People throughout the province can now register to receive free smart thermostats to help reduce energy usage.

The free smart thermostat program is part of BC Hydro’s Power Smart 2.0 plan, a $1 billion investment over three years to help people save energy and reduce their bills.

“This free smart thermostat initiative makes it easier for British Columbians to be part of a cleaner, more efficient energy future,” said Adrian Dix Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions.

“By partnering with Canadian companies to deliver practical, cost-saving technology to households, we’re helping people take real climate action while saving money at the same time.”

Customers can visit BC Hydro and register an email to be notified when the free smart thermostats become available in October.

Through the program, residential customers with electric baseboard-heated homes will be able to order as many as five free smart thermostats.

The devices will come pre-enrolled in BC Hydro’s Peak Saver program, allowing customers to participate once installed.

The free smart thermostats will be offered provincewide, with a focus on electrically heated homes, particularly those using baseboard heating.

Approximately 800,000 homes in British Columbia, or more than 40% of all residential households, use electric heating.

The Province says since 2008, BC Hydro’s energy-efficiency programs have helped cut demand by more than 7,500 gigawatt hours per year, which is equivalent to the energy used by more than 750,000 homes.