BC Hydro is now accepting applications from residential customers for its COVID-19 relief fund.
Eligible customers can receive a one-time credit of three times their average monthly bill amount.
To be eligible, they must be a residential account holder, have had their account since March 31, and either they or their partner or spouse must have lost employment or income due to COVID-19, because of a job lay-off, being quarantined or sick with COVID-19, taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, providing care for their children due to school and daycare closures or is unable to earn self-employment income.
In addition, they have to be eligible for either Employment Insurance, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or B.C.'s Emergency Response Benefit for Workers and provide proof of their application or approval.
Small businesses that have had to close as a result of COVID-19 can apply starting next week to have their electricity charges waived for up to three months. Customers have until June 30, 2020 to submit their application.
Since March 12, BC Hydro has also received a daily average of 100 COVID-19 related applications for its Customer Crisis Fund - nearly six times higher its typical daily average.
The Customer Crisis Fund has been available to customers since May 2018 and offers grants up to $600 for customers facing temporary financial hardship and possible disconnection of their BC Hydro service due to job loss, illness or loss of a family member.
For customers that do not meet the eligibility requirements for the the COVID-19 Relief Fund or the Customer Crisis Fund, BC Hydro offers payment deferrals and payment plans through its COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program. Customers can call BC Hydro's customer team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) to discuss their options.
To apply for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, customers can visit bchydro.com/covid19relief.
