Published plans and annual reports 2015-2016: Ministry of Energy

Ministry overview

The Ministry of Energy is guided by a vision of a clean energy economy that provides jobs and sustainable, liveable communities for all Ontarians and for generations to come.

Mandate

The Ministry of Energy is responsible for setting the legislative and policy framework to assure a clean, reliable and affordable energy system for all Ontarians.

The Ministry develops and advises on all aspects of energy policy for Ontario, including electricity, Aboriginal participation, natural gas and oil. It oversees the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). The Ministry also represents the shareholder, the provincial government, in dealings with Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation (OPG). The development of a diverse supply mix, including more renewable energy sources, and putting conservation first are cornerstones of Ontario’s balanced plan to provide clean and reliable energy.

The Ministry works with many partners inside and outside the government to promote energy conservation and develop the electricity generation, transmission, distribution and other energy-related facilities that help power our economy and ensure that Ontario remains one of the best places in the world in which to live, work, invest and raise a family.

On December 2, 2013, the Ministry updated its Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP), Achieving Balance. The 2013 LTEP reinforces Ontario’s commitment to being a clean energy leader and plans for necessary investments in the electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure that powers the economy and ensures all Ontarians a high quality of life.

The 2013 LTEP balances five principles that will guide future decisions: cost- effectiveness, reliability, clean energy, community engagement, and putting conservation first before building new generation.

Guided by the 2013 LTEP and the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 (GEGEA), the Ministry of Energy continues to establish a new clean energy economy that creates jobs, enhances prosperity and builds sustainable communities.

Ministry Contribution to Priorities and Results

The Ministry plays a critical role in supporting the government’s long-term priorities of economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and sustainable communities.

Priorities	Economic Prosperity	Environmental Stewardship	Sustainable Communities
Results	Competitive business environment New clean economy and jobs Reliable and affordable energy supply Innovative approaches to support Aboriginal participation	Climate protection Cleaner air Preservation of natural resources	Strong, vibrant, healthy and prosperous communities for generations to come High standard of living for Ontarians Reduce the reliance on diesel generation in remote First Nation communities
Strategies	Ensure an affordable and sustainable energy system Increase energy efficiency Increase contribution of renewable energy to supply Protect and empower consumers Invest in energy infrastructure and initiatives that will increase system reliability and economic output, maximize job creation, and spur economic development	Put conservation first before building new generation and transmission facilities, where cost-effective Continue to transition to a modern and reliable energy system by upgrading our transmission and distribution systems Increase contribution of renewable sources to supply mix for a diverse and balanced mix of clean energy sources	Revitalize energy infrastructure Empower communities to participate in clean energy projects

Deliverables

A clean, reliable and affordable energy system Putting conservation first, before building new generation and transmission facilities, when and where cost-effective A clean energy economy

Key Initiatives

Implementation of the 2013 LTEP Cost containment Energy conservation Large Renewable Procurement program Regional electricity planning Nuclear refurbishment and deferral of the option on new build Smart grid and smart meters Smart Grid Fund Procurement of 50 megawatts (MW) of energy storage capacity Energy consumer protection Working with the OEB to implement the Ontario Electricity Support Program

An Affordable Energy System

The 2013 LTEP forecast that from 2015 to 2032, residential electricity bills would increase at an average annual rate of 2.2 percent per year. To help consumers manage rising electricity costs, a number of initiatives are currently in place:

• The Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (OCEB) is helping residential consumers, small businesses, and farms manage rising electricity prices. The program provides a benefit equal to 10 percent of the total cost of electricity on eligible consumers’ bills, including tax, limited to the first 3,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity consumed each month until the end of 2015. The OCEB was introduced in January 2011, and the 3,000 kWh per month cap came into effect September 1, 2012. Currently, the benefit is helping over four million residential consumers and over 400,000 small businesses and farms.
• The Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC) helps eligible low-to middle- income northern residents manage energy costs. Effective July 2012, the credit is available through the personal income tax system as a component of the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which combines the province’s sales, property and energy tax credits into one benefit received monthly by eligible Ontarians.

In addition, to help make electricity more affordable for families following the conclusion of the OCEB on December 31, 2015, two new initiatives for providing assistance to residential consumers were proposed- the Ontario Electricity Support Program and the proposed removal of the Debt Retirement Charge from residential users’ electricity bills. These programs were announced in April 23, 2014 and work is underway to meet their January 1, 2016 implementation dates.

