Energy poverty — a lack of affordable access to the energy services that contribute to quality of life — is a condition that occurs at the nexus of high energy costs, poor energy efficiency in homes, and lower income households. As of October 2019, there were approximately 272,200 households in British Columbia facing energy poverty.[i] In the new context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is reasonable to assume that the incidence of energy poverty — and the gravity of its effects — are being further compounded by the job losses and increased residential energy consumption associated with the pandemic.[ii] Households in British Columbia facing energy poverty are currently provided limited options for support and protection. Based on a review of ...
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