BC Hydro
Commercial New Construction Program
For those looking to construct a new Part 3 commercial building see the CleanBC Commercial New Construction Program. The program provides funding for the design and construction of new high-performance buildings that use high-efficiency electricity in place of fossil fuels, in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
BC Hydro is administering this program on behalf of the Provincial Government.
Business Energy Saving Incentives
This program helps B.C. businesses reduce their operating costs through the implementation of energy-efficiency projects (lighting, HVAC, refrigeration (including ENERGY STAR®), ice-making machines) by offering incentives that can help cover up to 75% of the cost of the project.
Continuous Optimization Program
This program provides customer assistance to save energy and improve operations in large commercial buildings. The primary focus is on reducing the energy consumption of heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems by making improvements to the Building Automation System. Additional systems of interest include lighting, refrigeration, and other energy intensive systems with complex operating strategies and control systems.
Funding Available – Funding for offers:
– refreshing your building, 100% of recommissioning consultation costs up to 2.5 ¢/sq. ft. of building area;
– recommisioning your building, 50% of recommissioning consultation costs up to 5 ¢/sq. ft. of building area; and
– Real Time Energy Management (RTEM), 50% of RTEM costs up to 10 ¢/sq. ft. of building area; in return for BC Hydro and Fortis BC’s investment, customers must commit to implement, at their cost, electricity and fuel (including natural gas, steam, hot water, propane, etc.) conservation measures that when bundled have a two-year simple payback up to a cap of 25 ¢/sq. ft. of building area.
Energy Manager Program
This program helps organizations by subsidizing the compensation package of an Energy Manager. An Energy Manager identifies energy efficiency solutions, manages the implementation of energy saving projects, and implements organizational changes to adopt a structured energy management program that ensures optimization of energy dollars.
Funding Available – BC Hydro funds 50% (up to $50,000 per year) of an Energy Manager’s salary, who is employed by the participating organization. The Energy Manager has access to funding for Energy Studies, and financial incentives for energy-efficient upgrades. The Energy Manager and their organization receives an Energy Management Assessment that assists in providing a roadmap to reach the organization’s energy goals and objectives.
Strategic Energy Management: Commercial Leaders in Energy Management Program
This program provides implementation funding for large commercial, government and institutional customers to reduce the capital cost of implementing electrical energy efficiency projects through the Project Implementation Funding program.
Funding Available – Project Implementation allows customers to meet internal hurdle rates, such as payback periods and return on investment. Through the program, you could receive funding for up to 75% of the incremental cost of lighting projects.
Eligibility – Commercial, government or institutional organizations that spend at least $200,000 annually on electricity.
Energy Studies & Audits – End-Use Assessment
Experts are available to visit client sites to conduct a detailed analysis and assess options to improve inefficiencies.
Funding Available – Receive 100% funding of the assessment (up to $5,000).
Eligibility – BC industrial business customers if the targeted system uses more than one gigawatt-hour of electricity per year for a 200 horsepower system, that’s about 6,000 hours of operation.
Energy Studies & Audits – Energy Efficiency Feasibility Study
This program provides participants with a detailed report concerning everything needed to build a solid business case for efficiency upgrades including: assessment of options; estimated savings; implementation costs. The program also offers business support from experts to provide knowledge and information to assist with energy efficiency upgrades.
Funding Available – Receive up to 100% of the study cost (some limits apply).
Eligibility – BC industrial business customers if the targeted system uses more than one gigawatt-hour of electricity per year for a 200 horsepower system, that’s about 6,000 hours of operation.
Energy Studies & Audits – Plant-wide Audit
An energy efficiency expert will review the consumption history of a facility, examine the facility and all of its process systems, and provide a comprehensive report that summarizes the audit results and recommendations.
Funding Available – The facility owner can receive up to 100% funding for the energy audit.
Eligibility – British Columbia facility business customers if more than 2 gigawatt-hours of electricity are used per year.
Project Incentives – Distribution
This program provides funding for energy efficiency upgrade projects, including design, equipment, installation, disposal and taxes.
Funding Available – Receive up to 75% funding to a maximum of $500,000, for energy efficiency upgrade projects, including design, equipment, installation, disposal and taxes.
Project Incentives – New Plant Design
This program provides funding and design expertise to design an energy efficient plant or expansion from the ground up.
Funding Available – Program provide up to 75% funding of incremental construction costs (i.e. above standard, inefficient design options). Specific details are listed on the website.
