Partners in Indigenous Energy Efficiency & Resilience (PIEER)

The Partners in Indigenous Energy Efficiency & Resilience (PIEER) program offers support to Indigenous governing bodies (IGBs) that are coordinating home energy upgrades in multiple homes for their community members. The program includes incentive funding for a comprehensive suite of energy efficiency retrofit measures as well as funding for enabling measures to increase the value and reach of the incentive funding. PIEER’s funding offers include:

• Energy Assessment Funding* - Energy assessments or building condition assessments with a climate and energy efficiency component.
• Energy Efficiency Retrofit Incentives* - Incentives for a range of energy efficiency retrofits/upgrades to existing homes.
• Heating System Maintenance Rebates – Rebates for maintenance and servicing of space and water heating equipment, or for purchase of filters for heat pumps and furnaces.

• Basic Energy Saving Measures - Free energy-saving products, salary funding and training to support product installation.  

  * Plus: Additional funding is available for these offers to support project management capacity for IGB internal or consultant resources.

PIEER includes additional supports for participating IGBs: 

• Dedicated Energy Coaches to answer questions about the program and support participants and their contractors with project planning and applications.
• Up-front funding is available for eligible projects through three of PIEER’s offers (energy assessment funding, energy efficiency retrofit incentives, basic energy saving measures).
• A new on-line program portal for a smoother application process.

Program Terms and Conditions, Section 8.c.:

Incentives cannot be combined with other energy efficiency incentive funding received from CleanBC, BC Hydro, or FortisBC programs or the Natural Resources Canada Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program for the same Premises (collectively, “Duplicate Incentives”). In the event that the Administrators determine that the Participant has received any Duplicate Incentives, the Participant agrees to return the Incentive received for this Program to the Administrators in the form and method indicated by the Administrators. The Participant will remain liable to the Administrators for all Program Incentive amounts until such funds are returned to the Administrators. In addition, in the event that the Administrators determine that the Participant has received Duplicate Incentives, the Participant may be excluded from participating in any current or future rebate and incentive programs funded by any of the Administrators. 

EERI offer: All upgrades must be installed by a licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid B.C. business license for the trade applicable to the upgrade being installed (e.g., heat pumps must be installed by a licensed heating and cooling contractor). Self-installations are not eligible. It is recommended to have the heat pump installation completed by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member.

Energy Assessment Funding: A pre-upgrade EnerGuide home evaluation that adheres to the specific standards set by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and must be performed by a registered energy advisor. 

Energy Assessment Funding – Participating IGBs can receive funding of up to $500 per home for energy assessments or building condition assessments with an energy efficiency and climate component, plus project management funding (additional 10% of the project’s energy assessment funding scope) to support additional staff or hire external consultants.  

Energy Efficiency Retrofit Incentives – Participating IGBs can get financial incentives for a range of energy efficiency upgrades for existing homes, along with project management funding that can be used to hire additional staff or external consultants.  

Heating System Maintenance Rebates - Annual funding up to $200 per heating system, per home to help maintain space and water heating equipment and controls, or to purchase filters for heat pumps and furnaces.  

Basic Energy Saving Measures - Indigenous governing bodies can access free energy-saving products along with salary funding and training to undertake basic energy- efficiency upgrades in community homes.

Regarding timeframe for funding decision, Program Terms and Conditions, Section 10 states:a. Offers with a Pre-Payment and Post-Implementation Payment: This refers to the Participant receiving a portion of the Incentive payment upfront upon review and approval of a confirmed Application for a defined Project scope. Review and verification of Applications and processing Incentive pre-payment may take up to thirty (30) days from the date that all required Application documents are received. After completion of the Project, the balance of the Incentive payment will be issued upon receipt, verification and approval of final supporting documentation. The balance of the Incentive payment may take up to ninety (90) days from the date that all required forms and documentation are received and verified.

b. Offers with only Post-Implementation Payments: This refers to a single payment being issued upon receipt, review and approval of an Application and required supporting documentation upon completion of the Project scope. The payment will be issued within ninety (90) days of receiving and verifying all required forms and documentation related to the Project.

To connect with an energy coach visit BCHydro.com/requestcoach.