ONTARIO - Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer (CECO) announced that his 2006 Annual Report shows that Ontario has reduced electricity consumption by 2.5 percent over 2005, even after weather factors such as a marginally cooler summer were factored into the calculations.

The CECO said that the report, Ontario: A New Era In Electricity Conservation, states that Ontario has reduced its peak demand by about 950 megawatts since 2004.

He noted that a large part of the Conservation Bureau's work to date has been building the capacity in the electricity sector to create and deliver conservation programs.

According to the 2006 Annual Report Fact Sheet provided by the CECO, highlights of the report are as follows:

• Ontario received a B+ grade from the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance in its 2006 national report card on energy efficiency. This grade is up from a C- in 2004 and represents a significant improvement.

• The report makes 17 recommendations in five areas about energy efficiency improvements to the Ontario Building Code, continuing to match California's standards, and ensuring power savings are considered in the implementation of the Greenbelt Protection Plan.

• Ontario electricity consumers have reduced peak demand by approximately 950 megawatts since 2004, including 328 megawatts of naturally occurring conservation.

• Consumers have reduced electricity consumption per capita by 2.5 percent, weather-adjusted, during the period January to August 2006, compared with the previous year.

• The Conservation Bureau launched 10 programs in 2006, including a demand response program, which on Aug. 1 delivered maximum savings of 182 megawatts, with an average of 133 megawatts over eight hours.

• Energy-efficiency amendments to the Ontario Building Code, announced in June 2006, increased energy-efficiency requirements and will save Ontario an estimated 550 megawatts of electricity over the next eight years.

• The Ozone Depleting Substances regulation will phase out remaining uses of chlorofluorocarbons in large refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and chillers, which could save between 50 and 175 megawatts of electricity.

• Conservation programs run by local distribution companies in 2005 achieved savings of 121 million kilowatt hours and will result in 868 million kilowatt hour savings over the life of the installed equipment.

• Energy management companies have achieved an estimated 20 megawatts of peak demand reductions in 2005 and in 2006.

• Investment in electricity conservation in Ontario, including the activities of energy management firms and local distribution companies, is estimated at $300 to $350 million per year, creating 10,000 new jobs.

Publication date:12/25/2006