The regional district has agreed to get on board the Okanagan Similkameen Energy Diet by supporting the program with a $25 subsidy to the first 100 rural applicants.
The Fortis sponsored energy diet program was announced last month as an incentive program to encourage households to participate in an energy assessment. The program limits the up front expense for an energy asessment from approximately $350 to $60.
The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen subsidy will further reduce the cost to rural RDOS residents to $35.
In a staff report to the board, it was noted that participation in the energy diet program would provide the RDOS with carbon offset credits,
Electoral Area “G” Director Angelique Wood suggested that providing a credit for the follow up audit might be worthwhile. (The program calls for an additional energy assessment after energy efficiency improvements are completed, at a cost of $150.
Westbench Director Michael Brydon, while agreeing with Wood’s logic, suggested that getting residents involved in the first place was a barrier that had to be overcome, while Oliver rural Director Allan Patton expressed discomfort with the RDOS “subsidizing the home improvement business.”
The regional board agreed to provide a $25 subsidy to the first 100 rural participants, with funds coming from the Electoral Area Administration Program.
Rural residents interested in participating in the program can register on line at:
http://www.fortisbc.com/Electricity/PowerSense/InYourCommunity/CommunityEnergyDiets/OkanaganEnergyDiet/Pages/default.aspx