News Online is produced monthly to keep you up-to-date with the latest developments at the OPA.
In theis issue:
- saveONenergy PLEDGE a winner for Ontario
- FIT Program review update
- Third quarter electricity supply report available
- Executive speeches and presentations
- Ontario ban on incandescent light bulbs to align with the federal government
- Government changes property tax assessment policies to encourage renewable energy installations
- Electricity Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) draft guidelines posted
Conservation
saveONenergy PLEDGE a winner for Ontario
The 2011 saveONenery PLEDGE campaign ended on December 31, with nearly 110,000 Ontarians pledging to conserve electricity.
The focus of the 2011 saveONenergy PLEDGE was to educate Ontarians about conservation and encourage them to participate in one or more of four province-wide conservation programs offered by local distribution companies.
One of the key benefits of the PLEDGE campaign is the opportunity to build a permission-based database of Ontarians who pledged and expressed interest in receiving ongoing information on conservation from their local electricity utility and/or the OPA.
The My Pledge e-newsletter was developed by the OPA to engage with these Ontarians on a regular basis. The OPA also worked with LDCs to help them launch their own e-newsletter program targeted to their opt-in customers.
More than 95 percent of opt-in subscribers from the 2010 campaign remained subscribers through 2011. At the start of the 2011 campaign there were 73,000 subscribers. By December 31, this had grown 62 percent to nearly 118,000 subscribers.
If all Ontarians were to act on their pledges, the following savings could be realized:
- annual energy savings of more than 75 million kilowatt-hours
- annual electricity bill savings of more than $10.5 million
- annual emissions of almost 32 million kilograms of greenhouse gases avoided.
To receive the My Pledge e-newsletter, click on the link at the bottom of this email to change your preferences and then check off the My Pledge e-newsletter box to indicate that you wish to receive it.
Visit saveONenergy.ca for information on conservation programs for your home or business.
Electricity Resources
Thank you to everyone who participated in the FIT Program review. From the number of participants in the web-enabled teleconference to the responses to the questionnaire and the submissions received, the feedback has been positive and constructive.
The purpose of the review was to address a range of FIT Program considerations, including:
- an examination of FIT Program pricing to maintain a balance between the interests of ratepayers and the continued encouragement of clean energy investment in Ontario
- review of new and emerging technology types
- assessment of government policies and tools to ensure that Ontario remains a centre of manufacturing excellence and clean energy job creation
- outreach techniques to complement the province’s Renewable Energy Approval process.
Since it was first launched, FIT has helped make Ontario a clean energy leader – making it easier and more efficient to bring renewable energy projects of all sizes online, stimulating the economy and creating jobs.
The feedback received through the review will help strengthen the program and ensure its long-term success.
Read more information about the FIT Program two-year review »
Third quarter electricity supply report available
The OPA's progress report on electricity supply for the third quarter of 2011 is now available.
The report is prepared quarterly to provide updates on the electricity supply contracts and programs currently managed by the OPA.
As of the end of the third quarter of 2011, the OPA had 20,936 megawatts (MW) of electricity supply capacity, based on average contract capacity, under contract. This includes 10,277 MW of renewable energy, 7,659 MW of clean energy and 3,000 MW of nuclear energy.
Within the 20,936 MW of supply capacity, 4,717 MW were procured from existing generating facilities, which required minimal or no new capital investment. The remaining capacity, 16,219 MW, was procured from new development, expansion, redevelopment or refurbishment of existing facilities.
This represents more than $35 billion of new capital investment in generation in the Ontario electricity system since 2005.
Click here to view the report.
Corporate News
Executive speeches and presentations
Andrew Pride, Vice-President, Conservation:
- Toronto Zoo EcoExecutives Sustainable Workshop, Toronto, January 31
View past speeches and presentations »
Ontario ban on incandescent light bulbs to align with the federal government
To ensure a consistent approach and to make compliance easier for consumers, retailers and manufacturers, the province has proposed to harmonize compliance dates for incandescent light bulbs with the federal government.
Starting on January 1, 2014, the import of inefficient incandescent lighting will be banned in Ontario along with all provinces across Canada.
At the same time, energy-efficiency levels will increase for 100- and 75-watt light bulbs. And, by the end of 2014, efficiency levels will also be raised for 60- and 40-watt light bulbs.
To learn more about energy efficiency, visit saveonenergy.ca.
Government changes property tax assessment policies to encourage renewable energy installations
The Ontario government is supporting property owners who install renewable energy technologies by improving property tax assessment policies for them.
On January 4, Ontario Regulation 282/98 under the Assessment Act was amended to provide greater clarity and introduce new rules governing the property tax treatment of renewable energy installations. The amendments apply to facilities that generate electricity using solar energy, wind energy or anaerobic digestion of organic matter.
The changes will provide greater clarity by creating additional categories for property tax assessment based on the size and location of energy generation. The move will encourage property owners to continue to install and use renewable energy technologies.
Learn more about the changes made to Ontario's property tax assessment policies »
Electricity Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) draft guidelines posted
The Ontario Energy Board posted for comment draft Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) Guidelines for Electricity Distributors.
The guidelines are intended to further clarify certain provisions in the CDM Code, issued on September 16, 2010.
Interested stakeholders were invited to provide written comments on the draft CDM Guidelines for Electricity Distributors by January 26, 2012.
We welcome your comments and feedback on this e-newsletter. Please send them to info@powerauthority.on.ca.
