Background

In December 2005, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) indicated that Toronto could begin to experience rotating power losses (brownouts or blackouts) in the summer of 2008 if we do not reduce our energy use. The IESO is Ontario's non-profit, corporate entity responsible for balancing the demand and supply of electricity in Ontario, and directing energy flow across the province.

In response to this call to action, Toronto City Council directed staff to create an energy plan. The Energy Efficiency Office co-ordinated the creation of Toronto's Sustainable Energy Plan. The plan determines Toronto's future energy needs and identifies feasible options for meeting these needs.

PriceWaterHouseCoopers was contracted to provide the City with background information on the current energy use in Toronto. The public and stakeholders were engaged through forums and informal surveys to gather suggestions from stakeholders and the general public.

In developing Toronto's Sustainable Energy Plan, our goals were to:

• develop high, moderate and low demand load forecast scenarios and identify Toronto's future energy needs for the short, medium and long term
• identify and influence initiatives that focus on peak-saving mechanisms, renewable energy, distributed energy, district heating and cooling, demand response and conservation and demand management
• identify options for meeting future energy needs such as amending or eliminating regulatory, legislative or institutional barriers
• provide cost-benefit comparisons for the various base and peak load scenarios to reduce electricity demand; this included an analysis of investments in conventional (coal, nuclear) versus renewable (wind, sun) energy sources, demand response (reducing energy use at high-demand times) and conservation and demand management
• identify the preferred options for meeting future energy needs after considering environmental, economic and social concerns
• identify how the Toronto Government will reduce energy use in its facilities and operations by 15%
• determine how Toronto businesses can contribute to reaching energy plan targets

Read all of the staff reports and presentations that have contributed to the process.