BC Hydro Rate Estimator
Complete guide to understanding and estimating your BC Hydro electricity rates for 2025-2026
The BC Hydro Rate Calculator helps residential, business, and industrial customers understand the various electricity rates available in British Columbia. With multiple rate structures including tiered rates, flat rates, time-of-day pricing, and specialized business rates, this guide provides all the information you need to estimate your electricity costs accurately.
Important rate changes took effect April 1, 2025, including the consolidation of Zone II, Zone IB, and multi-residential service rates into standard residential and business rates.
Residential Electricity Rate Plans
BC Hydro offers two main rate plans for residential customers, plus an optional time-of-day pricing add-on. Your choice depends on your electricity usage patterns and lifestyle.
Residential Tiered Rate
Best for: Customers with average or lower electricity use, such as those in apartments/condos or using non-electric heating.
How it works: Lower (Tier 1) price for electricity up to a threshold, higher (Tier 2) price for all usage afterward.
Tier 1 threshold: Calculated by multiplying billing days by 22.1918 kWh/day. Approximately 675 kWh for monthly billing, 1,350 kWh for bi-monthly billing.
Tier 1 rate: 11.72¢ per kWh
Tier 2 rate: 14.08¢ per kWh
Basic charge: 23.30¢ per day
Residential Flat Rate
Best for: Customers with higher electricity use, such as those in detached homes, townhomes, or using electric heating.
How it works: Fixed price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) that doesn't change regardless of usage amount.
Energy charge: 12.63¢ per kWh
Basic charge: 24.85¢ per day
Minimum charge: Basic charge only
Time-of-Day Pricing (Optional Add-on)
Available with either the tiered rate or flat rate plan, time-of-day pricing offers discounts for overnight electricity use and surcharges for evening peak usage. Best for customers with flexibility in when they use electricity, especially those charging electric vehicles (EVs) overnight.
Overnight Discount (11 p.m. - 7 a.m.)
-5¢ per kWh discount
Ideal for EV charging, running appliances, or other electricity use during these hours.
On-Peak Surcharge (4 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
+5¢ per kWh surcharge
Higher rates during evening peak demand hours to encourage conservation.
Off-peak hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. – no discount or surcharge applied.
Business General Service Rates
BC Hydro offers three tiers of business rates based on annual peak demand and total annual energy usage. As of April 1, 2025, Zone II and Zone IB business rates were consolidated into these standard rates.
| Rate Category |
Eligibility |
Basic Charge |
Demand Charge |
Energy Charge |
| Small General Service |
Annual peak demand < 35 kW |
40.65¢/day |
N/A |
13.98¢/kWh |
| Medium General Service |
35-150 kW peak, <550,000 kWh/year |
29.81¢/day |
$6.03/kW |
10.80¢/kWh |
| Large General Service |
≥150 kW peak OR ≥550,000 kWh/year |
29.81¢/day |
$13.75/kW |
6.75¢/kWh |
Discounts for business customers: 1.5% off entire bill if metered at primary potential; $0.25 per kW discount if customer supplies transformation. Power factor surcharge applies if power factor drops below 90%.
Fleet Electrification Rates
Two optional rates for businesses, government agencies, or organizations that own/lease and operate electric fleet vehicles or vessels. Requires annual maximum demand of at least 150 kW and separate meters.
Demand Transition Rate
Available through March 31, 2032 for customers who cannot charge fleet overnight and require in-route charging.
- Basic charge: 29.81¢/day
- Demand charge: $0/kW until March 31, 2026, then phased in
- Energy charge: 10.24¢/kWh
Overnight Rate
Ongoing rate for overnight in-depot fleet charging with minimal daytime charging.
- Basic charge: 29.81¢/day
- Demand charge: $13.75/kW (6 a.m.-10 p.m. only)
- Energy charge: 8.33¢/kWh
Irrigation Rate
For motor loads of 746 watts (1 horsepower) or more used primarily for irrigation and outdoor sprinkling during irrigation season (March 1 to October 31).
Irrigation season (March-October): All kWh at 6.83¢ per kWh. Minimum charge: $6.83 per kW of connected load per month.
