We’re excited to announce that a new case study – “Expanding Access to Energy Efficiency Upgrades” – is now available for download. The case study examines the improvement of an existing low-income energy efficiency program to address the growing energy poverty issue in New Brunswick, Canada.

In September 2022, the Government of New Brunswick provided NB Power with an additional $50 million to enhance the existing low-income program to help the provincial utility to assist substantially more consumers in improving their homes’ energy efficiency. The program enhancements included:

• Increasing the income threshold to include moderate-income homeowners
• Decreasing reliance on electric baseboard and oil heating with the addition of heat pumps
• Enlisting a network of heat pump contractors
• Keeping the home energy evaluation to ensure the proper upgrades were being completed
• Simplifying the program offering

On September 28, 2022, the program updates were ready, and NB Power launched the Enhanced Energy Savings Program for low- and moderate-income homeowners. The comprehensive energy efficiency program aimed to provide relief from high energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes year-round.

Currently, approximately 6,890 homes have either completed or are in progress with their energy efficiency upgrades through the Enhanced Energy Savings Program. The success of the program’s first year has also prompted continued support from the province with a further $30 million in 2023/24 and $50 million in 2024/25 with a focus on eliminating wait lists for the popular program.

With the addition of the new case study, there are now over 40 success stories available in our archive from a wide range of electricity providers across the United States and Canada, including Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Ameren Illinois, Cobb EMC, London Hydro, AEP Ohio, ComEd and Consumers Energy.