Pay As You Save BC Response

Pay-as-you-save (PAYS) is a financing model that enables homeowners to invest in energy efficiency improvements through loans that are repaid on their utility bills. Recent amendments to British Columbia’s Clean Energy Act (the Act) added provisions that require provincial energy utilities (such as BC Hydro and Fortis BC) to provide financing for energy efficiency upgrades.

The BCSEA supports the government’s PAYS-BC proposals, and offered some thoughts that could help PAYS overcome challenges and achieve its objectives.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines and Responsible for Housing (the ministry) is working together with key parties - including British Columbia residents and utilities - to develop a regulation under the Act that will set requirements for BC utility PAYS programs. PAYS in BC (PAYS-BC) will unlock consumer energy savings through investments in energy efficiency - building on the experience of other jurisdictions while recognizing British Columbia’s specific utility and energy conservation opportunities.

The ministry was seeking comments and suggestions from British Columbia citizens regarding PAYS-BC prior to finalizing and implementing the framework. The current consultation relates to PAYS-BC in the residential, single-family home sector. In subsequent years, PAYS-BC will be expanded to encompass residential strata and rental units, as well as commercial buildings. There will be separate consultations prior to launching PAYS-BC for these types of buildings.

The BCSEA's response to this request is attached below, as well as the Ministry's form requesting input, and their initial proposal.

See the legislation (Part 2) at http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th3rd/1st_read/gov07-1.htm