BC residents will continue to be eligible to access grants of up to $600 to help pay their BC Hydro bills.
The province has extended the BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis fund (CCF) to help BC Hydro customers who are facing a financial hardship due to a job loss, injury, illness or loss of a family member, and possible disconnection of their service.
The pilot program ended on May 31st, after a three-year term, which the BC government said helped over 11,000 residential customers.
The government has issued a direction to the BC Utilities Commission to enable BC Hydro to continue offering grants through the CCF.
The program was funded by a monthly charge (rate rider) of 13 cents that was added to residential customers’ bills. The temporary continuation of the CCF will be funded through an existing surplus of approximately $5.9 million that represents the difference between revenues already collected through the monthly customer charge and the costs of providing the program.
BC Hydro stopped applying the rate rider to customers’ bills effective June 1st.
In a government survey, 70% of BC Hydro residential customers expressed support for the CCF.
BC Hydro, in partnership with FortisBC, also offers conservation programs to help lower-income households save energy and keep their bills low.
The Energy Conservation Assistance Program offered by BC Hydro in partnership with FortisBC also offers eligible lower-income customers free energy assessments and energy-saving products like a free Energy Saving Kit which includes weather-stripping products and energy-efficient light bulbs.
Upgrades can result in savings of up to $430 each year and the kit can save up to $130 each year.
“We recognize there will be times when people may need some financial assistance to catch up on their hydro bill. As many families struggle to recover from the impacts and stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, that time is now,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
“By extending BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis Fund, we are preventing disconnections, helping families get back on their feet and making life more affordable for British Columbians.”
Visit this link to fill out an application form to see your eligibility.
