Energy

Premier Greg Selinger announces the beginning of the new energy-efficiency Pay-as-You-Save (PAYS) financing plan that will make life more affordable for Manitoba families. Left to right: James Allum, MLA for Fort Garry – Riverview, Scott Thomson, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro, Dave Chomiak, Minister of Innovation, Energy and Mines, Premier Greg Selinger, Rob Altemeyer, MLA for Wolseley

November 5, 2012

NEW ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PLAN MAKES LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MANITOBA FAMILIES: SELINGER

Manitoba Hydro’s new Power Smart Pay-as-You-Save (PAYS) financing program is now available to help consumers reduce energy consumption and cover upfront costs when they make energy-saving home improvements, Premier Greg Selinger and Manitoba Hydro CEO Scott Thomson announced today.
“Manitoba Hydro’s new Pay-as-You-Save program is the first of its kind in Canada.  With huge upfront costs gone, more families will be able to make smart, energy-efficiency improvements to their homes and save money each month,” said Selinger.  “Together, we’re putting efficiency upgrades to heating, insulation and home water heating within the reach of more families.”
In June of this year, Manitoba enacted the Energy Savings Act to encourage energy and water efficiency upgrades of existing homes and buildings.  In response, Manitoba Hydro launched Pay‑as‑You-Save financing.
Under this new program, Manitoba Hydro will finance the upfront capital cost of approved cost‑effective energy- and water-efficiency improvements to a consumer’s home.  Manitoba Hydro will recover the costs as customers pay back the financing with the savings on their bill.  The interest rate would be fixed at 3.9 per cent for the first five years.  The new program initially focuses on single‑family housing, but will be expanded to cover multi-unit residential, commercial and institutional buildings.
Energy-saving measures that can be financed under the program include high-efficiency gas furnaces, geothermal systems, insulation, drain-water heat recovery systems and water-saving toilets.
“Not only will this program save Manitoban families money, but it will have a significant impact on reducing our province’s energy consumption,” said Selinger.  “This is the kind of innovative thinking that grows from collaborations between government and industry partners.”

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Premier Greg Selinger Announces New Financing Program That Will Help Families Save on Utility Bills and Improve Home Energy Efficiency

 

May 8, 2012

NEW FINANCING PROGRAM WILL HELP FAMILIES SAVE ON UTILITY BILLS, IMPROVE HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY

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Manitobans will also Enjoy the Lowest Combined Rate for Electricity, Heating, Auto Insurance in Canada, Guaranteed: Premier

Manitoba Hydro will cover the upfront cost of home improvements that reduce energy consumption through a new financing program, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“More efficient homes and buildings make life more affordable for Manitoba families,” said Selinger.  “Reducing our energy use also protects all Manitobans against future energy price increases while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.”
Under the new program, expected to be in place by fall 2012, Manitoba Hydro will finance the upfront capital costs of energy and water retrofits, and will recover the costs through a monthly charge on the customer’s utility bill.  Projects will be eligible when the improvement results in utility cost savings projected to be greater than the monthly repayment charges amortized over the lifespan of the improvement.  The program will be more effective in older and less energy-efficient homes, where measures like insulation, high-efficiency furnaces or low-flush toilets have cost-effective paybacks.
The program will be complementary to Manitoba Hydro’s existing Power Smart Residential Loan Program and will build on the success of existing Power Smart programming, which already saves Manitobans over $36 million every year on their utility bills, said Selinger.  The new, on-meter program will act as a top‑up for customers.  It will allow financial flexibility, enabling them to put more cost-effective measures on the meter and use the loan for other projects, the premier added.
The premier also announced the province will follow through on a commitment to guarantee Manitobans pay the lowest combined electricity, home heating and auto insurance bills in the country.
The plan would require the province to table a utility rate bundle comparison report by the end of September 2012.  The contents of the report, including utility cost comparison data, would be prepared by Deloitte, the independent accounting firm selected in March following an open tender process.  The accounting firm would be responsible for identifying the average Manitoba consumption of electricity, natural gas for home heating and auto insurance, and comparing the cost of the same utility bundle in other provinces.
“This is the next step in following through on our commitment to keep Manitoba one of the most affordable places to live, work and raise a family,” said Selinger.  “We know affordability is an advantage Manitoba families value.”

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