The Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) has been extended for another two years, giving Penticton homeowners additional time to apply for funding to make their homes more energy-efficient. Council approved the extension at their meeting on Dec. 20, 2022.
“The City’s HELP program provides funding so residents can make upgrades to their homes that reduce their energy use and help save money on their utility bills,” says Penticton Sustainability Supervisor David Kassian. “However, many homeowners aren’t aware of this program and this extension will give us time to conduct a review to identify where improvements can be made.”
HELP has been offered to residential electrical customers within the City of Penticton since 2013.
Examples of improvements include air sealing, exterior wall insulation, basement insulation, purchasing a new hot water tank or heat pump, or adding new doors and windows.
To qualify, you must be a Penticton Electric Utility customer, meet City of Penticton credit approval, and own the home being upgraded. The maximum loan amount is $10,000, to be repaid over 10 years on your monthly utility bill.
Based on statistics since the program started, the average loan is $7,698 and has resulted in a combined energy savings of 108,280kwh. This reduction is equal to the energy consumption of nearly 10 homes on an annual basis.
As part of the Community Climate Action Plan, the City has set a greenhouse gas reduction target of 40 per cent from 2007 levels by 2030. In order to achieve this target, it will require a significant number of existing local homes to conduct energy efficiency and electrification retrofits.
“The City of Penticton adopted ambitious climate action targets and we are committed to innovative ways to reduce greenhouses gas emissions throughout our community,” says Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “Through the HELP program, we are able to assist homeowners to reduce their energy consumption and at the same time work together toward our climate goals.”
For more details about the HELP program, visit penticton.ca/help.