There are over 270,000 households in British Columbia facing energy poverty, a lack of
affordable access to the basic energy services that contribute to quality of life. Rural, remote,
and Indigenous communities in the province are being hit particularly hard, with some
communities spending up to three times the provincial average to heat their homes. A report
released in March 2020 by Ecotrust Canada explores a number of drivers of energy poverty in
British Columbia, and identifies several key areas where policies and programs can be
improved to better support communities pursuing resilient, clean and affordable energy
systems. These priorities represent our intention of moving B.C. away from being a
jurisdiction known for higher levels of energy poverty and inequitable energy access, toward
a vision of fair and inclusive energy access for all – a vision for energy security.
2019 community reports that support the case study highlights
RDMW 2019 Residential Heating Analysis
Heiltsuk First Nation 2019 Heat Pump Review
Lower Similkameen Indian Band 2019 Heating Systems Analysis