Energy Efficiency in Ontario - Canadian Provincial Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Canadian Energy Efficiency Scorecard:

Provinces and Territories

Ontario

With a score of 39 points out of 100, Ontario ranked fifth in this Scorecard, one position lower than last year.

39/100 Points

Energy efficiency to the rescue!

With a score of 39 points out of 100, Ontario ranked fifth in this Scorecard, one position lower than last year.

Energy efficiency is coming to the rescue to deal with an electricity capacity shortfall projected in 2025. The shortfall is due to the planned closure of the Pickering nuclear station, the refurbishment of other nuclear facilities and increased electrification across the province. To respond, the government recently reversed many of the cuts to energy efficiency it had made in 2019.

Ontario’s natural gas conservation programs fall short of the savings shown to be cost-effective and achievable in a 2019 conservation potential study. By expanding these programs, energy efficiency can help the province deal with climate change. These programs can be further modernized to promote switching to clean electricity.

As the province reverses its previous cuts, it should reconsider how long-term support for energy efficiency will avoid future energy crises, build a sustainable economy, attract talented workers in the trades, protect people from extreme heat and cold and make life more affordable.

Strengths

Demand response

Ontario leads the country in managing electricity demand to reduce peaks—the province has the ability to save almost eight per cent of peak power demands.

Opportunities for improvement

Expand efficiency programs

The province’s new electricity saving goals are still below historic performance (from 2017 and 2018), and the province’s natural gas targets fall short of their cost-effectiveness potential.

Saving energy prevents supply shortages and insulates against future price increases, which is why Ontario should maximize all energy efficiency opportunities available.

Net-zero energy ready building code

Ontario has one of the country’s most stringent building codes. It is roughly equivalent to the middle performance tiers found within the new national model codes.

Thus far, Ontario proposes to stay where it is, instead of using this new national framework to make every new building energy efficient enough that it can easily meet its own energy needs.

Policy Area Scores

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Ontario

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National median

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Points possible

Programs

10 points

11.25 points

40 points

Enabling Policies

12 points

9 points

16 points

Buildings

6 points

4 points

19.5 points

Transportation

6 points

17.25 points

Industry

5 points

4 points

7 points

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2022 Scorecard ranking

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