We all need gas and electricity to power our homes and Echo Energy is hoping to see more Lacombe residents sign on in 2017, to help power their efforts to give back in the community.  

The City of Lacombe established Echo Energy in 2013, acting as an energy retailer and building off the model of Mountain View Power which had been established in Olds.  

Net proceeds from energy sales go into the Echo Lacombe Community Fund, which supports projects dedicated to improving the quality of life in Lacombe.  

Community and Economic Development Manager Guy Lapointe said if they can get more residents to sign on, they can have a significant impact in the community.

“I would say if people are switching to Echo Energy they shouldn’t be expecting to save tones of money, but in most cases you will save a little bit of money. We encourage people to look at those rates because I think we are very competitive. The bigger piece is ultimately that any of the profits and all of the profits we make will go back into the community to be spent on local community projects.”

Projects supported in 2016 include a donation to the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre Foundation for a community stage in Lest We Forget Park and money to support an upcoming Youth Leadership Conference being hosted at Lacombe Composite High School.  

Lapointe also explained, there are around 225 account holders, which translates into about $25,000 a year for local projects.

The ultimate goal is to see 1,500 make the switch which would mean $200,000 they could put back into the community.