“Our customers have told us that the cost of electricity and reliability are their main concerns,” said John Walker, President and CEO of FortisBC. “In this application, we’re trying to balance our customers’ need to minimize rate increases, while addressing rising power costs and paying for the necessary investment to the electrical system.”

If approved by the BCUC, this regulatory application provides incentive for the utility to find savings. These savings are then shared with customers by incorporating them into electricity rates.

FortisBC is actively working to keep electric rates among the lowest in North America in a number of ways:

• saving on printing and postage by providing eBilling options for customers who prefer to receive their statements online,
• integrating with the company’s natural gas operations, resulting in a smaller, shared management team, and
• looking for ways to provide better service at lower cost by using technology.

Meanwhile, FortisBC is also engaged in a review of the residential conservation rate. FortisBC is currently drafting a report that will be filed with the BCUC, which will include public input and will study the impact of a conservation rate on customers.

“While most customers benefit from the residential conservation rate, we are sensitive that some pay more. This report will provide a better understanding of the issues and impacts of the rate,” said Walker. “We continue to work with our customers to find ways to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient by offering rebates and through programs like community energy diets, including one currently underway in the Kootenays and one planned for the South Okanagan this fall.”

For more information and to learn ways to reduce energy use, visit fortisbc.com/electricityrates. Use our energy calculator to compare the costs of different home heating energy sources as well as individual appliance energy costs.

If you are concerned about your bill or are looking for ways to save energy, call us at 1-866-436-7847.