Non-irrigation season (November-February): First 150 kWh at 6.83¢/kWh, additional kWh at 54.11¢/kWh. Special minimum charge applies.
Transmission Rates
For customers with high voltage service (60kV or higher) using large amounts of energy. Two main rate schedules apply:
Rate Schedule 1830
Minimum charge: $11.303/kVA
Demand charge: $11.303/kVA
Energy charges: 4.942¢ to 5.234¢/kWh depending on customer category
Rate Schedule 1823
For customers with ongoing demand-side management projects (available through fiscal 2026).
Demand charge: $9.699/kVA
Energy charges: 5.085¢ to 11.330¢/kWh with CBL-based tiers
Industrial Electrification Rates
Discounted rates for industrial customers connecting to BC Hydro's grid to encourage clean electricity use. Available until March 31, 2030, with rates expiring March 31, 2037.
Clean Industry and Innovation Rate
For new customer plants that remove greenhouse gases, produce renewable/low-carbon fuels, or are data centres (>10,000 kVA, >70 GWh/year).
20% discount for first 5 years, then phase-out.
Fuel Switching Rate
For existing or new customers electrifying operations to replace fossil fuels. Minimum 20 GWh/year new load required.
20% discount for first 5 years, then phase-out.
Street Lighting Service Rates
Flat rate unmetered service for street lights, public area lighting, and traffic control equipment where metering isn't practical.
| Service Type |
Rate |
| Overhead Street Lighting (BC Hydro owned) |
$17.10 to $31.25 per fixture/month depending on wattage |
| Public Area Ornamental Street Lighting |
4.21¢ per watt/month (unmetered) or 12.63¢/kWh (metered) |
| Traffic Control Equipment |
12.63¢/kWh |
| Unmetered Small General Service |
40.65¢/day basic + 13.98¢/kWh estimated |
Important Rate Changes: April 1, 2025
As of April 1, 2025, the following rate changes took effect following BC Utilities Commission approval on February 24, 2025:
- Zone II, Zone IB, and multi-residential service rates are no longer available. Customers were automatically moved to tiered or flat rates based on their usage patterns.
- Business customers in Zone II and Zone IB were moved to standard Small, Medium, or Large General Service rates.
- Most customers are estimated to save money or pay around the same under their new rate plans.
Important Notes:
- This BC Hydro Rate Calculator guide uses rates effective for 2025-2026, including April 1, 2025 rate changes. Rates are subject to change with BC Utilities Commission approval.
- In case of differences between information on this page and the official Electric Tariff issued by BC Hydro, the official Electric Tariff prevails.
- Customers with questions about their specific rate should contact BC Hydro directly.
Frequently Asked Questions About BC Hydro Rate Calculator
Because guessing can cost you hundreds a year. This BC Hydro rate comparison tool shows you the real difference between tiered (11.72¢/kWh up to 675 kWh, then 14.08¢) vs flat rate (12.63¢/kWh all the time). Plug in your usage and see which one actually saves you money.
This BC Hydro residential rate selector is for homeowners, renters, and condo dwellers across British Columbia. Whether you have electric heating, a heat pump, an EV, or just want to know if time-of-day pricing works for you. Apartment dwellers with low usage usually prefer tiered. Detached homes with higher usage often save on flat rate.
100% free. No sign up, no credit card, no hidden fees. This BC Hydro business electricity rate finder works for small shops, medium offices, and large warehouses. Small General Service (under 35 kW), Medium General Service (35-150 kW), or Large General Service (over 150 kW). It costs nothing to check which rate fits your business.
No way. This BC Hydro time-of-day rate calculator does not save, store, or share any of your information. No account number, no address, no usage history. Your answers stay in your browser. We never see them and we never sell your data. Completely private and anonymous.
Yes. This BC Hydro EV charging rate estimator follows official BC Hydro rates approved by the BC Utilities Commission. That means the 5¢ overnight discount (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.), the 5¢ on-peak surcharge (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.), and the separate EV meter option. It won't change your bill, but it tells you if time-of-day pricing actually saves you money.
