A recent study by Efficiency Canada found that utility resource planning has struggled to keep pace with electricity demand growth in recent years. While electrification is widely viewed as the optimal pathway to decarbonizing energy systems, many provinces are also beginning to recognize its economic potential. To realize these objectives while maintaining system reliability and affordability, Canadian utilities will need to capture the full potential of demand-side resources, such as energy efficiency.
In the face of Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, the primary policy objectives will likely be people’s security and building a more self-reliant economy. Energy efficiency can help achieve both.
Cooling is a growing necessity in a warming Canada. Heat pumps provide efficient heating and cooling, protecting vulnerable populations during extreme weather. This review provides an updated look at some of the recent research and initiatives around heat pumps and their role and effectiveness in improving energy efficiency, affordability and reducing greenhouse gases, with an emphasis on Canadian initiatives.
Ontario announced a new electricity demand-side management framework. This review considers how Ontario arrived at this framework and benchmarks it against leading provinces and states.
The federal government released Clean Electricity Regulations alongside Powering Canada’s Future: A Clean Electricity Strategy and overall, the federal government has recognized our previous calls to recognize the importance of demand-side management.
Energy poverty — when households spend a high portion of their incomes on energy bills or can’t access services like warmth or cooling — affects more than two million households.
