B.C.'s Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix and BC Hydro are backing a project to help homeowners reduce their energy usage by installing newly developed "smart panels" on electrical breaker boxes.
The Burnaby-based company Evectrix developed the first-in-Canada technology, which was debuted to the minister and media in Vancouver on Thursday, June 19.
The province and BC Hydro provided grant money for the project.
"We're proud to support made-in-B.C. solutions that reduce emissions, strengthen our grid and lower energy costs for residents," Dix said.
These panels manage electrical loads and integrate with smart thermostats to reduce energy usage. This can eliminate the need to upgrade from 200-amp to 400-amp service in buildings with up to six units.
This removes one step for densifying lots from single-family homes to multi-plexes — something the provincial government has already encouraged through legislation to simplify zoning changes and requirements for municipalities to clear development hurdles.
The smart panel pilot project is the first in Canada to demonstrate the electrification of a new multi-unit building without significantly upgrading electrical service.
The City of Vancouver gave special permission for this unit to be installed, but changes would need to be made to the Canadian Electrical Code for Evectrix smart-panels to be used more broadly.
BC Hydro is currently undertaking two calls for power to add 10,000 gigawatt-hours to the grid, and has simultaneously put out a request for energy-efficiency proposals to save an additional 2,000 gigawatt-hours