The proposed Ontario Electricity Support Program would provide targeted ongoing assistance directly on the bills of eligible low-income electricity consumers after December 31, 2015. The program is being implemented by the OEB with support from the Ministry of Energy and through collaboration with the IESO, local distribution companies (LDCs), unit sub-metering providers and social service delivery agents. The OEB will develop an approach, with support from the Ministry of Energy, to address the unique needs of First Nation and Métis communities. Through the Ontario Electricity Support Program, qualifying consumers could be eligible for a $20 to $50 monthly credit depending on their household size and income.

• The government is planning to remove the Debt Retirement Charge from residential users' electricity bills after December 31, 2015. This would save a typical residential electricity ratepayer $5.60 per month before tax.

The Government has also committed to creating a $200 million Natural Gas Access Loan and a $30 million Natural Gas Economic Development Grant to help more communities share in affordable supplies of natural gas. These initiatives are being led by the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure with support from the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

For industrial consumers

• The Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program (NIER) supports continued growth and development in the northern resource and manufacturing sector. The $120 million per year program provides electricity price rebates of two cents per kWh, representing about a 25 percent reduction in electricity prices for eligible large northern industrial consumers. The government recently announced its commitment to an ongoing NIER program beyond March 2016.
• The Industrial Conservation Initiative (ICI) encourages eligible electricity consumers to shift consumption to off-peak hours to save on costs. Approximately 200 of Ontario’s largest companies are already participating in ICI By reducing demand during peak hours, current participants save about 20 percent on average on their electricity bills. Effective July 2015, the program will include eligible customers with a monthly peak demand greater than 3 MW, down from the current threshold of 5 MW for eligible electricity-intensive consumers in the manufacturing, mining, refrigerated warehousing, greenhouse and data processing sectors.
• The Industrial Accelerator Program (IAP) provides financial incentives to transmission connected companies to assist them in fast tracking capital investments in major energy efficiency projects.
• The Industrial Electricity Incentive Program (IEI) encourages electricity- intensive companies, such as those in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, to make use of Ontario’s strong supply of electricity. Eligible companies in the identified sectors can qualify for a reduced electricity rate for increasing production or expanding their facility.

For small businesses

The Five-Point Small Business Energy Savings Plan is helping small businesses mitigate electricity rate increases by:

• Promoting the use of roving energy managers to small businesses;
• Marketing the saveONenergy for Business Conservation Program;
• Enhancing the saveONenergy for Business Conservation Program;
• Working to make on-bill financing available for small businesses; and
• Providing long-term stable funding for small business programs under the Conservation First Framework.

Further Rate Mitigation Measures

The 2013 LTEP forecasts lower total electricity system costs for all years over the planning period (2013 - 2032) relative to the 2010 LTEP projections. This was driven by many factors including several actions taken by government to reduce costs and find efficiencies:

• Reducing Feed-In Tariff (FIT) prices; launching the competitive Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) program; new wind dispatch rules; amending the Green Energy Investment Agreement; and deferring building new nuclear;
• Working with its agencies - Hydro One, OPG, the IESO and the OEB - to develop business plans and efficiency targets that will reduce costs for these entities and result in significant ratepayer savings;
• Encouraging OPG and Hydro One to explore new business and opportunities inside and outside Ontario that will help leverage existing areas of expertise and grow revenues for the benefit of Ontarians;
• Identifying the potential for significant savings among the province’s local distribution companies (LDCs) through the Distribution Sector Review Panel;
• Looking closely at key features of the OEB's new regulatory framework for LDCs such as the Scorecard, which will report annually on key LDCs performance metrics, to develop further distribution sector policy options;
• Providing support for the Premier’s Council on Government Assets as it reviewed and identified opportunities to modernize OPG and Hydro One; and
• Putting conservation first, as it is one of the cleanest and most cost- effective energy resources that offers consumers a way to reduce their energy bills and reduces the need to build new generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.

A Reliable Energy System

Ontario is transitioning to a clean, reliable energy system by modernizing and upgrading its transmission and distribution grids, upgrading and refurbishing existing generation assets, and adding more renewable sources to the system for a balanced mix of clean power sources.

In addition, by piloting energy storage now through the 50 MW procurement of storage resources, Ontario is acting proactively to test new technologies, which hold significant promise for enhancing the reliability and efficiency of our grid.

The 2013 LTEP has a particular focus on the unique needs of Northern Ontario. The enhancement to the existing East-West Tie through the construction of a new line will maintain reliable electricity supply to the Northwest over the long term and make the system more efficient.

Through a competitive designation process, the OEB selected Upper Canada Transmission, operating as NextBridge Infrastructure, to undertake project development work. The project is currently on schedule and expected to be in service in 2020.

