File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Supporting British Columbians with energy costs

Apr 16, 2025 | 10:30 AM

WE KNOW THAT ACROSS B.C., people are struggling with global inflation and rising costs. British Columbians also care deeply about protecting our environment and they want a government who is focused on the climate alongside affordability efforts.

One way we’re helping is making sure people have affordable options available to make sustainable choices in how they choose to heat and cool their homes, and that includes supporting people to afford heat pump upgrades for their homes.

Last week, we announced we’re refocusing our support for heat pump upgrades to include rebates for people who live in condos and individual suites, including rentals through the CleanBC Energy Savings Program starting soon.

Today, 13 per cent of all B.C. households use heat pumps — up from 7 per cent in 2021 — and many have benefited from our heat pump rebates. All British Columbians deserve to have access to home cooling and heating that is reliable, affordable and clean.

Soon, even more people will be able to swap to more affordable, cleaner home energy at a price they can afford.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Delivering on infrastructure projects in your community

12h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: School District 73 - please reverse your decision to cut the after-school Strings program

May 06, 2025

Question of the Week

Is the price of groceries motivating you to grow your own vegetables this year?

May 05, 2025

Cost remains a barrier for people who want to switch to heat pumps and, thanks to our government’s rebates, average heat pump sales from 2019 to 2023 nearly doubled the average of the previous five years. In 2022, the sales of heat pumps even exceeded furnace sales for the first time.

By offering more than 8,000 rebates on heat pumps to more British Columbians and partnering with BC Hydro and FortisBC to offer installations to low- and moderate-income households and individuals cheaper, we’re supporting more climate friendly heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.

This isn’t the only way we’re helping people cut costs. Eligible British Columbians may have noticed that ICBC is once again providing rebates of up to $110, and some people have already received cheques, auto-deposits or credits to their accounts. This is in addition to ICBC freezing insurance rates for yet another year.

A few weeks ago, our government also worked to cut the consumer carbon tax to help take pressure off of consumers while we continue to focus on holding big polluters accountable and people have been seeing the results reflected in gas prices across BC.

This builds on other measures our government has taken over the years to make life more affordable, like B.C. Hydro rebates, the family affordability benefit, more affordable child care, making B.C. student loans interest free, building more affordable housing for low-moderate income British Columbians and more.

There’s more work to do and our government will keep focusing on putting money back into British Columbians pockets while keeping in mind how important it is to protect our environment in beautiful B.C.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.