2025 ANNUAL REPORT | DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS | ENERGY AND CLIMATE ACTION
ENERGY AND CLIMATE ACTION | DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Energy and Climate Action
The Energy and Climate Action Department brings together the City’s electric utility and climate response efforts to support a more sustainable and resilient future for New Westminster. In addition to providing reliable and innovative electrical service, the department leads the City’s climate action work—helping reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency, and build climate-ready infrastructure. Through collaboration with the community, Energy and Climate Action plays a key role in advancing environmental stewardship, supporting sustainable development, and enhancing quality of life.
Climate Action Released the Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action: Key Performance Indicators 2024 Report, providing a comprehensive update on the City’s progress toward its climate action goals. Continued development of the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan, engaging community members to help shape local climate adaptation priorities and actions. Hosted the Climate Friendly Homes Tour and Sustainable Home Info Sessions in partnership with the Community Energy Association and New Westminster Climate Action Hub, helping residents learn about sustainable home upgrades and climate action. Continued promoting energy rebate and incentive programs from BC Hydro, FortisBC, CleanBC Better Homes, and the federal government to support residential energy upgrades. Launched the BC Green Business Pilot to help local businesses improve sustainability practices and achieve environmental certification. Provided subsidies for local building professionals to attend high-performance building training courses.
Supported home energy efficiency through Energy Save New West by launching new assessment tools and pilot programs, delivering multilingual workshops, and promoting rebates for energy-saving upgrades. Replaced aging public EV charging stations with newer, more user-friendly units. Advanced climate resilience in rental housing by completing Phase 1 of the Vulnerable Buildings Assessment project, identifying pathways to reduce overheating risks in rental buildings. Electric Utility Completed renewals and replacements for six distribution circuits at the NWR and RO2 substations to support reliable electrical service. Constructed underground electrical infrastructure to support new developments throughout the city. Completed Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meter replacements for all residential customers. Enhanced system reliability through annual maintenance activities including infrared scanning, tree trimming, and pole replacements.
Implemented Geographic Information System (GIS) tracking for maintenance and capital work to improve asset management and operational efficiency.
$105,000 received from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to support development of the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan.
BridgeNet Continued expanding affordable
telecommunications services by supporting new fibre connections in buildings across the city. Began improving and streamlining the process for existing buildings to connect to BridgeNet services.
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