Power Hours Rewards Program
Power hours are the time of day when people use the most electricity, like making dinner, doing laundry and charging an electric vehicle(EV). On the coldest and hottest days, turning up your heating or air conditioning can cause electricity demand on our system to spike.
Help reduce electricity use during peak times and earn rewards by participating in the Power Hours Rewards Program.
Program details
- FortisBC electricity customers who have a smart thermostat controlling electric heating/cooling equipment and/or an EV can register to get a sign-up incentive of $25.
- Additional incentives can also be earned by:
- having thermostats automatically adjusted during "Power Hours" events
- not charging EVs during "Power Hours" events
- Customers must participate in at least 80 per cent of the thermostat events to receive the seasonal incentive.
- Incentives are paid as either a cheque payable to the account holder or as a bill credit.
Participants with thermostats
Participants with thermostats will receive notifications via text message or email before a Power Hours event happens. Their smart thermostat will be automatically adjusted during the event. Participants can override the system anytime by manually adjusting the thermostat or via email or text.
Participants with EVs
For participants with EVs, Power Hours events take place every day, between 4 and 9 p.m. Participants should schedule charging outside of these hours to be eligible to earn incentives.
| Device | Sign-up incentive | Participation incentive | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart thermostat (see eligible devices above) | $25 per customer | $25 per season (winter and/or summer, if you participate in at least 80 per cent of events) |
|
| Electric vehicle (see eligible models/years above) | $25 per customer | $0.50 per event |
|
Eligibility
To participate in this program, you must:
- be a FortisBC residential electricity customer
- Note: the Power Hours Rewards Program is currently not available to municipal electricity utility customers of Summerland, Penticton, Grand Forks and Nelson Hydro.
- live in FortisBC’s electricity service area and the house must be as your principal residence year-round
- live in a principal residence that is:
- a detached house (including a house with a secondary suite or mobile home with a permanent foundation)
- an attached house (including a semi-detached house, duplex or triplex, townhouse, row house or attached house with a secondary suite)
- a laneway home
- have an ecobee®, Honeywell Home™ or Sensi™ smart or Wi-Fi connected thermostat, controlling an electric space heating and/or cooling system, such as:
- electric forced-air furnace
- electric boiler
- air source heat pump (both central and mini/multi-split types qualify)
- central air conditioner
- have EV models/years: Acura 2016+, Audi 2017+, BMW 2014+, Buick 2011+, Cadillac 2011+, Chevrolet 2011+, Chrysler 2018+, Dodge 2018+, Ford 2017+, GMC 2011+, Jaguar 2016+, Jeep 2018+, Land Rover 2016+, Lexus 2016+, Lincoln 2015+, MINI 2018+, RAM 2018+, Toyota 2020+, Tesla 2012+ or Volvo 2012+ and other vehicles approved by FortisBC at its sole discretion
- have a functioning internet connection that can be used to connect your thermostat and/or EV to FortisBC’s partner software and maintain this connection throughout your participation in the program
How to apply
- Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and have an eligible thermostat controlling electric heating/cooling equipment and/or an EV, as listed above.
- Apply through Virtual Peaker with your FortisBC electricity account number.
Frequently asked questions
It’s business as usual.
Your thermostat will automatically respond to the Power Hours event when the signal is sent out.
For participants with EVs, you can partake by scheduling your EV charging outside of Power Hours, which are between 4 and 9 p.m. every day.
It may vary, depending on the device you are participating with—a thermostat or EV. For thermostats, a Power Hours event may be up to five hours. Most events will take place either in winter (November-March) or summer (May-September). For EVs, Power Hours events will occur between 4 and 9 p.m. every day.
Participants with thermostats will be provided with advance notice of an upcoming event by email or text message, as specified in the application form. Power Hours for EVs will take place every day, between 4 and 9 p.m.
Participants with a thermostat can opt out of an event by either manually adjusting the thermostat during the event or by responding to our email or text notification. Please note that customers must participate in at least 80 per cent of the events to receive the seasonal incentive.
Participants with EVs opt out if they choose to charge their registered vehicle(s) during Power Hours. Please note that if you choose to opt out, you don’t collect incentives for that particular event.
FortisBC and the vendor that manages the software platform for the program, Virtual Peaker, will have access to information participants provide upon registration.
Types of data collected for the purpose of running the program may include:
- customer account information and historic energy consumption data
- information about equipment and end-uses in the residence, such as the heating/cooling system and/or EV
- information about usage patterns of connected devices during the program and during peak events
FortisBC collects, uses and discloses personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act and our Privacy Policy.
We’re here to help
If you have other questions, email [email protected] or call 1-866-436-7847.