2021 R19 – Developing a Vision to End Energy Poverty
- Year: 2021
- AVICC Number: R19
- UBCM Number: EB37
- Powell River
Whereas the Province of British Columbia has a legislated target of reducing poverty in British Columbia by 25% by 2024 as part of the TogetherBC plan;
And whereas there are over 270,000 households in British Columbia that experience energy poverty, struggling to afford basic energy services like heating, lighting and cooking, and experiencing negative health, social and economic impacts as a result:
Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to set a clear vision and targets to end energy poverty in BC within the next ten years, taking action on the three key drivers of energy poverty: low incomes, high energy costs, and poor energy efficiency in homes.
- Year: 2021
- AVICC Number: R19
- Sponsor: Powell River
- Resolution Type: Provincial
- Category: Environment
- AVICC Decision: Endorsed
- AVICC Action: Forwarded to UBCM
- AVICC Response link
- UBCM Number: EB37
- UBCM Decision: Endorsed
- Provincial Response:Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation The Province and BC Hydro released recommendations from Phase 2 of the BC Hydro Review in August 2021 aimed at keeping rates affordable and encouraging greater use of clean, renewable electricity to reduce emissions and achieve climate targets. The recommendations are in alignment with TogetherBC, the Provinces poverty reduction strategy, and its guiding principle of affordability. In June 2021, the Province temporarily extended BC Hydros Customer Crisis Fund CCF to continue providing support for people in financial crisis and help avoid disconnections of their electricity service. As recommended by the BC Hydro Review Phase 2, staff from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low-Carbon Innovation, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and BC Hydro will examine other crisis intervention program options over the next year including a consideration of a means-tested program modelled after the Customer Crisis Fund pilot program. BC Hydro currently spends approximately 90 million annually on demand side management DSM and FortisBC spends approximately 75 million annually, which help provide customers with bill savings and reduces system costs. The Province, through the Demand-Side Measures Regulation, requires and encourages utilities to have DSM aimed at low-income households. The Province is open to suggestions about how to amend this regulation to better address energy poverty. CleanBC Better Homes and Better Buildings includes the Social Housing Incentive Program, as well as top-up funds for incentives for natural gas efficiency measures in low-income homes through FortisBC. In the coming weeks, the Province will be launching an income-qualified program for energy efficiency and fuel switching renovations aimed at low- and moderate-income households. BC Hydros October 2021 Electrification Plan includes more than 140 million to fund programs, incentives, studies and energy management initiatives to encourage electrification and plans to spend up to 8 million of this funding to support low-income customers. BC Hydro is currently in the process of reviewing their residential electricity rates and is engaging with the public. One of the objectives of this process is to keep electricity costs affordable and explore opportunities for customers to reduce their bills through optional rates. The CleanBC Remote Community Energy Strategy is a multi-stakeholder initiative to reduce diesel consumption for electricity generation in remote communities by 80 by 2030. Budget 2021 include a 34 million investment in Indigenous community capacity, energy efficiency incentives and renewable energy generation in diesel-dependent remote communities.
- UBCM Response link
The AVICC acknowledges that we are grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional territories of theCoast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwak-Waka’wakw Peoples