Creating a Culture of Conservation in Ontario: Approaches, Challenges and Opportunities

Ontario has a long history of affordable and reliable electric power that has supported the development of an energy-intensive industrialized society. Electricity sector restructuring, with the breakup of Ontario Hydro in 1998, followed by the reintroduction of central power system planning in 2005, has given Ontario an opportunity to reshape its electricity supply mix with conservation as a priority. However, there are many challenges to transitioning from almost 100 years of supply-side focus to demand-side planning. These challenges include overcoming barriers to resource acquisition through incentives, building capability in the market for delivery and uptake of conservation, and transforming the market so that energy-efficiency becomes the norm. These barriers can be overcome by catalyzing changes in consumer attitudes and behaviours and using incentives and regulations to support lasting cultural change. Although Ontario has made progress in advancing a culture of conservation, much more work needs to be done.