The organization adding that the plan by the Hydro company is a step that will cancel an important lifeline program with the potential to put the most vulnerable customers at risk just when help is needed most.
In a correspondence to the North Coast Review, Ecotrust Canada outlined some of the key elements of the current program and how it has served the province to date, as well as to relay their concerns over its future:
BC Hydro's Customer Crisis Fund (CCF) is designed to protect customers facing unexpected economic hardship, by providing a one-time grant for bill payment.
The BC NDP government directed BC Hydro to implement this program in 2018, after failing to deliver on a promise to create a permanent "lifeline rate" for qualifying households.
Now, in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, BC Hydro is proposing to terminate the CCF at the end of March 2021, leaving BC with no utility bill support programs at all.
This would leave the over 270,000 BC households that face energy poverty with nowhere to turn for assistance, and at risk of having their power shut off if they fall behind on their bills.
Ecotrust Canada is a national charity that works with communities to ensure that everyone can affordably access clean energy to meet their basic needs, including heating, lighting, cooking, and communication.
BC Hydro introduced their Customer Crisis Fund in 2018, offering customers the option to defer payments, or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty.
The fund was designed as a three year pilot program, with BC Hydro collecting five million dollars per year from residential customers to fund the program.
"We recognize the financial impact COVID-19 may have on our customers due to changes in employment from workplaces closing, or reducing staffing levels and want to provide some relief during this challenging time. In addition, some customers may experience higher electricity bills due to increased consumption from spending more time at home." -- Chris O'Riley, BC Hydro President and Chief Executive Officer.
Their final report on the Customer Relief program was submitted to the BC Utilities Commission in October of this year, you can read it here.
A more comprehensive overview of the program from the provincial hydro provider was delivered to the BCUC in July.
BC Hydro had also put in place a COVID-19 Relief fund which closed for applications in June of this year.
The BC Utilities Commission is set to evaluate the BC Hydro further, you can review the scope of the documentation provided so far from the BCUC website.
In May Ecotrust Canada conducted a survey which showed that one on five British Columbians were having a harder time paying their utility bills since the COVID-19 crisis began.
Towards further research on the topic an August report from Ecotrust's Geneviève Doiron and Dylan Heerema explored the issues of energy protection further, providing for five key recommendations towards Crisis Funding.
Among some of the other concerns about the proposed move by the Hydro Company, the organization notes how BC Hydro’s planned move would be out of step with several other provinces including Ontario, which provides not only crisis support funds, but ongoing bill relief for those that need it.
As well they observe that while there is a small but vocal minority that opposes these critical measures, by BC Hydro's own estimates, 88% of British Columbians approve of continuing the CCF.
Among the many concerns towards the fate of the program for Ecotrust is that one of BC Hydro’s justifications for canceling the program is a result of low rates of participation.
However, as Ecotrust notes that is likely a result of needlessly restrictive criteria and limited awareness of the program.
The national organization states that instead of canceling the Customer Crisis Fund, BC Hydro could adopt more inclusive application criteria similar to other successful crisis programs in Canada — and more actively promote the program.
Adding how The Customer Crisis Fund has certainly not been perfect in its design or execution, but canceling it entirely, in the midst of a crisis, is not the answer and will only serve to further harm those most impacted by the pandemic.
You can contact Ecotrust Canada at their Ocean Centre Office at 250-624-4191 to learn more about their campaign and how to lend your support towards their initiative.
Further notes relate to hydro themes can be explore from our archive page here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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