FortisBC Contractor newsletter Spring 2011 Issue 2

Contractor Newsletter
A common name.
A shared vision.
As of March 1, 2011, Terasen Gas and FortisBC
now operate under one name, FortisBC. Last
year, Canadian-owned Fortis Inc., Terasen
Gas’ parent company, announced a combined
leadership structure for its B.C. operations.
This includes the Terasen group of companies
and FortisBC Inc., an electric utility serving more
than 100,000 customers in the interior of B.C.
What does this mean for you?
Spring 2011
Issue 2
Although our name has changed, our focus
on providing customers with affordable and
reliable energy solutions remains. We’ll continue
to be customer-focused and build on our
core businesses. This includes offering a fullspectrum
of energy products and services, such
as natural gas, electricity in the interior of B.C.,
piped propane, and alternative energy solutions
such as biogas, geoexchange, district energy
systems and natural gas for fleet vehicles. A special number
Five-hundred and sixty-nine is a special number to
Homeglow Heat Products’ Bill Labron. Since the year
2000, Bill Labron has converted that many residential
oil space heating systems in the greater Victoria area to
natural gas. “This is my proud contribution to helping
clean the air in B.C.,” beams Labron.
FortisBC’s Switch ‘n’ Shrink oil or propane to gas
conversion program is one of the tools he uses to help
sustain his conversion business. Labron, a veteran
of the existing Qualified Dealer Program, has taken
advantage of its various benefits over the years. Would
he recommend others participate in the new contractor
program? “Well, I’ve certainly made good use of the
program,” he quipped. Visit fortisbc.com for details on
the Switch ’n’ Shrink program.

Boiler program
drives sales
After helping more than 25 customers through
the application process for the Efficient Boiler
Program (EBP), Allied Plumbing’s Conner O’Leary
has become quite the expert at understanding its
guidelines and incentive options. More importantly,
he’s learned how to optimize the payback for
his customers.
“After working with the folks at Terasen [now
FortisBC] we’ve become pretty good at designing
solutions for our customers that make a highefficiency
boiler the obvious choice over midefficiency.
In fact, most customers wanting boilers
choose high-efficiency models solely because of the
incentives,” he added.
Since 2005, FortisBC has processed 190 EBP
applications and paid out $2.3 million in incentives.
In addition to the incentive dollars, participants
also experience ongoing savings on their utility
bills and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, an
important benefit for those with a climate action
reduction mandate.
Boilers big and small
Are you working with a commercial customer or
builder/developer who could benefit? Generous
rebates are available in both new construction
and retrofit applications for commercial
boilers. To learn more visit fortisbc.com,
or email commercialrebates@fortisbc.com
On the homefront
Residential programs extended
Two popular incentives for residential customers,
the Efficient Residential Storage Tank Water Heater
Program and the EnerChoice Fireplace Program, have
been extended to the end of 2011. For program details
visit fortisbc.com/offers
Furnaces love the attention
Successful is an understatement when it comes to
measuring the impact of our TLC furnace maintenance
program. During its run, you inspected and serviced
nearly 16,000 of them.
With the aim to have every furnace in B.C. working as
efficiently as it can, we’re bringing back TLC this Spring.
Watch for program details coming in May.
The program will provide you with an opportunity to
talk to your customers about more efficient home and
water heating options, like the Efficient Water Heater
Program. We encourage our customers to replace their
natural gas water heater every 10 years, before it starts
to leak. That ounce of prevention could put an extra $50
in both your customer’s pocket and yours.
Industry news
and events
TECA $200 training subsidy
LiveSmartBC, along with FortisBC and BC Hydro
PowerSmart are offering a $200* subsidy for
new participants in the Quality First Forced
Air Guidelines, Hydronics Design and Ventilation
courses. Visit teca.ca or email training@teca.ca for
more details.
*Restrictions apply.

Fuel for thought
Although natural gas is abundant in B.C., the use
of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) is not. But in Europe,
Asia, and South America it’s a different story.
More than 11 million NGVs are currently in use
worldwide, and the number is expected to grow to
65 million by 2020.
As a cleaner burning, low-carbon fuel, natural gas
has many economical and environmental benefits
for fleet operators. As well as providing fuel cost
savings over diesel and gasoline, NGVs produce
approximately 20 to 30 per cent fewer GHG
Contractor Program
registration package
coming soon
If you are a BC Safety Authority registered gas
contractor watch for a package in the mail with details
on how you can join the new FortisBC Contractor
Program. We’re offering this program to support the
contractor community and better serve the customers
we share.
emissions than diesel (depending on the engine
technology). And it’s a proven transportation
fuel in jurisdictions with strict climate change
regulations such as California, where 95 per cent
of Los Angeles transit buses are NGVs.
FortisBC is supporting growth of the NGV market
in B.C., with a focus on fuelling large return-tobase
fleets like waste haulers and buses. Waste
Management has just taken possession of 20 NGV
waste haulers at their Coquitlam terminal, with
refuelling infrastructure provided by FortisBC.
Industrial news
To fi nd out more
about natural gas
vehicles, visit
fortisbc.com/ngv
We have developed an Energy Audit Funding
Program for our industrial customers. The site
visits completed to date have revealed multiple
opportunities for improvements including
insulation, boiler efficiency and heat recovery.

Message
from Gina
As you’ve read here, all
natural gas contractors
registered with the BC
Safety Authority will be
receiving packages in the
mail with information on
how to register for our
Contractor Program.
Soon after, I’m planning
a province-wide
registration drive which will give you an opportunity
to ask questions about the benefits of the program,
and give me the opportunity to meet you, our greatest
ally in helping get the word out to our mutual
customers about energy efficiency and conservation.
I’m looking forward to meeting you — and if you have
any questions in the meantime, please email me at
contractorprogram@fortisbc.com
FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Energy (Vancouver Island) Inc. do business as FortisBC.
The companies are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Fortis Inc. FortisBC uses the FortisBC
name and logo under license from Fortis Inc.
Contractor Newsletter 02/11 11-020
Gina Lego,
Contractor Program Manager
Send us your
story ideas
Have a story idea about how you’ve helped a
customer convert to natural gas or upgrade their
older inefficient appliances? Or have you provided
a solution that saved a commercial customer or
builder money through one of our programs? If
so, we want to hear from you. Your story could be
featured in an upcoming issue.
Contact us
Email: contractorprogram@fortisbc.com
Phone: toll free 1-866-884-8833
• Saving energy tips and information
fortisbc.com/savingenergy
• Visit our rebate offers page at fortisbc.com/offers
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