Three rewards programs customers should know about
As a winter-peaking utility, BC Hydro is leaning on demand response as a way of shifting or reducing electricity load during peak periods of load on our grid system. Our demand response events are normally called between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on days BC Hydro designates as "events" through November to March.
With the help of Alliance members, our aim is to bring customers up to speed around the relative ease in which they can earn rewards by enrolling in one of our three main demand response programs.
Demand response behavioural
Rewards for manually adjusting your energy use during peak periods. The program pays $50 per average kW reduced over the demand response (DR) season and includes up to 20 "events" per season.
Automated demand response
Rewards for letting your automated devices automatically adjust energy use during peak periods. For each smart device enrolled in the program (thermostats, load controllers), the customer earns a one-time enrolment bonus of $100 (per device, per site) and then a reward of $50 per enrolled device for each season enrolled in the program.
Energy storage incentive (ESI)
Incentives to support acquiring, installing, and using energy storage systems for demand response. Once installed, BC Hydro will have the ability to dispatch the ESS automatically in response to changing conditions on the grid.
"At the end of the day, the key thing is to get customers to sign up to our demand response programs," says Alec Zaine, manager of our demand response program. "We're at a point now where we just need to educate people about what demand response is and try it out through our program."
No cost for joining behavioural and automated DR programs
Our behavioural DR program, which pays $50 per average kW reduced over the DR season, includes up to 20 "events" per season. To earn rewards, customers only need to take part in at least 50% of those events. Customers are notified via email at least one day before each event, giving them time to prepare and plan to lower energy use during those events.
"There's no up-front cost, no penalty, no risk," says Zaine. "Sign up, and the more energy you save, the more money you get."
Who's the best fit for the behavioural program? Any small or medium-sized business, from mom and pop shops right up to breweries and greenhouse operations, can earn significant savings through the program.
Which businesses might opt for the automated DR program, where enrolled devices are operated remotely by us during events? "It's somewhat geared towards smaller or medium businesses, buildings with electric baseboard heating who can install smart thermostats," says Zaine. "We then manage those smart thermostats during a demand response event."
What if a business doesn't normally operate during evening peak hours? "Businesses that might close at 5 p.m. may think they have nothing to offer," says Zaine. "But you can still potentially save and earn rewards between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. We find that when customers start trying demand response, they realize there are things they can do."
DR in the real world: 8 business types, 8 case studies
Office buildings
Customers benefit from incentives and bill reductions without major capital investment, often by optimizing existing systems such as HVAC, lighting, and plug loads. Automated controls and pre-programmed DR strategies allow facilities teams to participate with minimal manual intervention.
See details and a case study [PDF, 251 KB]
School buildings
For K–12 schools, DR provides a low-impact way to reduce energy costs within tight budgets. Typical strategies include minor HVAC adjustments, lighting reductions in non-essential areas, and timing changes that align with school schedules. These actions are generally unnoticeable to students and staff.
See details and a case study [PDF, 232 KB]
Post-secondary education buildings
Post-secondary institutions benefit from their large, diverse energy loads. DR enables campuses to reduce peak demand using centralized building automation systems, often shifting or shedding load across multiple buildings simultaneously. Financial incentives can be substantial given the scale of participation.
See details and a case study [PDF, 206 KB]
Government buildings
Government buildings—such as courthouses, administrative offices, and service facilities—benefit from DR through predictable, controllable energy loads that can be adjusted with minimal operational impact. Case studies show that HVAC optimization, lighting reductions in non-critical areas, and scheduling adjustments can be effective while maintaining public services.
See details and a case study [PDF, 231 KB]
Hotels and other hospitality buildings
These buildings benefit from demand response due to their flexible, zoned energy systems and variable occupancy patterns. Strategies such as adjusting guest room temperature set points, optimizing common-area HVAC, dimming lighting in non-critical spaces, and managing hot water systems can significantly reduce peak demand without affecting guest comfort.
See details and a case study [PDF, 254 KB]
Municipal buildings
Municipalities benefit from DR by reducing operating costs across portfolios that often include offices, community centres, and recreational facilities. Load reductions are achieved through coordinated strategies such as HVAC optimization, pool equipment scheduling, and lighting controls.
See details and a case study [PDF, 227 KB]
Public hospitals
Hospitals demonstrate that even critical facilities can safely participate in DR. Benefits include financial incentives and reduced peak demand costs, achieved through non-critical load adjustments such as administrative area lighting, HVAC setbacks in non-clinical zones, and equipment scheduling.
See details and a case study [PDF, 219 KB]
Retail buildings and operations
Retailers can reduce operating costs while maintaining the shopping experience. Case studies show that strategies such as dimming non-critical lighting, adjusting HVAC set points, and cycling rooftop units can lower peak demand without noticeable impacts on customers. Participation also unlocks financial incentives tied to load reduction performance.
See details and a case study [PDF, 315 KB]