Whereas FortisBC rate increases are causing significant hardship to people in areas where there is no access to natural gas, as they are seeing huge increases in power bills; And whereas due to the challenge customers face with rising energy costs, heating and electricity have become a luxury for some British Columbia residents, especially in the Okanagan-Similkameen: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the provincial government and British Columbia Utilities Commission eliminate the two tiered rate structure of all power suppliers until a remedy can be found for users of electric heat who have no affordable alternative to their current inefficient home heating system.
Ministry of Energy and Mines At the Minister of Energy and Mines request, the British Columbia Utilities Commission BCUC is reviewing the impacts of residential stepped rates in British Columbia, including those on customers without access to natural gas. The BCUC has received over 600 letters of comment, and many groups, including local governments have participated in the proceeding. The proceeding has been closed, and a report is expected in the first quarter of 2017. The BCUC has approved stepped rates for BC Hydro and FortisBC Electric. B.C. has among the lowest residential electricity rates in North America. Stepped rates are designed to encourage conservation without increasing revenues to utilities.