Power Hours Rewards Program frequently asked questions

• Thermostat participants: You don’t need to do anything. Typically, during a power hours event, your thermostat will be automatically adjusted slightly. Afterwards it will return to its regularly scheduled temperature. For example, during a winter event if your thermostat is set to 21°C, your thermostat could be adjusted to 20°C, and after the event it would return to 21°C.
• EV participants: Events happen daily between 4-9 pm. You will earn incentives for each day you do not charge your EV during this period.

• Thermostat participants: Power Hours events can last up to four hours and typically occur during winter (November-March) and summer (May-September).

• EV participants: Events happen daily between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

• Thermostat participants: you’ll be given advance notice of an upcoming event by email or text message, depending on your preference.
• EV participants: Power hours for EVs will take place every day, between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

• Thermostat participants: you can opt out of an event by manually adjusting the thermostat during the event.
• EV participants: you can opt out by simply choosing to charge your registered vehicle(s) between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on any given day, and you will not earn bill credits for these days.

You may have enrolled through your smart thermostat account.

If you no longer wish to participate, you can email us at [email protected] or opt out of future power hours events at any time.

When you participate, you give us temporary access to remotely adjust your thermostat during peak hours. Utility companies around the world are using this technology to help stabilize electricity grids.

We have agreements with the manufacturers of eligible thermostat models that allow us to make these remote adjustments. Google Nest^TM and ecobee® are examples of manufacturers that work with us and other utility providers.

We will always notify you before an event, and you are always in control and can opt out at any time.

Some thermostats have smart features that make additional changes outside of the power hours events. For example, ecobee eco+ mode may pre-cool or pre-heat your home before a power hours event to maintain your comfort during this period or create greater temperature shifts.

These changes are not initiated by FortisBC, and we do not adjust thermostat behaviour outside of the times specified in the Power Hours event notifications.

The list of eligible EVs includes models known to work well with the Power Hours Rewards Program. If your EV isn’t listed, please contact us—we may be able to add it.

No, you can only register your EV or your EV charger for power hours incentives.

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 your personal information for the purpose of administering the program, including communicating with you about your participation and program updates, in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act (British Columbia). Your personal information may be shared outside of the organization for the purpose of administering FortisBC programs and services. For more information, see FortisBC’s Privacy Policy.

An energy router is a device that runs through your home Wi-Fi. It connects to other smart and Wi-Fi-connected devices and/or appliances in the home that could include battery storage, smart thermostats, electric vehicles and solar panels.

You don’t need an energy router to participate in the Power Hours Rewards Program. The energy router is an optional way that you can take part in Power Hours events and have your energy use data shared with FortisBC during peak periods. Through the energy router and the visual interface of an app, you can receive suggestions on how to optimize energy usage for efficiency.

We have many ways to participate in the program. See Power Hours Rewards Program for more details.

Eligible FortisBC electricity customers who applied and were approved to participate in this trial through the Power Hours Reward Program will have an energy router shipped directly to their home for simple self-installation.

Participating customers will receive instructions on how to set up the device and connect it to the supporting app. Our third-party vendor, Elastic Energy, will support troubleshooting and technical challenges should you have any issues with equipment installation.