Gouging ‘reprehensible’ as A/C units in short supply in Metro Vancouver: Farnworth

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — As temperatures rise in Metro Vancouver, portable air conditioners are hot commodities yet again, and B.C.’s public safety minister is scolding anyone who is jacking up prices to take advantage.

The most recent available data from BC Hydro is from 2017, and showed 34 per cent of households were using air conditioning, up from just 10 per cent in 2001. That summer, the province was facing similar conditions as it is now with prolonged periods of hot, dry weather and a state of emergency declared due to raging wildfires.

“With North America in a period of climate warming that began in the early 2000s, hot and dry summers are becoming the new norm for British Columbians,” a report reads, noting the largest increase in households with A/C was on the Lower Mainland.

“Air conditioner use is growing across the province, even in the relatively moderate climate of south coastal B.C., where a trend towards high-rise apartments – often glass-walled with little airflow – is helping drive A/C adoption.”

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says as the planet warms, and after hundreds of sudden, heat-related deaths during the unprecedented heat dome — the government may have to step in and do something to make sure A/C is more widely available, particularly in Metro Vancouver.

“We know that in the interior most people do have air conditioning. It’s a different story down here on the Lower Mainland. We know that newer homes and newer condo developments, often have air conditioning, It may be something that we need to be looking at in terms of working with developers to ensure that that’s in place,” he said.

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Most people who want some relief will have to purchase their own portable units, or rely on publicly available cooling centres or other air-conditioned spaces.

Those who can afford to purchase an A/C unit will likely be frustrated this week, with websites for big box stores in Vancouver like Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and Walmart showing none in stock. For those looking to the secondary market of buy and sell sites like Craigslist, there are some options — but anyone looking to spend less than $500 could have a hard time finding something they can afford.

A search of Craigslist shows there were 45 units still available that were posted for sale on Wednesday — of those, 30 were listed for more than $499.

Amid rumours of people selling or reselling units at inflated prices, Farnworth had harsh words for anyone considering that option.

“In terms of people wanting to gouge, that’s just reprehensible when people do that kind thing. It really is quite shameful.”