FortisBC — Custom Performance Program
BC, Canada
The Custom Efficiency Program by FortisBC offers funding to significantly enhance energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in industrial, commercial, and agricultural facilities.
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- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
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- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
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Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
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- FortisBC
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grant_card_status|open
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The Custom Efficiency Program aims to improve energy efficiency in commercial, industrial, and agricultural buildings by providing funding for detailed energy studies and implementing energy conservation measures. Eligible projects must demonstrate significant potential for energy savings, such as reducing natural gas usage by a minimum of 1,000 GJ annually or electricity consumption by 50,000 kWh annually. The program offers substantial financial incentives to cover up to 75% of energy study costs and up to $1.5 million for implementing energy-efficient projects.
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This grant is specifically available for companies located within certain municipalities in British Columbia. Eligible locations are determined to encourage energy efficiency projects within these municipalities.
- Grand Forks
- Penticton
- Summerland
- Nelson
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Eligibility for this grant is established based on the company's utility usage, building ownership, and energy savings potential criteria.
- The company must be a FortisBC natural gas customer under any rate class except Rate 1 and/or a FortisBC electricity customer or a municipal electricity customer of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland, and Nelson Hydro.
- The company must be an owner or long-term leaseholder of a new or existing industrial or agricultural building or an existing commercial, institutional, or multi-unit residential building or facility.
- The company must select a consultant from FortisBC's list of approved consultants to perform a detailed energy study.
- For natural gas customers, the project must have the potential to save a minimum of 1,000 GJ of natural gas annually.
- For FortisBC or municipal electricity customers, the project must have the potential to save 50,000 kWh of electricity annually, excluding indoor lighting projects except for agricultural lighting.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This program is designed for FortisBC natural gas customers (excluding Rate 1) and FortisBC or municipal electricity customers from Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland, and Nelson Hydro. It is targeted at owners or long-term leaseholders of new or existing industrial, agricultural, commercial, institutional, or multi-unit residential buildings or facilities, where eligible projects can achieve significant energy savings.
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This grant facilitates the enhancement of energy efficiency in commercial, industrial, or agricultural structures by providing financial support for custom solutions. Eligible activities are centered around substantial energy savings in natural gas and electricity consumption.
- Development and implementation of projects that yield a minimum of 1,000 GJ of natural gas savings annually.
- Development and implementation of projects achieving at least 50,000 kWh of electricity savings annually.
- Conducting detailed energy studies to uncover opportunities for cost-effective energy savings.
- Installing and commissioning energy conservation measures identified through an approved energy study.
- Implementing agricultural lighting improvements that significantly reduce energy use.
- Participation in projects that align with the Commercial Lighting Rebates for additional funding.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The grant covers specific expenses directly related to energy conservation measures in buildings or facilities.
- Up to 75% of the energy study cost performed by an approved consultant, with a maximum incentive of $37,500 for certain projects.
- Implementation incentives for the incremental cost of an energy conservation measure identified in the energy study, with specific limits such as $6/GJ for natural gas projects, $0.03/kWh for electricity projects, 75% of invoiced project costs, up to $500,000 for commercial or agricultural lighting projects, or up to $1.5 million for industrial facilities.
- Implementation bonus of up to 25% of the approved energy study cost, with a maximum bonus incentive of $12,500 for eligible projects.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The grant does have evaluation and selection criteria to ensure that projects align with FortisBC’s goals of energy conservation and cost efficiency. These criteria help to assess the potential savings and feasibility of the proposed energy efficiency projects.
- The project must have the potential to save a minimum of 1,000 GJ of natural gas annually if the applicant is a natural gas customer.
- The project must have the potential to save 50,000 kWh of electricity annually if the applicant is a FortisBC or municipal electricity customer.
- The applicant must select a consultant from FortisBC’s list of approved consultants to perform a detailed energy study.
- Applications must be approved by a key account manager or technical advisor before accessing funding.
- The energy conservation measures must be installed and operational within 18 months of implementation incentive funding approval.
- The installed energy conservation measures must operate for at least 36 months after installation.
