VICTORIA: The BC government has announced that it will be providing $10 million for BC Hydro to expand its Energy Conservation Assistance Program to include free, publicly funded portable air conditioners (AC). More people who are the most vulnerable during extreme heat emergencies will have access to more cooling options to stay safe.
Because of this investment, B.C. Hydro expects to install 8,000 air-conditioning units over the next three years for people who have low incomes and are medically vulnerable to heat.
It is anticipated at least 50% of the AC units will be installed in apartments or multi-unit dwellings, with the remaining balance installed in single family dwellings.
To ensure that air conditioners are provided to those who need them, the application process will be income tested. People can apply for a portable AC through BC Hydro’s online platform or by mailing in a paper application. The application will also have an option for a medical referral by home health-care workers for heat-vulnerable individuals and households.
Between June 2 and July 28, 2023, BC Hydro is offering all residential customers $50 off the purchase of a qualifying energy-efficient room air conditioner. Eligible products include Energy Star window air conditioners that use 30% to 40% less power than standard units and portable air conditioners offering best-in-class efficiency and features. For more details, visit: www.bchydro.com/deals.
A wide range of actions are underway following engagement with vulnerable populations, emergency planners and other stakeholders to better understand ways to better protect people most at risk during extreme heat emergencies. Highlights include investing $369 million to the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund; providing more than $52 million to support long-term care facilities to install or upgrade existing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; distributing an emergency inventory of cooling and clean air items to non-profit operators, through BC Housing; and connecting home and community care providers to people who are most at risk, such as through chronic disease registries.
BC Hydro has also partnered with Vancouver Coastal Heath (VCH) and other organizations to provide $150,000 to VCH for the purchase, delivery and installation of larger portable air-conditioning units to community organizations, such as seniors’ centres and neighbourhood centres, so they can create cooling sites during heat events.
In addition, BC Hydro will cancel planned outages during significant heat events to ensure there is power for customers when they need to keep coo. It will offer rebates up to $11,000 for homes heated by fossil fuels switching to electric heat pump and as much as $7,000 for homes replacing electric heating systems with an electric heat pumps; and in partnership with CleanBC, offer the Home Renovation Rebate Program with several energy savings rebates for homes in B.C., which includes as much as $10,000 in rebates on energy-efficient windows, doors and insulation to help keep the cool air in and hot air out.
