FortisBC has launched a pilot program to monitor the performance of residential high-efficiency natural gas water heaters. Sixty households in B.C. will be chosen to participate, each receiving a rebate of up to $2,500 for the purchase and installation cost of qualifying high-efficiency natural gas water heaters. FortisBC will be monitoring participants’ existing water heaters and then their new high-efficiency natural gas water heaters for a total of 16 to 24 months to compare their performance.
“We are always looking for more ways customers can save energy and money. This pilot program will help us determine what sort of market and technical barriers may exist to the widespread use of high-efficiency natural gas water heaters – a relatively new technology,” said Sarah Smith, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Manager, FortisBC. “The rebates available through this pilot program are significant. I encourage our customers to take advantage of them by applying to participate.”
To participate in the pilot program, FortisBC is seeking applications from customers who meet the following criteria:
- The applicant must be the registered owner of the home in which the high-efficiency natural gas water heater will be installed.
- The home in which the high-efficiency natural gas water heater will be installed must currently have an operational natural gas hot water tank.
- The applicant must be a FortisBC residential customer in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Squamish, Interior, Vancouver Island, or Sunshine Coast.
The water heater customers plan to purchase and install must fall under one of the following categories: on-demand, condensing storage tank, or on-demand hybrid. For additional program details, including full eligibility criteria, a list of qualifying high-efficiency natural gas water heaters and application procedures, please visit fortisbc.com/waterheaterpilot.
Customers selected to participate in the pilot program are limited to one purchase and installation rebate. Applications are accepted until November 1, 2011 or until all 60 spots have been filled.