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You asked for it: a roundup of current program offers

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The bulk of consultations about rebates and upgrades is done over the phone during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there’s a long list of incentives available.

An updated list of commercial, CleanBC, industrial, residential and workplace offers

Thanks to all Alliance members who filled out the recent Alliance communications survey. One of the things many members asked for in the survey was an up-to-date summary of current BC Hydro and CleanBC program offerings.

So here we go.

Commercial offers

Business energy-saving incentives (BESI)

Product incentives are available for specific retrofits, and funding may be available to cover, on average, about 25% of up-front costs. To get an up-to-date list of qualifying retrofits, use the e.Catalog.

Who and what is eligible? Business customers, small industrial facilities, common area spaces of stratas and apartments,. Note that eligibility of customers large enough to be tied to a Key Account Manager may be limited by restrictions on when applications may be submitted, subject to funding availability.

Leaders in energy management (commercial)

For large customers – including schools and post-secondary institutions, municipalities, government, health care and property management – our leaders program includes a range of energy management programs, tools and incentive.

Who's eligible? Large Key Account customers engaged with BC Hydro-sponsored energy managers.

Social housing retrofit support

BC Hydro has energy study and implementation support funding for social housing providers.

Who's eligible? Registered charities who provide assistance to low-income persons, or housing providers who work with the BC Non-Profit Housing Association.

CleanBC Better Buildings programs

CleanBC custom

Energy study and incentive funding is available through the custom program for fuel switching opportunities to achieve a minimum 1,200 t CO2e of lifetime GHG savings.

Who's eligible? BC Hydro Key Account customers only.

CleanBC custom-lite

Capital incentives are available to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in existing buildings, with lifetime GHG savings between 500 and 1200 t CO2e. Get details about the custom-lite program.

Who or what's eligible? Commercial, institutional or multi-unit residential buildings.

CleanBC commercial new construction

The new construction program provides funding for the design and new construction of new high-performance buildings that use high efficiency electricity in place of fossil fuels. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG emissions) and supports measures that focus on the building heating system.

Who's eligible? Customers must have a Key Account Manager. Projects must also:

  • Result in at least 400 t CO2e in lifetime GHG savings.
  • Involve a technology that provides net electrical load growth.
  • Be a new construction or major building renovation.
  • Be in the end concept design stage.

CleanBC Commercial Express

This new program is for smaller retrofit projects and buildings, with an emphasis on switching gas HVAC equipment for electric heat pumps. An offer to replace gas cooktops with electric induction cooktops in restaurants is also part of the program.

Who and what is eligible? Intended for small offices, strip mall retail, restaurant-food services, warehouses, multi-unit residential buildings, school gymnasiums, larger retail warehouses. Customers may or may not have a Key Account Manager.

BC Hydro Industrial programs

Industrial lighting & compressed air

Ideal for manufacturing and food and beverage processing, our self-serve incentives program (SIP) can help cover up to 75% of the cost of energy-efficient lighting and compressed air systems.

What's eligible? Large industrial facilities with minimum site consumption of 500 MW hours.

Leaders in energy management (industrial)

Ideal for pulp and paper facilities, mining and large transportation, our industrial leaders program includes energy management programs, funding and incentives for energy studies and capital projects.

Who's eligible? Large Key Account customers engaged with a BC Hydro-sponsored Energy Manager.

New plant design

Ideal for industrial plants, new plant design includes funding and design expertise for a new plant or expansion.

Who and what's eligible? Customers planning either a new greenfield facility, or expanding an existing facility enough to increase the power load by at leave 5%. The facility has a savings potential of more that 300 megawatt hours of electricity per year.

Residential and workplace EV programs

BC EV charger rebate

BC Hydro is working with the Government of B.C. and FortisBC to offer provincial rebates for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers to get homes and workplaces across B.C. ready for EVs. It's all part of the province's CleanBC plan to make clean transportation more affordable and accessible for British Columbians. Visit Go Electric to learn more about the plan and read the full strategy.

Eligibility: Rebates for eligible charges are available from April 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 or when funding runs out, whichever comes first.

Residential programs

Home renovation rebates

Residents can get up to $10,000 in rebates by making upgrades in accordance with the Home Renovation Rebates program. Rebate-eligible upgrades include windows and doors, insulation, space heating, and water heating.

In response to COVID-19, we'll be offering double the rebate on select upgrades until December 31, 2020.

Who's eligible: Residential account holders with BC Hydro or Fortis BC, although electrically-heated homes served by local municipal utilities are also eligible. Note that BC Hydro customers with electrically-heated homes must meet a minimum electricity use requirement to be eligible. See full eligibility rules.