Rates, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
BC Hydro rates 2026: tiered (step) rate vs flat rate and optional time-of-day pricing
BC Hydro's tiered rate, the flat rate option and time-of-day pricing explained with posted prices, the 22.1918 kWh/day threshold and worked bill examples.
BC Hydro residential customers can now choose between two rate plans and add an option on top. The tiered rate (long known as the two-step or "step" rate) charges 11.87¢ per kWh up to a threshold and 14.08¢ above it, with a basic charge of 23.44¢ a day. The flat rate charges 12.70¢ per kWh for all use, with a basic charge of 25.00¢ a day. Either can be combined with time-of-day pricing, which takes 5¢ per kWh off overnight use (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and adds 5¢ per kWh to on-peak use (4 to 9 p.m.). These are the prices shown on bchydro.com in October 2026; rates are approved by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). The tiered rate generally suits average or lower use; the flat rate suits consistently high use.
This guide is part of our overview of electricity rates by province.
The posted BC Hydro residential prices
| Plan | Energy price | Basic charge |
|---|---|---|
| Tiered: Tier 1 | 11.87¢/kWh up to the threshold | 23.44¢ per day |
| Tiered: Tier 2 | 14.08¢/kWh above the threshold | (same) |
| Flat | 12.70¢/kWh for all use | 25.00¢ per day |
| Time-of-day option (with either plan) | −5¢/kWh overnight 11 p.m.–7 a.m.; +5¢/kWh on-peak 4–9 p.m.; no change 7 a.m.–4 p.m. and 9–11 p.m. | — |
Bills also include a rate rider where applicable, GST and, on some bills, local charges. BC Hydro's site does not show an effective date next to these prices; rate changes normally follow BCUC decisions and take effect on 1 April. Confirm the current figures before relying on them.
How the tiered threshold works
The Tier 1 threshold is not a fixed monthly number. BC Hydro multiplies the number of days in your billing period by 22.1918 kWh per day:
- a 60-day bi-monthly bill has a threshold of about 1,350 kWh;
- a 30-day monthly bill has a threshold of about 675 kWh.
BC Hydro says the daily figure is based on 90% of the median usage of homes in BC. Because the threshold scales with days, a longer billing period does not push you into Tier 2 unfairly.
Tiered or flat: where the break-even is
Ignore the basic charges for a moment. Under the threshold, tiered energy costs 11.87¢ against 12.70¢ on flat, a saving of 0.83¢ per kWh. Above the threshold tiered costs 14.08¢, which is 1.38¢ more than flat. So for every kWh above the threshold you lose 1.38¢, and for every kWh below you gain 0.83¢.
For a 61-day period the threshold is 61 × 22.1918 = 1,353.7 kWh. Gain under the threshold: 1,353.7 × 0.83¢ = $11.24. Loss above: 1.38¢ per kWh. Break-even extra usage = $11.24 ÷ $0.0138 = about 814 kWh above the threshold, that is about 2,168 kWh per 61 days. Then add the basic charge difference: (25.00¢ − 23.44¢) × 61 days = $0.95 more on flat, which nudges the break-even up by about 69 kWh, to roughly 2,237 kWh per 61 days (about 36.7 kWh a day).
| Usage per 61 days | Tiered energy + basic | Flat energy + basic | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 kWh | 1,200 × 11.87¢ + $14.30 = $156.74 | 1,200 × 12.70¢ + $15.25 = $167.65 | Tiered by $10.91 |
| 2,000 kWh | $160.68 + 646.3 × 14.08¢ + $14.30 = $265.98 | $254.00 + $15.25 = $269.25 | Tiered by $3.27 |
| 2,400 kWh | $160.68 + 1,046.3 × 14.08¢ + $14.30 = $322.30 | $304.80 + $15.25 = $320.05 | Flat by $2.25 |
| 3,200 kWh | $160.68 + 1,846.3 × 14.08¢ + $14.30 = $434.94 | $406.40 + $15.25 = $421.65 | Flat by $13.29 |
Tier 1 energy for 1,353.7 kWh = $160.68. Basic charges: 23.44¢ × 61 = $14.30; 25.00¢ × 61 = $15.25. Before riders and GST. Illustrative usage levels.
The lesson: the difference is modest unless your use is far from the break-even. Electrically heated homes in winter can sit well above it for part of the year and below it in summer, so compare a full year. BC Hydro's online rate estimator uses your own history.
Is time-of-day pricing worth adding?
Time-of-day is symmetrical: 5¢ off overnight, 5¢ on for 4–9 p.m. It pays if more of your use falls overnight than in the evening peak.
Illustrative 61 days, 2,000 kWh: if 500 kWh is overnight and 300 kWh is 4–9 p.m., the net effect is (300 − 500) × 5¢ = −$10.00, a saving of $10. If instead 250 kWh is overnight and 450 kWh on-peak, it costs (450 − 250) × 5¢ = $10 more. EV owners who charge after 11 p.m. benefit most; see home EV charging costs.
Other BC Hydro rates you may see
- E-Plus rate: a legacy discounted rate for electric space and water heating that closed to new customers in 1990 and, according to BC Hydro, closes for all customers on 1 April 2028.
- Net metering: closed to new customers on 1 July 2026, with existing customers allowed to stay for 10 years before moving to the new self-generation service rate. Rooftop solar economics are outside this site's scope.
- FortisBC electric: if your electricity comes from FortisBC in the southern interior, its rates are separate and also approved by the BCUC.
For how BC Hydro's integrated rate compares with split commodity and delivery bills elsewhere, see delivery vs commodity charges.
FAQ
Can I switch between tiered and flat?
Yes. BC Hydro lets residential customers change rate plans online; check any rules on how often you can switch.
Is BC Hydro billed monthly or every two months?
Many customers are billed every two months, others monthly. The threshold scales with the days in each bill either way.
Does the flat rate protect me from price increases?
No. It is still a regulated rate that changes with BCUC-approved increases. It only removes the step.
Where do I complain about a BC Hydro bill?
To BC Hydro first, then to the BCUC. See complaints by province.
Sources
- BC Hydro — residential tiered, flat and time-of-day rate pages and rate estimator
- British Columbia Utilities Commission — rate applications, decisions and complaints
- Government of British Columbia — energy policy and the Utilities Commission Act
- Ontario RPP comparison for contrast — how another province prices by time of day
