Businesses feel pinch as energy rebate cancelled

Canwest News ServiceAugust 18, 2009

The phones at City Green have been ringing since Friday.Most callers are asking about the sudden end of LiveSmart B.C., a rebate program for energy-efficient homes. And about 15 to 25% of them, said Peter Sundberg, executive director of City Green, have been calling to cancel their energy assessment appointments. The program's demise might be hurting homeowners, he said, but it's hurting those in the "green economy" even more."The energy advisers, the window gal and the home renovation guy were all being supported through this program. The impact is huge," he said.LiveSmart allowed homeowners to receive hundreds of dollars of rebates on home energy assessments, as well as such energy-efficient upgrades as heating, windows and appliances.

Just 15 months into the program, however, Energy Minister Blair Lekstrom announced Friday that the $60 million budget has been fully committed. Due to the current economic climate, he said, additional funds would not be injected into the program.Federal grants such as those under its ecoENERGY program still exist.But in some cases, they are not as extensive as what LiveSmart offered. Energy advisers said they've already started to feel the hit.

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Rebates and Incentives for your Home

Important information for LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program participants

The LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program has reached its three-year target of 40,000 initial home energy assessments in only 15 months. The $60-million program is now fully committed and as such, will no longer provide incentives to new participants, effective end of business Aug. 15, 2009.

For more information, please read the Information Bulletin and the Q&As.

Homeowners who had their pre-retrofit home energy assessment performed prior to August 16, 2009:

There is no change for homeowners currently in this program.

All homeowners who entered the LiveSmart program by having their pre-retrofit home energy assessment performed prior to end of business on August 15, 2009, and who complete their post-retrofit home energy assessment before March 2011, or 18 months after they had their first home energy assessment, will be will be eligible for the rebates and incentives outlined here.

Homeowners entering the program on or after August 16, 2009:

Homeowners entering the program on or after August 16th are eligible for the federal EcoENERGY program incentives, which have recently been increased by 25 per cent.

New entrants are also eligible for a subsidy for their pre-retrofit home energy assessment. This subsidy is still under development and is subject to the continuing availability of funds.