FEI-FEVI 2010 EEC Report filed March 31, 2011 - FortisBC

FORTISBC ENERGY INC. AND FORTISBC ENERGY (VANCOUVER ISLAND) INC.
2010 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
Since the re-launch of the program in 2007, and until the increased EEC funding was approved
in April 2009, limited resources were devoted to the QDP and essentially no incentive program
offers for the FEVI market area were provided. There are currently only about 75 qualified
dealers registered in the FEVI area out of a total market of approximately 350 gas contractors
located in the FEVI service area. The marketplace has changed significantly since the QDP was
first launched. Since the QDP was focused on FEVI, customers were looking primarily for a gas
contractor (typically with a B-ticket) to convert them to natural gas and service their natural gas
products. Today’s energy consumer is looking for a wide range of services that include reliable
information sources and manufacturers, installers, and service contractors that will provide
energy efficiency recommendations for their entire house. The large number of gas contractors
located in the Lower Mainland, the Interior, and on Vancouver Island represent an excellent
opportunity for the Companies to promote a “whole-house” energy concept to customers. A
whole-house system approach considers the interaction between the building site, regional
climate, energy consumption habits, appliance efficiency, building envelope, and other elements
or components in the home.
B-ticket gas contractors are one of the largest industry groups that influence end use customers.
Domestic/commercial BCSA licensed B-ticket gasfitters install, test, maintain, and repair
propane and/or natural gas lines, appliances, equipment, and accessories in residential and
commercial premises up to 750,000 BTU. Industrial A-ticket gasfitters perform the same tasks
as B-ticket gasfitters, plus an unlimited BTU range in industrial settings. They may work in new
construction, or install systems in existing buildings that are being upgraded. C-ticket fitters are
limited to residential gas appliance servicing only.
The Companies’ overall objective for this market sector is to expand and rebrand the existing
FEVI Qualified Dealer program (B-ticket contractors) in breadth and scope, and to open the new
contractor program to include the Lower Mainland and the Interior.
While the Companies are starting with contractors as a first step in the Efficiency Partners
initiative, the Efficiency Partners program will also eventually include efficiency service groups
that have been previously excluded from the QDP. The Efficiency Partners program should be
structured to be able to eventually include the following efficiency partners over time:
• Appliance installation contractor (A and B ticket);
• Gas appliance service groups (C ticket);
• Manufacturers and distributors;
• Big box retailers;
• Residential and commercial energy auditors;
• Weatherization services (draft proofers);
• Support groups (i.e. regulators and colleges); and
• Associations.
SECTION 11: ENABLING ACTIVITIES Page 228