BC Hydro proposes 10 percent increase every year until 2014

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BC Hydro’s challenge: How to tame and shame consumers

British Columbians like their green choices. They’ll opt for the energy-efficient dishwasher, the compact florescent lamp and the LED Christmas lights. But they are also plugging in more gadgets: The Xbox and the iPad, the Blu-ray player (for the big-screen television).

As it happens, BC Hydro’s electricity rates are set to climb dramatically in the next few years. The corporation has asked its regulator to approve a rate increase of about 9 per cent for the current fiscal year. Over four years, rates are forecast to increase by nearly 40 per cent.

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Rossland a solar mecca? Look Skyward...

A new age of financially feasible renewable energy is dawning around the world as the combination of rising energy prices, increasing efficiency and sales volume of renewable energy options is bringing in a new crowd of customers to the market. In particular, solar energy has been making the leap from providing environmental peace of mind to being a prudent financial option.

In Rossland, Jeff Herr of Skyward Energy is setting up shop and looking to capitalize on the trifecta of financial and environmental sensibilities, the West Kootenay’s strong appetite for all things green and a strong solar source in our region.

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Herr draws power from the sun

Rosslander Jeff Herr, owner of Skyward Energy, has been installing solar systems for electricity and hot water since 2009. Listening to Herr, it doesn’t take long to become converted to the wisdom of energy efficiency and independence.

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BC partners with SolarBC to back $2 million in new solar thermal projects

Subsidies will continue to help make the economic case a no-brainer for solar.

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