Energy is one of the most important commodities on earth. Without it, most of humankind would cease to function and life would be a little darker — pun intended. 

To keep your homes running smoothly, knowing which utility provider to trust is key. However, with the dozens of providers out there, it may be tough to discern which ones are worth your time and which ones aren’t. 

In this article, we take a look at the best providers for energy utilities in Vancouver. Plus, we give you a short list of characteristics to look for in a utility company!

How much do utilities cost in Vancouver?

Most providers for energy utilities in Vancouver offer more than just one form of energy. For instance, some providers offer both natural gas services and electricity services. 

Meanwhile, others offer heating, Internet, and water utilities. 

Below is a chart of the average monthly cost for different energy utilities in Vancouver, according to Livingcost.org. Hopefully, this gives you an idea of what you should expect when living in the city.

Note: Utility companies in Vancouver are regulated by the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC). Retailers operating without certification from the BCUC are doing so without consent and should be reported ASAP. 

The Best Energy Utility Providers in Vancouver

Now that we have a rough idea of how much utilities cost in Vancouver, let’s take a look at the best providers to get them from. 

These are the criteria we used to rank our choices on this list: 

• Must be BCUC-certified to ensure legal and high-quality services. Working with a company that’s not BCUC-certified could land you in hot water with the local government, even if it might seem cheaper.
• Offer cost-effective payment plans to accommodate varying customer budgets.
• Has a reputation for great services on crowd-sourced review platforms like Yelp, Indeed, Better Business Bureau, and TrustPilot.
• Allow clients to choose e.g., energy suppliers, payment options, etc.
• Offer clean energy supplies to meet the standards of the Vancouver Clean Energy Act.

1. BC Hydro

BC Hydro has been around since 1962 and is one of the leading providers for energy utilities in Vancouver. They are BCUC-certified and power almost 4 million residential, industrial, and commercial properties. 

Like most energy utility providers in Vancouver, BC Hydro gets its power from hydroelectric and thermal power plants. This means they are a clean source to get your electricity from, which we love. 

We also appreciate that BC Hydro does its best to keep you in the loop in terms of your bills and accounts. BC Hydro provides clients with a MyHydro account where they can track bills and payments. 

With this nifty tool, you can monitor your hourly, daily, and weekly consumption down to the very last cent. You can also compare it with your previous year’s accounts. 

This way you can better understand your energy usage and adjust your actions to get yourself better results and bills. We find it a pretty good feature in terms of customer empowerment.

Rates will vary depending on which consumer category you fall under, by the way. For normal residents, you’re charged a standard fee that lasts up to a certain threshold. 

Once that threshold is crossed, fees will rise, so it’s best to keep an eye on that.

This is BC Hydro’s way of encouraging you to minimize your consumption, supposedly. That said, we don’t think it’s the most effective strategy. 

Most people don’t know they’ve gone over the standard threshold until they see their final bill. There have even been cases where clients were disconnected without prior notice from BC Hydro. 

Thus, if you’re going for these guys as your energy utilities provider, we recommend you keep careful track of your usage and bills. They might give you some tools for managing your own consumption, but that freedom can be dangerous if you don’t keep an eye on matters.

2. FortisBC

FortisBC is one of Vancouver’s largest providers for electric and gas utilities. They power the homes, businesses, and commercial spaces of over 1.2 million British Columbians.

 Plus, they have decades-worth of industry experience under their belt. That’s part of why this company is a great choice for customers looking for an all-in-one solution for their home or business utility needs. 

They’re also a great choice for the budget-conscious, by the way. That’s since prices here are much cheaper compared to other popular utility companies in Vancouver e.g., BC Hydro. 

We also like that the billing period for electricity services at FortisBC has a 60-day cycle. So, customers have more time to adjust their budget to meet utility expenses. 

Meanwhile, their gas billing cycles have a 30-to 31-day maximum. As you might expect, rates will vary depending on your location, consumer category, and consumption. 

FortisBC provides resources for customers to learn how to read their gas and electricity meters. However, it would have been nice to see a similar application such as BC Hydro’s “MyHydro” for easier tracking. 

Regardless, FortisBC has one of the most organized services we’ve ever seen. All the information you need to make an informed decision can be found on their website. 

Not just that, but they also have multiple customer support channels to help you get the assistance you need during emergencies. They’re pretty easy to contact too, which we certainly appreciate.

3. Just Energy

Just Energy is a world-class provider of energy utilities, with headquarters in Ontario and Texas. They supply electricity and natural gas utilities to a large portion of Canada and America and also have retailers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, and Germany. 

Similar to other providers, Just Energy offers clean energy utilities to its customers. However, what sets them apart are their various billing schemes that give customers more flexibility in terms of payment. 

One thing we noticed about energy prices is that they tend to rise and fall unexpectedly over the years. Just Energy offers you a way to effectively adapt to these unexpected fluctuations by providing both fixed and variable energy plans. 

Fixed energy plans last around 24 to 36 months and are a great option for clients who want to avoid unexpected price hikes in the near future. 

