Save Energy, Save Money

As our community grows, and demand for electricity climbs, we are committed to staying one step ahead to ensure our electrical services remain dependable for all 20,000 customers.

TELUS Pilot Project

Coming soon! The City has partnered with TELUS on an upcoming pilot project designed to address peak electricity usage throughout our community. Penticton residents will be invited to sign up for the program, offering the technology and tools to help reduce energy consumption and costs by up to 15 per cent. Stay tuned for further details and registration information coming in late October. If you'd like to be contacted once it's available, fill out this form.

How to Save Money

You have the power to save on your residential bills. Here are a few tips:
- Hang clothes outside or on an indoor drying rack.
- Unplug devices at night, including kitchen appliances, video games and other electronics.
- Adjust the thermostat by one degree or install a programmable thermostat.
- Wash clothes in cold water and with full loads.
- Run the dishwasher when it’s full and use the air-drying setting (skip the heated drying).
- Replace lightbulbs with LEDs.
- Ensure doors and windows are sealed to prevent drafts.
- Reduce your water tank temperature.
- Upgrade old appliances with energy-efficient ones.
- Use smart plugs to cut the electrical supply to items that are on standby.
Image
Home appliances that use the most energy
- Air conditioning & heating
- Water heater
- Refrigerator
- Lighting
- Washer and dryer
- Electric oven
- Dishwasher
- TV & cable box
Appliances the use most energy on standby mode or powered off, although still plugged in:
- TV
- Printer
- Central heating furnace
- Microwave
- Computer
TIPS! What can you do?
- Unplug devices when not in use
- Install an energy-efficient thermostat
- Turn down your thermostat by 1-3 degrees
- Use smart plugs to cut the electrical supply to items that are on standby
Image
Did you know that your computer, printer or video game console may be drawing power, and costing money, even when it's not in use?
So, what do you do to prevent that vampire device from continuing to pull energy? Here are some tips:
- Unplug devices, including kitchen appliances or printers, when not in use.
- Install a smart thermostat, so you can control your home heating or air conditioning digitally.
- Turn down your thermostat by 1-3 degrees.
- Try a smart plug, which turns off the power to devices at night.
Image
How does your house compare when it comes to its energy efficiency? Now you can find out in less than five minutes by filling out a simple online form. You'll receive a free custom report about the energy efficiency of your home – plus some suggested opportunities to increase your energy rating.
Here are 4 easy steps to get started.
1. Enter your house address at rdos.properate.io and answer a few quick questions. You’ll receive a custom property report of your home based upon BC Assessment data. This process takes less than five minutes and is completely free.
2. The report will provide suggestions of potential upgrades with estimated costs that can improve the property’s rating, such as installing new windows, heat pumps or improving insulation, with results dependent on a home's age, materials and location. It will also provide a list of available rebates and government incentives.
3. Find your home on a map of the region (see below on this page or visit the RDOS properate map page). See how other homes in your neighbourhood and greater community compare.

How Much Do You Pay?

Electrical Survey Results

The 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. The purpose of the 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.

Here are a few key points from the results. Read the news release here.
- 93.3 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the reliability of their electrical services.
- 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.
Download the electrical questionnaire findings report

About Penticton's Electrical Utility

Penticton's Electric Utility is owned and operated by the City of Penticton, providing electrical service to the community's 20,000+ residential, commercial and industrial customers. The Utility is also responsible for managing electrical infrastructure, which includes the following.
- 4 substations
- 4,040 power poles
- 199 km of underground cables
- 3,561 street lights
- 40 signalled intersections
Power is purchased from FortisBC at a wholesale rate and resold to utility customers at a retail rate. Revenue generated from electrical sales is used to cover the costs associated with running the utility and provides an annual dividend to the City, which is used to fund general capital projects.
The revenue generated from electrical sales is used to cover the costs associated with running the utility and also provides an annual dividend to the City, which is used to fund general capital projects.

Home Energy Loans Available

How would you like to make your home more energy-efficient and save money on your electricity bills? The City's Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) offers loans to eligible homeowners who are interested in conducting energy-efficient upgrades to their home. Find out more!

Latest Updates

- Oct. 3, 2024: City shines a light on electrical services and ways to save on energy bills
- Sept. 11, 2024: City seeks feedback on residential electrical services
- Aug. 7, 2024: Help revamp City’s Home Energy Loan Program, attend webinar
Related Webpages

Popular Links

Alerts