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All things autumn: your guide to fall in B.C.

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Cozy ideas, smart savings, and a chance to win it all

The weather's cooling off, the leaves are changing colour and pumpkin spice season has arrived. In this seasonal guide, we've got you covered for power smart tips to save electricity as temperatures drop, advice to help you prep for storm season, and hearty recipes for your small appliances.

Plus, fill out the form below and tell us what you're loving about fall this year for a chance to win a seasonal prize bundle: $250 to Canadian Tire, an air fryer, and $250 to Massy Books. [Contest rules] Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for bonus giveaways and additional chances to win.

Leaf the cold air out, let the savings in

Air is sneaky. It slips in through the tiniest gaps and cracks around windows and doors, forcing your heating system to work overtime just to keep up. Draftproofing your home is one of the easiest ways to outsmart it, helping seal the gaps and ease the workload on your home's heating system.

If your home is heated by electric baseboards, fall is the perfect time to give them a little TLC. Dust and dirt build-up makes it harder for air to circulate, forcing your baseboards to work harder than they need to. A quick wipe-down of the surface and a vacuum of the inner fins can set you up for more efficient heating all season long. And get this, starting this fall, eligible residential customers with electric baseboard heating can receive up to five free smart baseboard thermostats. Stay in the know and find out how to claim your free devices.

Looking for another way to save this fall? Join Peak Saver. Earn bill credits simply by cutting back on electricity during peak events, which are periods of high demand on our system.

When storms strike, don't be left in the dark

Fall marks the start of stormier weather, making it the perfect time to get ready for storm season and any outages that come with it.

Start with your emergency kit. Make sure you have one ready to go with all the supplies you'd need if the power goes out. Already have a kit? It’s a great time to check it over and replace any expired or outdated items, such as:

  • Non-perishable food and bottled water
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Medication
  • Extra clothing
  • Games to stay busy without power

A little preparation goes a long way. Learn how to get ready for severe weather and enter to win an emergency kit.

It's also a good time to brush up on tips to stay safe during power outages. A power line that's on the ground, hanging too low, damaged or contacting another object is dangerous and considered an emergency. Never touch or try to move a downed, damaged or low-hanging power line because it may still be live, even if it's not sparking or making any sound. Be sure to stay back at least 10 metres (the length of a city bus) and report it to 911.

Spice it up with small appliances

The start of colder weather is the perfect excuse to dig into hearty, comforting flavours. Save on electricity while you're at it: skip the oven and stovetop, and cook in a small appliance instead. Here are some recipes to get you started:

Events to celebrate fall vibes across B.C.

From harvest festivals to community celebrations, there's no shortage of ways to get out, enjoy the sweater weather, and gather with your local community this fall. Here are some events coming up:

Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour Indigenous survivors of Canada's Residential School system, their families and communities.

Consider marking the day by wearing orange and attending a local event. Here are some events happening around the province:

Fall-ing for scenic views

The end of summer doesn't mean the end of outdoor fun. B.C. is home to beautiful hiking trails that showcase gorgeous fall scenery. Here are some options:

  • Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Park (Highway 16 between Prince George and McBride)
  • Burnaby Mountain (Burnaby)
  • Elk Mountain Trail (Chilliwack)
  • Frosty Mountain Hike (Manning Park)
  • Garibaldi Lake (Squamish-Lillooet)
  • Hollyburn Mountain (West Vancouver)
  • Knox Mountain (Kelowna)
  • Wapta Falls (Columbia-Shuswap)
  • Wild Pacific Trail (Ucluelet)

World EV Day falls on September 9, a great chance to explore B.C.'s fall beauty along routes with access to our public EV chargers. Take our quiz to enter to win 1 of 5 $250 grocery store gift cards

Here are our suggestions for scenic drives this season:

  • Vancouver to Squamish to Whistler
  • Hope to Princeton to Keremeos to Osoyoos to Penticton to Kelowna
  • Vancouver to Hope to Revelstoke
  • Nanaimo to Tofino
  • Campbell River to Quadra Island

Enter to win