Making the Most of BC Hydro’s 30% Incentive Bonus: A Guide for Businesses and Strata Owners
Energy efficiency isn’t just about lowering utility bills — it’s about future-proofing buildings, improving reliability, and aligning with sustainability goals. To encourage this, BC Hydro has launched a 30% incentive bonus for qualifying projects. At Kato Electrical, we believe that understanding these opportunities is the first step toward maximizing value. This guide explains what the bonus covers, why timelines matter, and how professional electrical support ensures projects are completed smoothly and successfully.
Understanding the 30% Incentive Bonus
The incentive applies to projects submitted by February 12, 2026, with completion required by March 14, 2027. It’s available across several programs:
Self-Serve Incentive Projects (SIP): For larger facilities (over 500 MWh annually). Common examples include compressed air system upgrades or advanced lighting retrofits.
Business Energy-Saving Incentive (BESI): Focused on small and medium-sized businesses upgrading to efficient technologies.
Custom Incentive Projects: Rebates structured to support non-standard or more complex upgrades, ensuring innovative solutions are still eligible.
Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs): Incentives for strata corporations, property managers, or developers upgrading shared systems in condos and apartments. This structure means that whether you manage a small office or a large industrial site, there may be incentives that apply directly to your operations.
The Role of Pre-Approval
A critical step in accessing the incentive is BC Hydro’s pre-approval process. This ensures that rebate amounts are confirmed before work begins. Without it, project costs may shift, and rebate eligibility can be reduced — leading to frustration for both owners and contractors.
At Kato Electrical, we recommend starting with a clear technical assessment. By mapping out energy usage and identifying priority systems, we can help clients apply for pre-approval with accurate and reliable project details.
Where Incentives Can Deliver the Most Impact
The bonus applies across many technologies, but three areas consistently deliver strong returns:
Lighting & Lighting Controls
LED lighting paired with smart controls delivers energy savings and improves both comfort and safety for occupants.
With demand for electric vehicle charging rising in both commercial and residential spaces, incentives can offset the cost of installing chargers and upgrading supporting infrastructure.
Solar and Battery Systems
Renewable generation and storage are becoming increasingly viable, and BC Hydro incentives can help offset initial capital costs while reducing long-term grid reliance. Other upgrades, such as compressed air systems or panel distribution improvements, may also qualify depending on the facility.
How Kato Electrical Adds Value
While incentives are designed to encourage upgrades, the technical complexity of electrical systems means projects require careful planning and execution. Kato Electrical brings value through:
Comprehensive Energy Assessments – Identifying which upgrades qualify for rebates and which will deliver the strongest financial and operational benefits.
Turnkey Execution – From lighting retrofits to solar integration and EV infrastructure, our team manages installation with minimal disruption.
Experience Across Sectors – We support businesses, multi-unit residential properties, and industrial facilities throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Why Act Early
Successful energy-efficiency projects depend on thorough planning, timely approvals, and expert execution.. By beginning now, businesses and property managers can:
Secure bonus-level incentives before deadlines.
Avoid last-minute scheduling challenges that often occur as deadlines approach.
Position their facilities for long-term energy savings and sustainability compliance.
Moving Forward
The 30% incentive bonus represents an important opportunity to upgrade systems while reducing upfront costs. For organizations prepared to act, the combination of rebates and energy savings can deliver significant value. At Kato Electrical, we view these programs not just as rebates, but as tools to help businesses and communities build more efficient, resilient, and sustainable spaces.
Learn how Kato Electrical can help your building qualify for energy-saving programs and maximize rebates.
We’ll help you identify eligible projects, manage the application process, and deliver upgrades that maximize both incentives and long-term performance.