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Energy conservation initiative expands

Six companies have used the program
2017-12-11 Nathalie Des Rosiers MH
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy Nathalie Des Rosiers highlights the benefits of the expanded Industrial Conservation Initiative at Eacom in Timmins. Maija Hoggett/TimminsToday

The Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy was in Timmins highlighting the benefits of an expanded Industrial Conservation Initiative.

The program that encourages businesses to reduce their electricity consumption during peak hours is part of Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan.

“In 2016, the program is estimated to have reduced peak electricity demand by about 1,300 megawatts, that’s the peak electricity demand for Timmins 20 times over,” said Nathalie Des Rosiers, who is also the Ottawa-Vanier MPP.

At the initial roll out of the initiative, large electricity users were targeted. The expanded program launched earlier this year is aimed at consumers with an average monthly peak demand that is greater than one megawatt, as well as manufacturing and greenhouse sector users with a monthly peak demand greater than 500 kilowatts and less than one megawatt.

Since the program launched in 2016, six companies in Timmins have participated.

The initiative doesn’t lower the cost of electricity for participants.

Des Rosiers explained that if consumers don’t use electricity at peak time, the province doesn’t have to build a system to respond to it.

“Instead of being prime users at peak times where it costs a lot to the system, they shift slightly with the help of the…local distribution company to know when to operate better,” she explained.

Des Rosiers was at Eacom to talk about the initiative.

While the company works with the government to ensure a strong manufacturing sector, they haven’t shifted their work for the Industrial Conservation Initiative.

“We haven’t changed our operations for this program because for us the opportunity cost is that production that you’re missing, so we’re full-throttle consistently,” said Christine Leduc, Eacom public affairs director. “We’re looking to push out as much volume as possible to be as productive as possible.”