Residents of Penticton香蕉视频直播檚 Columbus Park low-income housing units should be seeing lower electricity bills, thanks to FortisBC and the South Okanagan Similkameen Brian Injury Society.

Alice Sidhu can香蕉视频直播檛 say enough good things about , who manage Columbus Park where she and her children have made their home since 2014.

The children play in the background as Sidhu stands in the kitchen, stroking newly installed countertops and chatting about the problems with her old fridge.

That fridge was replaced today 香蕉视频直播� at no charge 香蕉视频直播� thanks to a FortisBC program helping families in non-profit housing lower their electricity bills by replacing old, inefficient fridges with newer units.

Nicole Bogdanovic, communications advisor with Fortis, said they are the most energy efficient fridges they could find. Along with Sidhu香蕉视频直播檚 fridge, they are replacing 30 others at Columbus Park, which expected to save each of the tenants about $96 per year.

For Sidhu, whose electricity bill runs over $300 in the winter, that香蕉视频直播檚 a big savings. She has run weather stripping around her windows and taken other measures, but says they have only helped a little.

香蕉视频直播淚 couldn香蕉视频直播檛 think of why is the power bill so high. I think it香蕉视频直播檚 the fridge,香蕉视频直播� said Sidhu, leaning against the 20-year-old device. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e had some problems with this fridge since we moved in.香蕉视频直播�

Linda Sankey, SOSBIS executive director, said that when the society took over the complex, there were upgrades needed, one of which was energy efficiency.

香蕉视频直播淭heir energy bills are quite high. Refrigerator costs are one of the biggest costs they do have, because they run continuously,香蕉视频直播� said Sankey. 香蕉视频直播淢any of the fridges we have are more than 20 years old. 香蕉视频直播�

Bogdanovic said replacing the fridges on their own would have cost the society about $40,000. Money that might have been spent on fridges can now be used for other upgrades. Since the society took over operation of the complex in 2015, they香蕉视频直播檝e already increased insulation in the attic spaces and are looking at window and door replacements, among other improvements, like Sidhu香蕉视频直播檚 new countertops.

香蕉视频直播淚 was the first person to touch these counters and I will be the first person to touch this new fridge,香蕉视频直播� said Sidhu. 香蕉视频直播淚 am so thankful to the society for what they have done for me and my family.香蕉视频直播�

For information on other FortisBC programs and incentives, visit