Gas & Hydro Options in Vancouver
Vancouver homeowners receive electricity and natural gas from separate provincial utilities, with limited retail competition.
⚡ Electricity (Hydro) in Vancouver
Who provides electricity?
Electricity is supplied by BC Hydro.
Provincial Crown corporation
Sole residential electricity provider
Rates regulated by the BC Utilities Commission
There is no competition for electricity supply.
How electricity billing works
Typical charges include:
Basic charge
Energy usage (per kWh)
BC Hydro uses a two-tier pricing system.
Step 1: Lower rate for baseline electricity use
Step 2: Higher rate once threshold exceeded
Best for encouraging energy conservation.
Homeowner Options for Hydro
Available options include:
Equal Payment Plan
Online energy monitoring
Optional renewable energy programs
Energy Efficiency Programs
BC Hydro provides rebates for:
Heat pumps
Insulation
Energy-efficient appliances
EV chargers
🔥 Natural Gas in Vancouver
Who delivers natural gas?
Natural gas is delivered by FortisBC.
Maintains pipelines
Handles delivery and billing
Regulated by BC Utilities Commission
Delivery provider cannot be changed.
Gas pricing options
Unlike some provinces, most homeowners remain on FortisBC supply pricing.
Option A — Variable Rate (default)
Adjusted regularly based on market prices
No contract required
Option B — Equal Payment Plan
Budget-style billing for stable monthly payments.
Independent gas marketers are uncommon in BC residential markets.
Typical natural gas bill components
Bills include:
Basic charge
Gas commodity cost
Delivery charges
Carbon tax
GST
What Happens When You Buy and Move Into a Home
Typical setup:
Open BC Hydro account.
Open FortisBC gas account.
Provide possession date.
Confirm billing preferences.
Utilities normally transfer smoothly without service interruption.
Relocation Info
Below are links to important information that every homebuyer will find useful when relocating to Vacnouver.