Stay cool while keeping costs down: FortisBC offering tips to help lower energy use

Jul 17, 2025

Help beat the heat without breaking the bank this summer by taking action to lower energy use year-round

KELOWNA, B.C.—July 17, 2025: Summer weather is here and as temperatures rise so does the demand for electricity. FortisBC is encouraging customers to beat the heat this season by following seasonal and year-round energy-saving tips that can benefit both gas and electricity customers, helping to keep homes comfortable year-round. Preparing ahead of time can help ensure customers see these energy savings when temperatures spike.

“We know managing energy costs is important for our customers while also feeling comfortable this summer season,” said Alicia Hearn, program manager, conservation awareness and marketing strategy at FortisBC. “Whether for your own home or for a friend or family member, simple actions can add up and make a difference, which is why we encourage customers to find targeted ways to help lower their energy use during hot spells.”

During the hottest days of the year, our customers’ electricity use can almost triple, at times reaching approximately 180 per cent compared with electricity use on an average summer day.¹ To help manage their energy use during these times, customers can take specific actions, including: 

• using awnings, blinds or drapes to keep direct sunshine or heat from overheating rooms
• opening windows and even use a window fan to help circulate cooler air through the home when the temperature drops at night, but be sure to only use a fan if the temperature is lower than 37 degrees Celsius (body temperature)
• keeping heat pumps at a consistent temperature, using the ‘cool mode’ and setting the fan speed to low.²
• if customers have an air conditioning unit, they can program their thermostat to around 25 degrees Celsius when they are home and 28 degrees Celsius when they are away
• using outdoor cooking options, like a barbecue, instead of the oven to help keep the home cooler

There are also year-round actions both gas and electricity customers can take that could help save energy and lower associated costs:

• install draftproofing around doors and windows to seal gaps and cracks in exterior walls and keep the warm air out of the home in the summer and the cold air out in the winter
• household appliances account for around 17 per cent of energy use in a B.C. home³ so taking these steps can help manage energy use
  • use cold water for laundry to help save energy
  • hang clothes to dry to cut down on the energy needed to run the dryer. In the summer, hang clothes outside and, in the winter, hang them inside.
• install water-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators to help customers use less hot water.
• look for a showerhead that has a flow rate that is less than seven litres(L)/minute or around 1.5 gallons/minute and a faucet aerator that delivers less than 4.7 L/minute or around one gallon/minute of water⁴

With some of the hottest weather in the Southern Interior, it’s important for customers to have a backup plan to keep cool in the event they experience a power outage. Power outages can happen at any time for a variety of reasons, including storms, wildfires and motor vehicle accidents so it’s important to stay prepared. This includes:

• having an emergency kit with essentials like flashlights, batteries, first-aid kit and supply of non-perishable food and water for family members
• having a safe, alternate method for preparing and storing food, remembering to never use outdoor cooking appliances inside
• making sure you have a backup plan for lighting, air conditioning, transportation and powering computers, routers, cell phones and other equipment you need to stay in touch with family and friends and receive updates from emergency services providers
• for the summer months specifically, using battery powered fans, knowing where the closest cooling centres are and keeping a supply of instant cooling packs in your freezer to help keep cool

Customers can visit fortisbc.com/energysavingtips to find more energy-saving tips and fortisbc.com/poweroutages to learn more about preparing for power outages.

¹Based on average and peak energy use for FortisBC electricity customers between 2019-2021.

²Natural Resources Canada, Heating and cooling with a heat pump, operation considerations. CleanBC, Tips to optimize the operation of your heat pump.

³Natural Resources Canada, Comprehensive Energy Use Database.

⁴Natural Resources Canada, Make small changes that add up.

⁵Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane) is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create RNG. When RNG is added to North America’s natural gas system, it mixes with conventional natural gas. This means we’re unable to direct RNG to a specific customer. But the more RNG is added to the gas system, the less conventional natural gas is needed, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

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