The Minister of Energy directed Hydro One in December 2013 to begin development work on a new bulk transmission line west of Thunder Bay. This line will increase transmission capacity and provide a means for new customers and growing loads to be served in this area, and was identified as one of the priority transmission projects in the 2013 LTEP.

Hydro One is working with Infrastructure Ontario (IO) to explore ways to ensure that the project is developed and delivered in a cost-effective manner, and results in value for Ontario electricity customers.

A new line to Pickle Lake is also a priority project as highlighted in the 2013 LTEP. The line will serve new demand in the area north of Dryden, including expected growth in mining activity in the area and possibly in the Ring of Fire. It is also a necessary first step to enable connections of remote First Nation communities.

The Minister of Energy directed the former OPA to develop a plan for connecting remote First Nation communities in northwestern Ontario to the provincial electricity grid. These communities currently rely on costly and polluting diesel generation for their electricity supply.

The former OPA produced an updated draft plan in August 2014 that identifies the value in connecting up to 21 of the 25 remote First Nation communities currently not connected to the provincial grid. Cost savings are expected over time, as communities will no longer rely on expensive diesel generation. This project was identified as a priority in the 2013 LTEP, but federal commitment and co-operation will be required to make it a reality.

Planning will also continue on the regional level, using an approach that considers conservation, demand management, distributed generation and transmission and distribution options. Regional planning assesses needs and options based on a region’s unique electricity infrastructure and community priorities. Ontario will continue to plan and study additional transmission projects as changing demand and supply conditions require.

1.2.3. A Clean Energy System

In 2009, the Legislature passed the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 (GEGEA) to encourage the development of renewable energy generation and to promote energy conservation.

Under the GEGEA, Ontario created the first comprehensive Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program in North America, which guarantees specific rates for energy generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, bioenergy and hydroelectricity. The FIT program has made it easier for homeowners, small businesses, farmers, not- for-profit groups, community groups, Aboriginal communities and large commercial developers to take part in renewable energy projects.

Eligible small renewable projects can obtain long-term electricity contracts under the FIT program. For new large renewable projects, the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) program has been established, which allows for the consideration of cost-efficient projects.

Renewable Energy Procurement

In the 2013 LTEP, Ontario set a target of 10,700 MW of wind, solar and bioenergy capacity online by 2021 and 9,300 MW of hydroelectricity by 2025. The FIT program and the LRP program are playing significant roles in meeting these targets.

Between 2013 and the end of 2017, 900 MW of new capacity will be made available through the FIT and microFIT programs. In 2014, the IESO announced 832 FIT contract offers totalling 223.5 MW.

In June 2013, the Minister of Energy directed the IESO to replace the Large FIT program with a new competitive procurement process, the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) program, and work with municipalities and Aboriginal communities to help identify appropriate locations and siting requirements.

Targets for the first round of procurement (LRP I) include up to 300 MW of wind, 140 MW of solar, 50 MW of bioenergy and 75 MW of hydroelectric capacity.

The LRP process includes an initial Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to qualify applicants, followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to evaluate projects.

On November 4, 2014 the IESO posted a list of 42 successful LRP I Qualified Applicants resulting from the LRP I RFQ process. On March 10, 2015, the IESO posted the final LRP I RFP and Contract. The project proposal submission period for LRP I will run until September 1, 2015.

A second round of procurement (LRP II) was committed to in the 2013 LTEP. Prior to undertaking LRP II, the IESO will conduct further stakeholder engagement to ensure that lessons learned from the LRP I process are taken into account.

Coal Phase-Out and Biomass Conversions

Ontario fulfilled its commitment to end coal-fired generation in advance of its target of the end of 2014. In April 2014, Thunder Bay Generating Station burned its last piece of coal, making Ontario the first jurisdiction in North America to fully eliminate coal as a source of electricity generation.

Replacing coal-fired electricity generation was the single largest climate change initiative undertaken in North America and was the equivalent of taking up to 7 million cars off the road. The province has replaced coal generation with a mix of emission-free electricity sources like nuclear, waterpower, wind and solar, along with lower-emission electricity sources like natural gas and biomass.

Two of Ontario’s former coal generating stations, Atikokan and Thunder Bay Generating Stations, were successfully converted from coal to biomass and advance biomass fuel, respectively.

The conversion of Atikokan to biomass was completed in July 2014. Atikokan is the largest 100 percent biomass-fueled facility in North America. The conversion created up to 200 construction jobs and protects existing jobs at the plant. The 205 MW plant is expected to generate 150 million kW hours of renewable power, enough to power more than 15,000 homes each year.

