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LiveSmart BC

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I participate 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
FortisBC 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

FortisBC Natural Gas' Light Commercial 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 FortisBC 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 FortisBC Gas Boiler program incentives have a cap of $1,495 and the FortisBC 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 and the program is now closed.  The LiveSmart BC: Small Business Champion program does not have funding for future calls.
 

Q: Who are the team members of the LiveSmart BC Small Business Program?

A: Take a look at our team photo below, featuring (from left-to-right):
Joy Beauchamp, Cory Waters, Brooke McMurchy and Will Yeh.