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Province rolls out new energy efficiency program as electricity demand rises

"We're going to have enough energy in the province to power our growing economy, both this summer and long term and there's still a lot more to come," Energy Minister Todd Smith said Thursday.

Published May 25, 2023 at 3:21pm

Marco Vigliotti
By
Marco Vigliotti
Province rolls out new energy efficiency program as electricity demand rises
Todd Smith is seen outside the Legislative Chamber in Toronto following Question Period, on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

Ontario is launching a new program that will provide money to customers that agree to have their thermostats automatically adjusted during peak energy periods, as the Ford government looks to bolster conservation efforts in the face of rising demand for energy in the province.

However, Energy Minister Todd Smith says the province is not anticipating any blackouts during the upcoming summer, which appears to be off to an early start with parts of southern Ontario expected to see 30-plus degree temperatures next week. Summer 2022 ranked as one of the hottest on record in the Northern Hemisphere, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

One of the province’s largest electricity generators — the Pickering nuclear plant — was set to shut down in 2025 but the Ford government in the fall said it would look to refurbish the facility to keep it operational for the next 30 years due to rising energy demand. While that plan is still subject to a feasibility study, Ontario is moving ahead with refurbishing nuclear reactors at the Bruce and Darlington plants.

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