A recent survey of Penticton residents reveals that while 93.3 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the reliability of their electrical services, most want to learn more about ways to save on their monthly energy bills.
“As we head toward winter, electricity usage in Penticton reaches its highest peaks of the year, particularly on extremely cold days and during the prime hours of 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.,” says Draydan Power, manager of energy and environment. “It’s our job to plan ahead to ensure the electrical grid remains reliable – and part of that process involves providing Penticton residents with the tools and education needed to make smart decisions to save on energy and keep costs down.”
As a result of these findings, and as part of its Climate Action Plan initiatives, the City is rolling out new educational materials and will soon be announcing details of a TELUS pilot project offering residents the technology and tools to help reduce energy consumption and costs by up to 15 per cent. More details will be issued in the coming weeks and posted online at penticton.ca/power.
The purpose of the City’s most recent Electric Utility questionnaire, which collected 577 responses, was to assess the community’s understanding of its electrical services, overall satisfaction rates and willingness to learn more about ways to conserve energy at home.
Additional findings
- 84.3% of respondents are motivated to take steps to reduce their electrical bills.
- 28.8% use smart plugs or other technology, such as a smart thermostat, to help monitor electrical usage in their homes.
- 75.9% would be interested in learning about smart technology to potentially save money.
- Of the steps Penticton residents are currently taking to reduce energy usage in their home, the top five methods indicated included: switching to LED lightbulbs (87% of respondents), turning down the thermostat by a few degrees (83%), washing clothes in cold water and ensuring a full load (74%), and replacing old appliances with energy-efficient ones (67%). Also, 53% indicated they hang clothes outside or on an indoor drying rack.
Survey respondents indicated they would like to learn more about options to save on their home electric bills, including easy tips, energy rebates or funding available, installing solar panels, what peak demand is and why it matters, information about heat pumps, and other options.
Further updates will be shared with the public in the coming weeks and posted online at penticton.ca/power.