Eligibility – All British Columbia facility business customers, aiming toward facilities or planned expansions that have electricity savings potential of more than 300 megawatt-hours per year for projects.
Project Incentives – Self-Serve Incentive Program
The Self-Serve Incentive program online application process allows participants to apply for incentives for eligible compressed air and lighting retrofits.
Incentives cover up to 75% of project costs.
All British Columbia facility business customers, aiming toward facilities that use more than 500 megawatt-hours of electricity per year.
Project Incentives – Transmission
This program provides program funding that covers design, equipment, installation, disposal and taxes.
Funding Available – The maximum incentive is calculated based on the amount of electricity that a project will save over its projected lifetime (to a maximum 10 year lifespan), at a base rate of $45/MWh. BC Hydro will pay up to 90 percent of the incentive during the implementation process, with the rest paid after verification of energy savings.
Eligibility – All British Columbia facility business customers, aiming toward facilities or planned expansions that have electricity savings potential of more than 300 megawatt-hours per year for projects.
Strategic Energy Management – Energy Monitoring & Targeting
An energy manager will work with one of BC Hydroservice providers to develop targets for a facility energy use and a proposal for a system to help it meet those targets.
Funding Available – Once the proposal is approved, BC Hydro will provide up to $80,000 in funding to implement real time monitoring, system monitoring and/or advanced modelling to gain a better understanding of the facility day-to-day energy usage.
Eligibility – All British Columbia facility business customers, aiming toward facilities that have an industrial energy manager and targets a specific system in the facility that uses at least one gigawatt-hour per year.
Strategic Energy Management – Industrial Energy Manager
This program provides advanced funding to hire an energy manager to develop and implement a Strategic Energy Management Plan.
Funding Available –
– Up to 75% salary funding for 2 years;
– 100% of the cost for management coaching;
– 100% funding for required training for energy managers;
– 100% funding for the full cost of an on-site Energy Management Assessment a fully-funded workshop to facilitate creation of a customized plan;
– 100% funding for an Employee Awareness Planning workshop and funding of employee engagement activities including training and awareness events
Eligibility – All British Columbia facility business customers, aiming toward that uses more than 10 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year and willing to hire an energy manager as a full-time employee.
Strategic Energy Management – Operational Energy Analytics
This program provides an energy consultant to analyze a facility energy usage in order to help reduce waste and cut costs by recommending low or no-cost operational changes. The audit will focus on lighting, HVAC (heating and cooling), air compressors, process and manufacturing equipment, and computers and technology.
Funding Available – The energy consultant is fully funded and offers a $0.01 per kWh incentive (up to a maximum of $5,000) based on the savings achieved in the first year.
Eligibility – All British Columbia facility business customers, aiming toward facilities that use in between 0.5 and 4 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year.
Strategic Energy Management – Regional Energy Manager
This program provides 100 percent funding for a site visit from an energy consultant to analyze a business energy consumption data and help identify and implement operational savings opportunities.
Funding Available – 100% funding for a site visit from an energy consultant.
Eligibility – All British Columbia facility business customers, aiming toward facilities that use in between 0.5 and 4 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year.
Sustainable Communities Program
This program helps local governments meet the challenges of energy and GHG reductions by providing a range of services through funding.
Funding Available – Includes:
– funding to hire an energy manager expertise;
– funding to develop the Community Energy and Emissions Plan expertise;
– funding to facilitate a workshop funding for energy experts to participate on the multi-disciplinary planning team and to provide data compilation, analysis and recommendations;
– funding to hire internship or student positions to help increase energy literacy, electricity savings and broader benefits to community;
– funding to jump start a project that will lead to electricity savings.
Fortis BC
Commercial New Construction Performance Incentives
This program provides incentives for larger, more complex buildings that achieve a higher whole-building energy performance than minimum levels required by the BC Building Code. It offers a clear incentive structure, accurate energy-saving estimates and allows for innovative solutions to help achieve whole-building energy performance.
Funding Available – In two instalments:
– the incentive is equal to 10 per cent of the total incentive as verified by the model, to a maximum of $25,000
– paid after construction and commissioning is complete, subject to a successful site inspection — the incentive is equal to the final total incentive less the already paid energy model incentive.
Eligibility – Follows the criteria:
– the project must be located in a FortisBC natural gas and/or electricity service area, including municipal utilities of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland and Nelson Hydro;
– the program is for the construction of new Part 3 commercial buildings only; and
– projects must be in the pre-construction phase when applying to the program.
