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Commercial New Construction Program
High-performance commercial building rebates
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Funding available
$ 800,000
Location
Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
Overview
FortisBC’s Commercial New Construction Program offers rebates of up to $800,000 for commercial electricity and gas customers in British Columbia. It supports new commercial, multi-unit residential and mixed-use buildings designed to meet BC Energy Step Code targets or achieve at least 30% energy savings over NECB 2020.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Renovate or adapt facilities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 800,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2024
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- BC Energy Step Code performance target rebates.
- Energy model rebate.
- Airtightness rebate, including mid-construction and post-construction airtightness testing.
Documents Needed
- Participant application form.
- Energy Model Report.
- CNC Energy Model Workbook.
- Thermal Bridging Calculation Sheet(s).
- Design Documents, including architectural drawings with building envelope performance, mechanical drawings, electrical drawings, and specifications that contain information not represented elsewhere on the drawings.
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Commercial New Construction Program redesigned
FortisBC replaced the Small Commercial New Construction Program with a redesigned Commercial New Construction Program, with new eligibility, application steps, and incentive amounts now shown.
FortisBC now shows a redesigned Commercial New Construction Program in place of the former Small Commercial New Construction Program. The new program offers rebates up to $800,000 per project, with capital incentives of $2.50 per sq. ft. for Step Code-targeted buildings and energy model and airtightness rebates of 50 per cent up to $15,000 and 75 per cent up to $5,000, respectively. The scope and process were also updated: the program now covers commercial, MURB, institutional, and light industrial Part 3 projects, and the application flow now includes a kick-off meeting, a participant application form, and an incentive estimate letter. The older Small Commercial program content still notes that it is no longer available and references 2023 preregistration and deadlines, while the contact details now point to new support channels including CNCprogram@fortisbc.com and 1-866-884-8833.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Customer: Electricity customer, Gas customer
- Business type: Commercial
Who is not eligible
- Light industrial buildings where manufacturing or industrial process occur.
Eligible expenses
- Step code rebates based on the square footage of the completed building.
- The energy model rebate.
- Mid-construction airtightness testing.
- Post-construction airtightness testing.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Savings due to significant process loads, such as gas used for commercial kitchen appliances, patio heating, hot-tub heating, or other thermal loads not related to building space heating, ventilation heating, and domestic hot water heating, are generally excluded in the CNC Program.
- Post-construction airtightness tests are mandatory under the BC Energy Step Code but are not eligible for a rebate.
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia
Selection criteria
- Building type and occupancy classification.
- Achievement of the required BC Energy Step Code target or energy savings threshold.
- Use of gas as the primary energy source where required.
- Compliance with Demand Side Management regulation criteria.
How to apply
- Review the Small Commercial New Construction Program participant guide and terms and conditions.
- Work with an energy advisor or energy modeller to develop a model and assist with airtightness testing.
- Once construction has been completed and within six months of building occupancy, email your completed and signed application along with the supporting documents.
- If you have any questions, contact your FortisBC key account manager or email CNCprogram@fortisbc.com.
Processing and Agreement
- Several rounds of Q&A may be required with the Review Team to clarify the modelling inputs and results.
- Upon approval, a Post-Model Review Letter will be sent to the FortisBC Customer.
- A list of approved ECMs and other key inputs will be sent to the energy modeller and the customer for tracking during construction.
- The first instalment of the capital incentive is paid after the completion of a model review, submission and approval of an attestation letter, and a detailed site review report with photographic evidence of below-ground completion.
- The remaining 90 per cent of the capital incentive is paid after construction and commissioning are complete, subject to a successful site inspection by FortisBC.
Additional information
- In case of conflicting requirements, these CNC Program Guidelines shall govern for the purpose of this program only, followed by the CoV EM Guidelines.
- This program may be modified or cancelled by FortisBC at any time.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Commercial New Construction Program Program
What is the Commercial New Construction Program?
FortisBC’s Commercial New Construction Program offers rebates of up to $800,000 for commercial electricity and gas customers in British Columbia. It supports new commercial, multi-unit residential and mixed-use buildings designed to meet BC Energy Step Code targets or achieve at least 30% energy savings over NECB 2020.
How much funding can be received?
Commercial New Construction Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $800,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Commercial New Construction Program program?
To be eligible for the Commercial New Construction Program program, you must:
New commercial, multi-unit residential or mixed-use buildings designed to meet or exceed BC Building Code energy performance standards may qualify.
Some Part 9 buildings, such as low-rise MURBs and small mixed-use buildings, may also be eligible if they meet all other program requirements and use Part 3 methodology.
The Demand Side Management regulation criteria must be met for all equipment.
What expenses are eligible under Commercial New Construction Program?
Step code rebates based on the square footage of the completed building.
The energy model rebate.
Mid-construction airtightness testing.
Post-construction airtightness testing.
Who can I contact for more information about the Commercial New Construction Program?
You can contact FortisBC by email at CNCprogram@fortisbc.com or by phone at 1-866-884-8833.
Where is the Commercial New Construction Program available?
The Commercial New Construction Program program is available the province of British Columbia.
Is the Commercial New Construction Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Commercial New Construction Program is a Grant and Funding