Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I partifcipate in the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program?
A: It depends on which aspect of the program you are interested in. Read the program components to find out more.
Q: Will the program be available to businesses across the province or just in select locations? Will it be available in rural or remote areas of the province?
A: The LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program is available province wide.
Q: I read that the program will be targeted towards five sectors. What if my business doesn’t fall into one of these sectors?
A: You will still be eligible as long as you meet the program’s eligibility requirements (below). The sectors are general areas of focus and are not meant to exclude eligible businesses.
Q: What are the program’s eligibility requirements?
A: Eligibility for the various components of the program is determined by a company’s electricity spending:
| Program component | Expenditures on electricity per year |
| Business Energy Advisor Service | Less than $50,000 |
| Direct Install Service | Less than $20,000 |
| BC Hydro Product Incentive Program (PIP) Top-up Fortis Gas Boiler and Water Heater Incentives |
Less than $200,000 Less than $200,000 |
| LiveSmart Champion | Less than $50,000 |
Additional eligibility requirements can be found here: Eligibility Criteria - LiveSmart_BC Small Business Program (PDF/190kb).
Q: What are the participating service areas for the Direct Install Program?
A: The Direct Install Program is available in the FortisBC electricity service area, the municipal electric utilities of Kelowna, Penticton, Grand Forks, District of Summerland and Nelson. It is also available to business customers of BC Hydro in West Kelowna, Winfield, Peachland, Cranbrook, Invermere and Kimberly. To confirm your eligibility, please call FortisBC toll free at 1-866-932-8283, or email flip@fortisbc.com.
Q: My area was not listed above but I would like to participate in the Direct Install service.
A: The Direct Install Program is currently available only in the areas listed above.
Q: How does your program define “small business”?
A: The program uses a broad definition for small businesses to ensure that a wide range of businesses are eligible to participate in the program.
Eligibility for different aspects of the program depends on how much electricity the small business currently uses, as noted above. Additional eligibility requirements can be found here: Eligibility Criteria - LiveSmart_BC Small Business Program (PDF/190kb).
Q: What happens after the three year program is complete?
A: Applications for utility incentives will be processed until March 31, 2013 subject to availability of funding. After the three years, the program’s success and uptake will be evaluated and considered in future budget decisions.
Q: What incentives are there for larger businesses?
A: BC Hydro’s Product Incentive Program (PIP), an incentive program for energy efficient products serves medium and large commercial BC Hydro customers who spend less than $200,000 annually on electricity and not do not have a key account manager. http://www.bchydro.com/rebates_savings/product_incentive_program.html
BC Hydro’s Power Smart Partner program is an incentive program for large commercial customers who spend more than $200,000 annually on electricity and have a key account manager. http://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/commercial/power_smart_partners.html
BC Hydro’s Continuous Optimization program assists commercial building owners in retrocommissioning their buildings, then helps them maintain and continually improve the level of efficiency in their building operations. http://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/commercial/power_smart_partners/continuous_optimization.html
FortisBC’s PowerSense Technical Advisors offer free walk-through energy audits for commercial and industrial customers. http://www.fortisbc.com/Electricity/PowerSense/IncentivesPrograms/Pages/default.aspx
FortisBC’s Partner in Efficiency Program is available to large commercial accounts to help them improve the energy efficiency of their businesses. http://www.fortisbc.com/Electricity/PowerSense/Businesses/Pages/Partners-in-efficiency-program.aspx
Fortis BC Natural Gas' Light fCommercial Energy Star Boiler, Efficient Commercial Water Heater Program and Efficient boiler program serves small and medium commercial buildings. http://www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/BuildingProfessionsTrades/IncentivePrograms/Pages/default.aspx
Q: Is there a maximum rebate that a business can expect to receive?
A: There is no maximum rebate on products purchased under the Product Incentive Program. There is a cap on the Fortis FLIP (direct install) component, which is up to a maximum of $5,500. This helps to ensure the funding is made available to a large number of businesses.
The LiveSmart Champion program has a maximum incentive of $25,000. The Fortis Gas Boiler program incentives have a cap of $1,495 and the Fortis Gas Water Heater incentive has a cap of $15,000.
Q: Will there be future calls for the LiveSmartBC Champion program?
A: The 2012 Champion Call for Applications will be the last call. The LiveSmart BC: Small Business Champion program does not have funding for future calls.
Q: What is the deadline for applications?
A: Small businesses must submit a Letter of Interest outlining their energy saving ideas to the Province by March 21, 2012.
The Letter of Interest is the first stage in a two part application process. Only applicants who have submitted a Letter of Interest that meets the program eligibility criteria and have the potential to become Champions in the areas of innovation or energy efficiency will be sent the program application form.
Q: How will projects be evaluated?
A: Applications will be evaluated on project feasibility, energy and cost savings, innovation and their benefit and value to other companies and the community. Projects must demonstrate innovative energy efficiency opportunities or energy savings of at least 20 per cent over the prfevious year.
Q: Are there any differences between the Champion program announced in June 2011 and this one?
A: In the first Champion program Call for Applications, we realized that the application process was too onerous for most small businesses, and the focus on innovation was limiting for some of the potential applicants. In consultation with B.C. small businesses, we have reworked the program to make the application process more user friendly.
It is now easier for small businesses to submit ideas through our Letter of Interest process. By initially requiring only a one-page program description, rather than a full application, we can screen projects to ensure eligibility, without requiring businesses to invest a significant amount of time in creating a proposal. Projects that meet our eligibility criteria and have the potential to become Champions in the areas of innovation or energy efficiency will then be asked to submit a full application.
