The Social Housing Energy Savings Program (SHESP) provides funding to help social housing providers identify and implement energy efficiency upgrades. It is a joint program supported by the Province of B.C. through CleanBC and BC Hydro. SHESP includes support for:
- Opportunity assessments
- Feasibility studies
- Equipment upgrades for energy efficiency and fuel switching
- Electrical system upgrades
Available Incentives
Funding is first come, first served and subject to available program budget and program rules.
| Incentive type | Funding available |
|---|---|
| Opportunity assessment | Up to $6,000 per site for an opportunity assessment conducted by a qualified consultant. |
| Feasibility study | Up to $40,000 per site for comprehensive evaluations of specific systems. The funding amount will be determined based on the scale and complexity of the study needed. |
| Equipment upgrade: Energy efficiency | Up to $600,000 per site for energy efficiency equipment upgrades. |
| Equipment upgrade: Fuel switching | Up to $400,000 per site for fuel switching equipment upgrades. |
| Building electrical systems upgrade | Up to $400,000 per site for electrical upgrades required for fuel switching. Upgrades must be behind-the-meter to be eligible for funding. |
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be one of the following affordable or low-cost housing providers:
- Non-profit housing society registered under the Societies Act
- Housing co-op registered under the Cooperative Association Act
- Local/Provincial government housing authority or registered charity organizations that operate social housing buildings
- Governing body of an Indigenous community, provided the housing is primarily for low-income households
- Individual tenants cannot apply to this program
- Applicant must be either:
- A customer within BC Hydro service territory or City of New Westminster
- A customer implementing a fuel switching project may be located anywhere in B.C.
- Buildings must be existing and habitable year-round
- Eligible building types include:
- Multi-unit residential buildings (e.g., high-rises, apartment buildings)
- Side-by-side stacked duplexes, row homes or townhouses with centralized heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
- Mixed use residential buildings must have at least 50% of the total floor area as residential living space
- Review the Participant Guide – Social Housing Energy Savings Program for the full program eligibility requirements
How to Apply
- Carefully review the Participant Guide – Social Housing Energy Savings Program to confirm your eligibility
- Apply on the BC Hydro Conservation and Energy Management Hub
- To begin the application process, contact one of:
- Your Key Account Manager
- Your B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association Energy Manager
- SocialHousing@BCHydro.com
Deadlines
Timelines for application review, project completion, and documentation submission are outlined in the participant guide and may vary by project type.
Other resources
- Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out the Better Buildings glossary.
Program contact information
For questions about eligibility, applications, or project support, visit BC Hydro Social Housing Offers online, or contact socialhousing@bchydro.com.