135 Kb], which is specifically designed for rental situations. BC Hydro will review all applications and determine if your home qualifies for the ECAP.

Here’s how you apply

Print out and complete the Energy Conservation Assistance Program Application Form [PDF, 125 Kb] and submit it to BC Hydro. Be sure to include your proof of income documents, sign the bottom of the second page, and if you rent your home, remember to provide the Landlord Consent Form [PDF, 135 Kb].

Please send applications to:

BC Hydro Residential Operations
PO Box 8910 STN Terminal
Vancouver, BC
V6B 9Z9

BC Hydro will notify you once we have confirmed your eligibility, and an ECAP team member will contact you to arrange your home energy evaluation and retrofit.

If you have any questions about the program or need help with the application, please call 604 431 9463 or toll free at 1 877 431 9463 to speak with an Energy Conservation Advisor.

See also

Energy Savings Kit Offer

Last Modified: Nov 18, 2009