Save Energy, Save Money

Exclusive Offer for Penticton Residents

• Background & City Reports

  As global demand for electricity continues to climb, the City of Penticton – which operates its own electric utility – is taking proactive measures to ensure its services remain sustainable and cost-effective. This means taking steps to reduce peak demand.

  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. 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. Read the news release here for more findings.

  City Reports

  Sept. 24, 2024 - Demand-Side Management Pilot

  Feb. 6, 2024 - Electric Utility Overview 

   

• Privacy & Collection Policy

  The City of Penticton respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.  Your personal information will be collected in accordance with Section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of the Demand Side Management (DSM) pilot program and will only be used for this purpose.  The electrical usage information that TELUS SmartEnergy collects from DSM pilot program participants will be de-identified. This data will provide the City with electrical usage information of the city and will show if electric consumption has been reduced during peak times. If you have questions about the collection, access, use or disclosure of your personal information, please contact the Corporate Officer at foi@penticton.ca or 250-490-2400.

Have Questions about the TELUS Opportunity? See this FAQ

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• Do I have to sign up for 24 months?

  No, the City of Penticton is covering the subscription cost for Penticton residents for 12 months and you can cancel anytime. You do NOT have to sign up for 24 months if you enter the promo code for Penticton residents. After 12 months, your subscription will auto-renew at regular price (currently $12/mo.), so remember to cancel before month 13 if you don’t want to continue. Be sure to enter the promo code during checkout on this final screen before paying. 

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• Where do I find the promo code?

  If you are a Penticton resident, log on to www.telus.com/penticton. The promo code will be stated on this landing page, which will only be available to those living in Penticton. 

• What if I live in Penticton but I don’t see this landing page for residents?

  If you have a Penticton postal address but can’t view this specialty page on the TELUS website, please email us at communications@penticton.ca. 

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• Do I need to be a TELUS customer to sign up for this deal?

  No, you do not. If you aren’t a TELUS customer, you will simply be asked to create a digital account to sign up for the subscription. 

• What happens if I don’t want to renew my subscription after the free 12 months?

  After 12 months, your subscription will auto-renew, so remember to cancel before month 13 if you don’t want to continue. If you cancel, you can keep your devices (smart thermostat      and smart plugs) at no additional cost, penalty-free. This is exclusive to Penticton residents who are signed up on this program. 

• Where and how do I sign up?

  You can sign up online at telus.com/penticton or visit a local TELUS shop. Be sure to add the promo code to your cart before you pay to receive the subscription at no cost.

• Help! How do I install my new thermostat?

  If you would prefer a professional installation of your home thermostat, you can book a professional installation through TELUS. Once registered, there will be an option in your MyTELUS account to get a professional install. Once you click on "book professional installation," you will be asked which devices you want installed and which date they want them installed. Then they will check out and pay $175+ tax using their credit card. The professional install includes install, clean-up, support setting up the app and brief instruction on how to get the most out of SmartEnergy. 

  For more questions involving the technology, see the Frequently Asked Questions on the Telus Penticton homepage. 

• Which smart devices are compatible with TELUS SmartEnergy and the SmartHome+ app?

  This list of compatible devices is continually updated with the specific models that work with TELUS SmartEnergy and the SmartHome+ app.

  They currently have a range of smart thermostats and smart plugs.

  Don’t see your device? Check back regularly as they add more devices to this list on an ongoing basis.

  For more questions involving the technology, see the Frequently Asked Questions on the Telus Penticton homepage. 

• What is peak demand and how does it influence my bill?

  Peak demand is a term to describe the period of time when demand for energy is at its highest. In Penticton, this is typically the after school/work rush, between 3:30-7:30 p.m.

  In summer, we all do our part to conserve water by turning on the sprinklers at night. This ensures there’s enough water to meet our daily needs. The same concept can also be used for electricity. Peak demand for electricity is when we return home and turn on the heat or air conditioning and other large appliances. This is especially high on extremely cold or hot days. 

  As we head toward winter, electricity usage in Penticton reaches its highest peaks of the year. 

  Why should I care? 

  Peak demand influences how much we pay as a city for electricity. If the peak demand goes up, so do costs. It means more infrastructure is needed to cope with those few times a year when everyone uses more electricity.

  Here in Penticton, the Electric Utility pays for electricity year-round from FortisBC based on this peak number.

  By taking some simple steps, it can help ensure peak demand doesn’t climb further – saving everyone money. Watch this video for more tips. 
   

• Why is Penticton offering this program in partnership with TELUS?

  The City of Penticton is in a unique position in that it owns and operates its own electric utility, providing electrical services to 21,000+ customers. 

  As global demand for electricity continues to climb, the City is taking proactive measures to ensure its services remain sustainable and cost-effective. This means taking steps to educate our electrical customers about ways to conserve energy at home, what peak demand means (and why it matters), and how to save on your electricity bills. 

  This partnership with TELUS will provide you with the technology, devices and information you need to improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower your power bills. 

  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. 

  By taking these steps to educate residents, the goal is to maintain or lower our peak electrical demand, which will keep overall costs down for everyone. 

Learn about Power in Penticton

Save Energy, Save Money

• Tips to Save on Your Residential Electricity Bill

  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.
     

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• Did You Know? These Household Appliances Use the Most Energy

  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

   

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• Did You Know? These Appliances Use Energy While on Standby or Turned Off

  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.

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• Test Your Home's Efficiency

  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?

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Electrical Survey Results

• What We Learned

  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

• How We Operate

  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.

• This is Us

  When you turn on the lights, or plug in your electrical devices at night, do you ever question what life would be like without power? Here's the team that work behind the scenes to keep your services running, even if it means battling stormy weather in the wee hours to repair damaged or fallen powerlines. 

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Home Energy Loans Available

Latest Updates

• Recent City Announcements & Related Webpages

  • Dec. 10, 2024: City of Penticton partners with TELUS SmartEnergy, helping residents save on home electricity bills
  • Oct. 16, 2024: Learn about power and peak demand in Penticton
  • 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

  • Electrical Services 
  • EV Ready Homes 
  • Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
  • Community Sustainability 

   

Have Questions?

• Contact Us

  Electrical service inquiries: Contact the Electric Utility at 250-490-2535 or electric.utility@penticton.ca

  Billing Inquiries: 250-490-2489 or utilities@penticton.ca

  Report an Outage
  During business hours (Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.): 250-490-2539 or electric.utility@penticton.ca
  After hours: 250-490-2324