BC Hydro encourages low-income customers to apply for free air conditioners

Although it may not feel like it this week, it is starting to get warmer in the Lower Mainland.

BC Hydro is reminding vulnerable low-income individuals to take advantage and apply for a free air conditioning unit.

In a release on Thursday, BC Hydro says the use of air conditioning in B.C. homes has increased by 20 per cent over the past year — a trend that is expected to continue.

It says while the use of ACs has increased, they’re not accessible to everyone, especially low-income people.

“To bridge the AC affordability gap, last summer the Government of B.C. announced a three-year program with $10 million in funding for BC Hydro to install 8,000 free portable air conditioning units in the homes of British Columbians that need them the most,” it said.

Robert Patterson with Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre tells CityNews that a lot of people lost their lives in the 2021 heat dome.

“The inquest into that found a lot of them were lower-income folks, and seniors,” he said.

“Low-income people were seen as most vulnerable because they don’t have a say in the permanent cooling installations in their buildings, they don’t get a say in whether their buildings are renovated or redeveloped to be cooler or safer.”

Patterson urges tenants who are eligible to participate in BC Hydro’s free AC program to review their tenancy agreements and make sure there isn’t any provision preventing them from installing an AC unit — because some buildings and landlords don’t allow portable air conditioners to be installed.

“That’s why it’s so frustrating that people don’t have a clear legal right to use those tools, even when they need them to save their own lives.”

BC Hydro says, that since last summer, over 4,400 free AC units have been installed.

“BC Hydro has made important changes to ensure units can be installed faster, including a new self-serve installation option,” it said.

The provincial utility says while ACs are becoming popular other ways to stay cool include the following:

• Closing the drapes and blinds: shading windows blocks up to 65 per cent of the heat
• Shutting doors and windows: this helps get warm air out if temperatures are warmer outside
• Using a fan: BC Hydro says running a fan for nine hours a day over the summer costs $7

-With files from Michael Williams

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to show running a fan for nine hours a day over the summer costs $7, according to BC Hydro