BC Hydro is launching one of the first components of its recently unveiled Power Smart 2.0 plan, a $1-billion investment targeting smart energy savings.
By 2030, Power Smart 2.0 is expected to deliver 800 megawatts of capacity savings and 2,200 gigawatt hours of annual energy savings while avoiding $2B in avoided or deferred infrastructure costs.
As part of this plan, people province-wide can now register to receive free smart thermostats, according to minister of energy Adrian Dix, with delivery of the devices this year.
“This free smart thermostat initiative makes it easier for British Columbians to be part of a cleaner, more efficient energy future,” says Dix.
BC Hydro has signed agreements with Canadian smart thermostat providers Mysa and Sinopé to deliver the free devices to customers.
“By partnering with Canadian companies to deliver practical, cost-saving technology to households, we’re helping people take real climate action while saving money at the same time,” said Dix.
Approximately 800,000 homes in British Columbia, or 40% of all residential households, use electric heating.
Through the initiative, residential customers with electric baseboard-heated homes will be able to order as many as five free smart thermostats, including free shipping enrolment in BC Hydro’s Peak Saver program.
Peak Saver participants receive an annual reward of up to $100 in exchange for helping reduce electricity demand during periods of peak system use.
“Smart thermostats are a simple but powerful way for customers to manage their energy use while helping reduce peak demand across the system,” explains Charlotte Mitha, chief executive officer of BC Hydro. “Not only do they give customers better control and insight into their heating temperature settings and electricity use, they also make earning Peak Saver rewards automatic each year … delivering benefits for both customers and the reliability of B.C.’s electricity grid.”
Through its partnerships with Mysa and Sinopé, BC Hydro aims to enrol an additional 75,000 households in Peak Saver by 2030, building on 200,000 current customers.
Mysa is “proud to deepen our partnership with BC Hydro and our broader commitment to energy efficiency across British Columbia,” according to CEO Joshua Green.
Sinopé is “deeply proud to be part of this program, where our newest and most advanced smart baseboard thermostat will be brought to British Columbians for free,” remarked Maxime Caron-Labonté, chief commercial officer for Sinopé Technologies.
Since 2008, BC Hydro’s energy-efficiency programs have helped cut demand by more than 7,500 gigawatt hours per year.