Meanwhile, variable plans won’t guarantee you the same rates as fixed plans. However, should the market value of energy drop, your overall utility costs would also drop along with it. 

In other words, there’s a chance you might end up paying less but there’s also a chance that you’d be paying more. Still, having the option for this sort of thing is appreciated.

Customer support is available to residential clients from Monday to Saturday. However, for commercial clients, the cut-off is on Friday, which strikes us as a bit odd. 

This arrangement could be a massive inconvenience for clients experiencing emergencies. Many companies operate even over the weekends, after all. 

Anyway, although Just Energy offers both natural gas and electric utilities, their services are limited to natural gas in Vancouver. 

If you’re looking for a provider that can give you both commodities in one package, Just Energy is not the one for you. 

4. Clark Public Utilities

Clark Public Utilities has been around since 1932 and is one of the oldest utility providers in Vancouver. They offer both water and electric utilities to residents throughout Canada (and weirdly enough, even have building and remodeling services to boot). 

If you’re just moving into Vancouver, this company is a great option to consider. They can help you get settled into your new home using a combination of their services.

So, you won’t have to go around town looking for providers to meet your water and electric needs.

Clark Public Utilities procures their electricity using a variety of methods, including: 

• Hydropower
• Wind power
• Gas-fired generating plants
• Nuclear electricity

Similar to BC Hydro, Clark Public Utilities also have a customer portal where you can monitor your consumption, bills, and payments. 

This is great news for customers who just don’t have the time to stop by payment centers or visit their mailboxes. 

The only issue we have with Clark Public Utilities is that their services can get expensive really quickly. 

On top of your monthly bill, there are additional fees (e.g., delivery fees and service fees) that you need to pay. This is for both water and electric utilities in Vancouver. 

On the bright side, their customer support is one of the best we’ve experienced thus far. You can chat with a live agent anytime you need — as long as it’s not a Sunday or a Holiday. 

This is great news for businesses that operate around the clock and need regular assistance to keep things running.

5. Access Gas Services

Unlike the previous companies we mentioned on this list, Access Gas Services doesn’t directly provide their customers with their products. 

Instead, they work with FortisBC through a program called CUSTOMER CHOICE, which allows customers to choose which energy supplier to partner with. 

Now, it’s worth noting that natural gas is one of the most volatile commodities on earth. Thus, prices tend to rise and fall very frequently.

Clients who want to avoid these fluctuations can get services from Access Gas through FortisBC’s CUSTOMER CHOICE program. 

You can get 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year contracts once you sign up for the program. The longer you stay subscribed, the longer you can enjoy flat rates for your gas utilities during each billing period. 

It’s great for people who don’t plan to move out of Vancouver in the near future. Additionally, it’s a great opportunity for people who are looking to save a buck or two on utilities. 

Now, you might be wondering: 

Does getting services from both ForisBC and Access Gas Services mean you’ll get two bills each period? 

The answer: no. 

FortisBC will continue billing you, as usual, using Access Gas Services’ rates. The only things you’ll be paying FortisBC for are the transportation and distribution costs. 

Access Gas Services exclusively works with FortisBC. So, if you’re working with a different provider — say, BC Hydro — you can’t avail of this program.

FAQs About Utility Providers in Vancouver

What utilities will I need in Vancouver?

If you’re new to Vancouver, having questions about what type of utilities you need in the city is normal. Here are the utilities you’ll need to get comfortably settled in: 

• Electric utilities
• Natural gas utilities
• Water utilities
• Internet, cable, and telephone
• Garbage disposal
• Sewerage 

When can Vancouver residents enjoy off-peak rates? 

It depends on what utility you’re talking about. Let’s take water rates, as an example.

Off-peak rates are typically applied during the rainy season when Vancouver’s water supply is at its peak. However, once the drier seasons come around, rates can increase by around 25%, to support the city’s efforts of supplying water to its residents. 

Are flat rates better than variable rates?

Energy usage varies between customers; thus, it’s impossible to say which option is better than the other. The biggest difference between fixed and variable plans comes down to their predictability. 

Flat rates are the same all throughout your contract period. Thus, it’s the best option if you prefer knowing how much you’ll be spending at every billing period. 

On the other hand, variable rates can go up and down at a drop of a hat. There is a great chance that you’ll save money… and there is also a chance that you won’t. 

Take some time to look over your options before finalizing any decisions. This is the best way to ensure you make the right choice.

How can I lower my BC Hydro bills?

BC Hydro bills can get expensive pretty quickly, especially if you’re not a conscious user. The following tips should help you lower your bills for the next billing date: 

• Turn off lights when not in use
• Take advantage of natural light during the day
• Unplug electronics and appliances that are not in use
• Lower your thermostat by two degrees on days that aren’t particularly cold
• Hang-dry your clothing instead of machine drying them

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Besides energy, it’s also important for residential areas to stay clean and orderly. For details on where to find garbage disposal services, you can check out our article on the best waste management services in Vancouver. 

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