Commercial Performance Program for Existing Buildings
This program provides several types of funding to help identify and then implement cost-effective energy conservation measures that are tailored to a building. It provides funding for both natural gas and electricity energy-efficiency projects.
Funding Available – Funding through:
– energy study funding — 50% of the cost of the energy study, subject to review and approval, to a maximum of $25,000;
– capital incentive funding — see website for details;
– bonus funding equal to the preceding energy study funding amount, to a maximum of $25,000; and
– incentives from EfficiencyBC.
Eligibility – Follows the criteria:
– must be a FortisBC commercial rate class natural gas customer and/or a FortisBC electricity customer or municipal electricity customer of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland and Nelson Hydro;
– must be an owner or long-term leaseholder of an existing medium to large commercial, institutional, multi-unit residential, light industrial or agricultural building or facility;
– must select a consultant included in FortisBC’s list of approved consultants to perform a detailed energy study;
– for natural gas customers, your project must have the potential to save a minimum 1,200 gigajoules of natural gas annually; and
– for FortisBC or municipal electricity customers, your project must have the potential to save 50,000 kWh of electricity annually.
Compressed Air Equipment Rebates
This program provides rebates to industrial and commercial facilities on upgrading compressed air equipment, which helps improve compressor efficiency and system reliability, keep air clean and dry, and save electricity costs.
Funding Available – See website for details of the many rebates this program offers.
Eligibility – Follows the criteria:
– must be a commercial, industrial or irrigation FortisBC or municipal electricity customer of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland or Nelson Hydro;
– must be an owner or long-term leaseholder of an existing commercial or industrial building or a builder/developer or owner of a new commercial or industrial construction project; and
– must submit an application and supporting documentation no later than 365 days after the purchase date of the product(s) (as shown on the paid invoice) or installation date, whichever is first.
Direct Contact Water Heater Rebate
This program provides rebates to industrial and commercial facilities on upgrading compressed air equipment, which helps improve compressor efficiency and system reliability, keep air clean and dry, and save electricity costs.
Funding Available – Rebate of up to $50,000 on direct contact water heaters.
Eligibility – Follows the criteria:
– must be a FortisBC natural gas customer under any rate class except Rate 1;
– must be the property owner or long-term leaseholder of an industrial facility; and
– the facility must use natural gas as an input to industrial production.
Commercial New Construction Performance Incentives
This program provides incentives for larger, more complex buildings that achieve a higher whole-building energy performance than minimum levels required by the BC Building Code.
Funding Available – Maximum incentive of $500,000.
Eligibility – Follows the criteria:
– must be a FortisBC natural gas customer under any rate class except Rate 1;
– must be an owner or long-term leaseholder of an existing commercial or industrial building or a builder, developer or owner of a new commercial or industrial construction project; and
– must submit an application and supporting documentation no later than 365 days after the purchase date of the product(s) (as shown on the paid invoice).
Natural Gas Boiler Rebates
Financial incentives to facility owners for the installation of an energy-efficient natural gas boiler. Whether building new or retrofitting, customers may qualify for a rebate of $9 per MBH for high-efficient condensing boilers, to a maximum of $45,000 per boiler.
Funding Available – Rebate of up to $45,000 on installing a high-efficiency natural gas boiler; Additional rebate of up to $30,000 for charities and non-profit housing providers.
Eligibility – Follows the criteria:
– must be a FortisBC natural gas customer under any rate class except Rate 1;
– must be a property owner or long-term leaseholder of an existing commercial building or a builder/developer or property owner of a new commercial construction project;
– boilers must be used to meet your site’s thermal loads: space, pool and/or process heating — boilers installed to meet other operational needs (such as backup, standby or secondary boilers) are not eligible; and
– must submit an application and supporting documentation no later than 365 days after the purchase date of the product(s) (as shown on the paid invoice) or installation date (as listed on the application form), whichever is first.
Efficient Commercial Water Heater
Financial incentives to facility owners for the installation of a high-efficiency natural gas water heater. Whether building new or retrofitting, customers may qualify for a rebate of up to $15,000.
Funding Available – Rebates of up to $50,000 on eligible high-efficiency natural gas storage water heater, hot water supply boilers and tankless water heaters for commerical applications.
Eligibility – Commercial rate class natural gas customers.