In February 2015, one unit at Thunder Bay Generating Station was converted to use advanced biomass putting Ontario on the leading edge of advanced biomass research worldwide. Like Atikokan Generating Station, this unit is able to respond to changes in electricity demand and provide power when it is needed.

Natural Gas-fired Generation

Gas-fired plants address local and provincial reliability needs during periods of peak demand.

Gas-fired generation facilities also complement Ontario’s nuclear and hydro facilities, which provide baseload power, and support the integration of non- hydroelectric renewables into the electricity system.

Natural gas facilities are an integral part of the government’s commitment to a diverse and clean supply mix.

Clean Imports

In the 2013 LTEP, Ontario committed to exploring opportunities for clean import agreements where such agreements would align well with Ontario’s system needs and provide value to ratepayers.

Following through on this commitment, in September 2014, Ontario established with Quebec a bilateral working group to explore energy issues of mutual interest, including the potential to enhance electricity trade.

On November 21, 2014, Ontario and Quebec signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a ten year seasonal capacity sharing agreement, which takes advantage of seasonal complementarities between the two systems. This clean import agreement will likely reduce the need for Ontario to procure additional capacity in the future, providing savings to Ontario ratepayers.

Ontario and Quebec continue to engage in discussions to explore opportunities for additional clean import agreements which could both help Ontario meet its emissions targets, and provide system benefits and value to ratepayers in both provinces.

Combined Heat and Power

Ontario has identified Combined Heat and Power (CHP) as a clean and efficient way to generate electricity and heat for nearby users. Over 480 MW has contracted since 2005 (434 MW of gas fired generation and 48 MW of biomass generation).

In November 2014, the IESO launched the first application window for the Combined Heat and Power Standard Offer Program (CHPSOP 2.0). This program facilitates the increased development of CHP facilities that are up to a maximum capacity of 20 MW in size and provide thermal energy to operations in target sectors, specifically: Agricultural Industry Projects and District Energy Projects.

Beyond this, the government will continue to encourage new local CHP generation projects, where price, size and location make sense.

Nuclear

Nuclear continues to be the backbone of Ontario’s supply, providing around 60 percent of the electricity used by Ontarians.

Ontario is moving forward with plans to refurbish a significant part of the province’s nuclear fleet through the refurbishment of four units at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station and six units at Bruce Nuclear Generating Station. During refurbishment, both OPG and Bruce Power will be subject to the strictest possible oversight to ensure safety, reliable supply and value for ratepayers.

Pickering Generating Station is expected to be in service until 2020. With Pickering Generating Station nearing the end of its life, the planned refurbishment of units at Darlington and the Bruce sites represent 10,000 MW of baseload capacity, including 1500 MW at the Bruce site that have already been refurbished.

Ontario will not proceed at this time with the construction of two new nuclear reactors at the Darlington Generating Station. However, the Ministry of Energy will work with OPG to maintain the site licence granted by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

Ontario will also support the export of our home-grown nuclear industry expertise, products and services to international markets.

1.2.4. Community Engagement

Renewable Energy

Ontario remains committed to renewable energy. The Ontario government greatly values local input and is committed to protecting residents and the natural environment in communities that host renewable energy projects.

Ontario is giving municipalities a stronger voice.

Ontario recognizes that Aboriginal participation in the energy sector is one of the keys to the economic development of First Nation and Métis communities. The government is committed to ensuring that First Nation and Métis communities are consulted on any energy activity that could potentially affect their Aboriginal or treaty rights.

In June 2013, the Minister of Energy directed the IESO to develop a competitive procurement process for future renewable energy projects generally over 500 kilowatts (kW). The new Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) program replaces the earlier large project stream of the FIT program.

The LRP program requires developers to take into account local needs and consideration before contracts are offered. The approach considers the views of local communities while ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s electricity system.

To further strengthen municipal participation and support communities, Ontario has:

• Revised the FIT program rules for projects between 10 kW and 500 kW to give priority to projects partnered or led by municipalities;
• Worked with municipalities to determine a property assessment rate increase for wind turbine towers; and
• Made funding available to help small and medium-sized municipalities develop municipal energy plans, which will help municipalities better understand their local energy needs and conservation opportunities, set goals and develop implementation plans.

Development of a New Integrated Regional Electricity Planning Process

Regional electricity planning has been conducted in Ontario for many years, both by transmitters and, since 2005, by the former OPA with other electricity entities. The focus of regional planning is on maintaining adequate and reliable supply to meet a region’s needs.

In 2013, the OEB formalized regional electricity infrastructure planning to ensure that transmitters, distributors, the former OPA and the IESO worked together to create plans that identify solutions to electricity needs.

