Lights out for catalogue listing

Changes to the criteria for listing products in B.C. Hydro's Power Smart e.Catalog could cost a Victoria company its livelihood.

Fero LED Lighting has listed its light-emitting diode products in the catalogue for the last year, allowing buyers to apply for rebates from Hydro.

But the company faces the prospect of having 80 per cent of its product line de-listed from the catalogue by Nov. 18 and therefore deemed uncompetitive as Hydro requires distributors such as Fero to meet new standards.

"It means our main focus, which has been down lights and pot lights - the kinds of lights most retail stores would use - will be out of the catalogue," said Janine Boom, partner at Fero LED.

Boom said the lights tend to be expensive at $40 each, but retailers who want to switch to the more energy-efficient lights from their existing fixtures were eligible for significant rebates, providing incentive for them to make the change.

But that was only as long as they were listed in B.C.

Hydro's catalogue - an online resource to help customers find energy-efficient products that may be eligible for the Power Smart Product Incentive Program.

"In some cases, we could say we can get you these lights for free or very inexpensively," said Boom.

Under the program, customers pay the retail price of products and apply to Hydro for a rebate.

But if Fero LED can't list the product line it distributes, then it is essentially out of the market.

"With no rebates, [retailers] have no reason to buy from us at regular cost when they can go and buy another brand and get the rebate," Boom said. "Now we're having to look at other types of products, like industrial-type LED tube lighting or the residential market."

Neither of those markets are eligible for rebates.

Officials from B.C. Hydro would not be interviewed for this story, but sent a statement by email.

"There are a number of criteria that a product distributor must meet in order to be listed on the Power Smart e.Catalog, including that the product meet energy-efficiency standards; the principal owner or contact must have a minimum of five years experience, specifically with lighting products; have been in business for at least two years; have a local B.C. address; and be a Power Smart Alliance member," wrote Lisa Coltart, executive director of Power Smart.

"In order to continually improve industry standards and to ensure the best products for our customers, we update eligibility requirements from time to time.

The only technical requirement that has recently been updated is that any LED products must meet Energy Star standards," Power Smart's Coltart said in her email.

Boom said a small startup company such as Fero LED could not possibly afford to have its LED products rated Energy Star, given that would cost between $5,000 and $7,000 for the testing of each product.