By Krystalle Ramlakhan, CBC News Ottawa, March 24, 2019
Ontario's government has cancelled a number of electricity conservation programs, including one which offered pool owners a $400 rebate for upgrading to energy-efficient pumps.
(...)Ontario's Ministry of Energy told CBC News it was taking action to reduce costs and duplication by streamlining what it described as a patchwork of inefficient electricity conservation programs in the province.
(...)Bickerton said incentives and rebates are a good way of encouraging people to be energy-efficient.
"Especially when it's at the point of purchasing, whether it's a furnace or windows or a pool pump. If they're given some kind of monetary carrot, they're going to jump on board a lot quicker," she said.
(...)The following province-wide programs will be discontinued:
- Instant Discount.
- Heating and Cooling.
- Audit Funding.
- Residential New Construction.
- High Performance New Construction.
- Existing Building Commissioning, Monitoring and Targeting.
- Pumpsaver (Toronto Hydro, Oakville Hydro).
- Adaptive Thermostat Rebate Program (Toronto Hydro).
- Instant Savings Program (Clotheslines) (Canadian Niagara Power Inc., Algoma Power, Westario, Bluewater, Entegrus, Essex Powerlines, Festival Hydro, Veridian Connections, Customer First Group).
- OPsaver (Toronto Hydro, Oakville Hydro).
- Midstream High-efficiency Agripumps (Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc., Hydro One).
- Smart RT for Small and Mid-Size Business (Toronto Hydro).
- Swimming Pool Efficiency Program (Toronto Hydro, Oakville Hydro, Hydro Ottawa Limited, Renfrew Hydro Inc., Burlington Hydro, Halton Hills Hydro, Milton Hydro Distribution Inc, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro, Waterloo North Hydro, Hydro One, Veridian Connections).
- Multi-Unit Residential Building In-suite Direct Install Lighting Program (Toronto Hydro, Oakville Hydro).