I don't know many folks who enjoy paying bills — do you?
These days, with the cost of everything going up, it's hard not to notice how much more we're all shelling out just to keep the heat on and the lights running. I've been talking with neighbours who've been hit with gas heating bills as high as $700 for just two months. That's no small chunk of change for a working family or a senior on a fixed income.
I currently live in a fully electric home — no wood stove, no backup gas. My electricity bill for the entire year comes in around that same $700 mark. That's it. No hidden fees, no long list of extra charges, just BC Hydro, and that money stays right here in the province.
Same story with vehicles. I've got a gas minivan and a small electric SUV. Last week, I put $50 in the van and got about 200 km out of it. With the electric SUV, $50 gets me closer to 2,000 km. That's not a typo. Two-thousand kilometres. The math doesn't lie.
Now, some folks say this is about "tariffs" and "energy security" — big words, sure, but let's break it down.
When we burn gas or oil, we are literally sending our money down the pipeline. Much of it ends up in the pockets of big companies and foreign investors, mostly in the U.S. But when we use electricity, especially here in B.C., that money stays in Canada. It supports our infrastructure, our economy, and our future.
Here's something else to think about: how many people do you know who have their own gas well or oil refinery in the backyard? Solar panels, however, you can put on your roof. With a bit of upfront effort, you can generate your own power, shrink your monthly bills, and gain more control over your energy use.
This isn't about being trendy or hugging trees. This is about common sense. It's about keeping more money in your wallet, creating jobs here at home, and cutting our reliance on fuel that has to be shipped halfway across the continent. Why should your hard-earned dollars make millionaires in Houston, Texas richer, when they could be staying right here in the northwest?
If you're the kind of person who believes in making your money work for you, in keeping Canadian dollars in Canadian hands, and in being self-reliant — then it's time to take a serious look at where your energy is coming from, and where your money is going.
Martin Holzbauer
Thornhill, BC