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- Step 1: Contact Your Key Account Manager or Technical Advisor
- Reach out to your FortisBC natural gas key account manager or electricity technical advisor to discuss your project plans.
- Request an application form through discussion with your contact person.
- Step 2: Schedule Project Kick-Off Meeting
- Coordinate a meeting involving you, your engineering consultant, and FortisBC representatives.
- Prepare to discuss the scope and details of the proposed energy conservation measures.
- Step 3: Obtain Approval
- Receive written approval from an authorized FortisBC representative before starting the energy study or implementing conservation measures.
- Ensure not to commission or purchase any items related to the energy measures before receiving approval.
- Step 4: Submit Application
- Complete the application form provided by FortisBC.
- Ensure all fields are accurately filled and required documents are attached.
- Submit the application as directed by the FortisBC contact, ensuring it's before any given deadlines.
- Step 5: Confirmation and Follow-Up
- Await confirmation from FortisBC regarding the receipt and processing of your application.
- Address any further requests for information or clarification from FortisBC promptly.
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Approved energy conservation measures must be installed and operational within 18 months of implementation incentive funding approval, and operated for at least 36 months after installation.
- Contact information for questions: 1-866-884-8833 or [email protected]
- Participants must notify FortisBC if they receive additional funding from other organizations for energy conservation measures.
- Repayment of incentives may be required if additional funding is received from other sources.
grant_single_labels|contact
1-866-884-8833
Apply to this program
Enhancing Energy Efficiency with FortisBC's Custom Efficiency Program
The FortisBC Custom Efficiency Program supports energy efficiency in commercial, industrial, or agricultural buildings by offering financial assistance. This program emphasizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and aligning with provincial energy-saving targets.
In-Depth Understanding of the FortisBC Custom Efficiency Program
The FortisBC Custom Efficiency Program is a strategic initiative dedicated to fostering energy conservation and efficiency improvements in British Columbia. This program is specifically tailored for natural gas and electricity customers under FortisBC, focusing on commercial, industrial, and agricultural buildings. The overarching goal is to help facility owners significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and achieve substantial energy cost savings. This aligns with the broader objective of supporting the Province’s Roadmap to 2030 for sustainable energy practices.
Funding from this program facilitates comprehensive energy studies, which are essential for identifying viable energy-saving opportunities within a facility. These studies are crucial because they provide detailed engineering analyses of current energy use and potential conservation measures, ensuring that any proposed energy-efficiency projects are both feasible and cost-effective. By participating in this program, businesses can receive substantial funding—up to 75% of the energy study costs—to ensure thorough analysis and planning. However, projects must meet specific energy-saving potentials, such as saving a minimum of 1,000 GJ of natural gas annually or 50,000 kWh of electricity annually for eligibility.
Aside from the initial study funding, the FortisBC Custom Efficiency Program provides implementation incentives. These are designed to offset the incremental costs of implementing approved energy conservation measures. The incentives are calculated as the lesser of three options: $6 per gigajoule for natural gas savings over the measure life, $0.03 per kWh for electricity savings, or up to 75% of the total invoiced implementation costs, with a cap at $500,000 for commercial projects and $1.5 million for industrial operations. This financial support is vital for ensuring that businesses can implement their energy-efficient solutions without bearing the entire financial burden.
Moreover, the program offers an additional implementation bonus, rewarding participants for successfully carrying out their energy conservation plans identified during energy studies. This bonus can be up to 25% of the approved energy study cost, adding an extra layer of financial support for businesses committed to energy efficiency.
To access these benefits, participants must coordinate with their natural gas key account manager or electricity technical advisor. This process begins with discussing project specifics, followed by a formal application, and subsequent project management including a kick-off meeting with FortisBC. Ensuring timely and correct application submission is critical as all proposed energy measures must be operational within 18 months of receiving funding approval and maintained for a minimum of 36 months post-installation.
The FortisBC Custom Efficiency Program exemplifies a structured approach to energy conservation, emphasizing collaboration with approved consultants and technical advisors to achieve measurable results. By fostering energy-efficient projects, FortisBC is not only supporting individual businesses but also contributing to a larger societal commitment towards environmental responsibility and sustainable energy use in British Columbia.
