Removal of BC Hydro Stepped Rates in Areas Without Natural GAs

WHEREAS many residents of British Columbia do not have and will not have in the near future a natural gas energy resource heating available to them and must rely on propane, diesel or electric as their energy resource; AND WHEREAS there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions from electricity compared to other energy sources making electricity an environmentally preferable energy source compared to other available energy resources, especially in those areas in the province without access to natural gas; AND WHEREAS BC Hydro has established a stepped rate with the approval of the BC Utilities Commission whereby customers pay 6.80 cents per kWh for the first 1,350 kWh they use over an average two-month billing period and pay 10.19 cents per KWh for the balance of the electricity used during the two-month billing period: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC work with BC Hydro and the BC Utilities Commission to implement the lower residential stepped rate in areas of the province where natural gas is not available to encourage those residents to use electricity only for heating and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions.