Photo: File photo

UPDATE: 2:25 p.m.

The BC Utilities Commission has approved both FortisBC's and BC Hydro's applications on an interim basis, to provide relief for customers struggling to make ends meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The approval creates a grant program and additional bill credits for qualifying residential BC Hydro customers, while qualifying residential FortisBC customers can defer their electricity, gas and propane payments for three months.

While the changes means FortisBC residential customers will still have to pay the three month balance off over the next year, interest free, the utility said they will review the program in July, with the possibility of crediting customers' accounts, or forgiving payments entirely, on a case-by-case basis. 

Small commercial customers who've been forced to close can apply for three months of bill credits to offset charges to their account while they’ve been closed, while businesses who remain open can defer their payments. 

Customers can apply at any time, and Fortis said it may consider extending the relief period come July. 

BC Hydro serves most of the province, while Fortis provides power to much of B.C.'s Southern Interior, including Kelowna. 

ORIGINAL: 12:20 p.m.

Kelowna residents whose income has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to defer their power and gas bill payments, but it doesn't look like they'll be getting their bills credited right away like much of the rest of the province.

FortisBC's applied to the BC Utilities Commission Friday to offer its customers bill payment deferrals for three months, starting April, 1 to residential and small commercial customers who've been “directly impacted financially” by the pandemic.

Customers who are approved to have their bills deferred will not be charged any fees or interest, and the balance will be added to the customers' next year of payments, beginning July 1.

FortisBC provides power to a large chunk of B.C.'s Southern Interior, which includes Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos, Grand Forks, Castlegar and Creston.

The move comes after BC Hydro, which provides power to the rest of the province, announced their own relief measures, which includes a three-month bill credit for approved residential customers. BC Hydro said this works out to a $477 credit for the average customer. 

Fortis applied to offer bill credits for three months of bills for small commercial customers, but it did not apply to be able to credit residential customers' accounts.

“FortisBC will review (commercial) customer consumption at the end of the three month period to confirm that there was no or only very limited consumption during this time,” the utility said in its application to the BCUC. “As a result, on an individual customer basis, the total amounts being credited should be minimal.”

FortisBC communications advisor Nicole Brown said the utility may offer additional supports to customers on a case-by-case basis come July.

“Over the deferment period, we’ll be closely monitoring the program and the impacts to our customers,” Brown said. “ As that period draws to a close, we’ll extend additional support to customers who may need more assistance with their repayment such as extending interest-free payment arrangements, providing bill credits or even payment forgiveness.”

The BCUC has yet to approve Fortis' application.

In its application, Fortis said they've already stopped charging its customers late payment fees and they won't be disconnecting service unless it's related to a safety issue.