BC Hydro's peak saver program allows users to participate in regular 'peak saver' events, where they are asked to reduce their electricity usage for a chance to earn money. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

saving power

BC Hydro’s Peak Saver program cuts consumption, reduces bills

Apr 25, 2023 | 2:40 PM

NANAIMO — A BC Hydro promotion offering monetary incentives for people who reduced their electricity usage has finished its first province-wide run with positive results.

BC Hydro’s Peak Saver program ran from Nov 15, 2022, until the end of March, allowing registrants to earn money for reducing their electricity use during peak hours.

BC Hydro’s Karla Louwers said it was rolled out province-wide with around 26,000 participants, a quarter of those Vancouver Island customers.

“They earn a financial reward for shifting their electricity use during specific times of day. That will help lower their energy bill but it also helps reduce the demand on the electricity system during peak times when there is a greater strain.”

Registrants received an alert with the time of the next ‘peak saver’ event, which is generally when the users consume the most electricity during their day.

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BC Hydro measured electricity usage during a customer’s average three-day span and compared it to usage during peak events.

If the customers were able to reduce power usage by at least 20 per cent they would earn $3 per event.

“The average success rate of all peak saver events was 56 per cent. So that’s the percentage of participants that reduced their consumption by at least 20 per cent or more per event,” according to Louwers.

She said reducing electricity consumption during peak times can go a long way in putting less strain on the energy grid.

“It might not seem like a big deal to delay turning on your clothes dryer until after a peak saver’s event, but if you think about a whole neighbourhood or a whole community doing this at the same time, it can help to avoid the need to build new costly infrastructure in that neighbourhood, or even in that community.”

Louwers said they’ve held this program in the past, but this was the broadest peak saver program ever offered across the province.

“The program ended at the end of March and we are sifting through the results and making enhancements to the program and expect to roll out a new peak saver program in the fall with peak saver events over the winter months.”

Participants will see a credit on their hydro bill between April and June.

— with files from Jon De Roo, 97.3 FM The Eagle

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