On October 8, 2013, the Ministry of Energy announced that Ontario would improve the planning and siting of large energy infrastructure projects by implementing the 18 recommendations in the IESO and former OPA’s report called Engaging Local Communities in Ontario’s Electricity Planning Continuum. The report’s recommendations are grouped into four main themes:

• Bringing communities to the table;
• Linking local and provincial planning;
• Reinforcing the planning/siting continuum; and
• Enhancing electricity awareness and improving access to information.

The IESO is continuing to implement the recommendations put forward in the joint IESO and former OPA report, while continuing to move forward with current regional electricity planning activities.

Where integrated regional resource plans are being developed, the IESO formally engages with municipalities, communities and the energy sector.

OEB Consultation and Review of Energy East

On November 12, 2013 the OEB was asked by the Minister to review and consult with the public, First Nation and Métis communities and stakeholders on TransCanada’s proposed Energy East application and to report back.

The Ontario portion of the Energy East project would entail the conversion of 1,918 km of existing natural gas pipeline to crude oil service plus 105 km of new build crude oil pipeline. The final OEB report is expected in June 2015. The Ministry will use this report to help formulate the position it will take in the Energy East National Energy Board proceeding.

The OEB undertook two rounds of meetings with First Nation, Métis and local communities along the pipeline route in early 2014 and again in early 2015, the purpose of which were to provide a forum for Ontarians to express their views on the project. The OEB also hired experts to produce reports on natural gas price impacts, environmental impacts, pipeline safety, GHG emissions resulting from the pipeline, economic impact of Energy East on Ontario, and the implications of the project on Ontario natural gas consumers.

Ontario intends to be an activist intervener at the National Energy Board on the Energy East project. Ontario and Québec have agreed on joint principles and collaborative work to guide their respective decisions concerning pipeline projects, including TransCanada’s Energy East project.

Ontario’s Pipeline Principles

The 2013 LTEP announced Ontario’s six pipeline principles to guide reviews of large-scale pipeline projects to ensure they meet the highest environmental and safety standards and contribute in a positive manner to the Ontario economy.

The six principles cover technical standards for public and environmental safety; world-leading contingency planning and strengthening linkages between regional and land use planning; emergency response programs; duty to consult obligations with Aboriginal communities; local community consultation; demonstrable economic benefits; and assurances that economic and environmental risk are to be borne exclusively by the pipeline owner, who must also demonstrate financial assurances.

Putting Conservation First

Energy Conservation

Ontario is putting conservation first. Conservation is the cleanest and most cost- effective energy resource and it offers consumers a way to reduce their energy bills. As Ontario plans for its energy needs for the next 20 years, conservation will be considered before building new generation and transmission facilities and will be the preferred choice wherever it is cost-effective.

Through programs and improved codes and standards, Ontario expects to offset most of the growth in electricity demand to 2032, which will lessen the need for new supply.

The long-term conservation target of 30 TWh in 2032 represents a 16 percent reduction in forecasted gross demand for electricity – equivalent to more than all the power used by the City of Toronto in 2013. Ontario is also aiming to use demand response to meet 10 percent of peak demand by 2025.

Promoting energy conservation is key to ensuring both adequate energy supply and price competitiveness into the future.

Ontario’s new six-year Conservation First Framework was launched in January 2015. Under the new Framework, LDCs remain the face of conservation to their customers and have been provided with the funding and certainty they need to deliver conservation programs to their customers. The Framework builds on the success of current programs and supports the development of new programs to meet local needs and offer more choice for consumers.

Ontario’s new six-year Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework was launched in December 2014 and supports the delivery of natural gas programs in the province by natural gas utilities. The new Framework aligns with the Conservation First Framework and encourages coordination of electricity and natural gas conservation programs.

Smart Meters

Smart meters are an important part of modernizing Ontario’s electricity infrastructure - they deliver benefits for individual consumers and for the provincial electricity system as a whole.

Over 4.8 million smart meters deployed across the province are giving consumers more precise hourly readings of their energy consumption instead of just estimates. Smart meters allow consumers to better participate in energy conservation and have enabled time-of-use (TOU) pricing.

TOU rewards customers who shift electricity usage from peak to off-peak hours, when there is less demand on the system and electricity is less expensive to produce. At the system-level, reducing peak demand translates into avoiding or deferring the need for new generation, transmission and distribution system investments – costs which otherwise would have been borne by all Ontario electricity ratepayers.

Through initiatives such as Green Button, customers are increasingly able to access their smart meter data in a variety of forms, including connecting it with innovative software applications, and see their energy consumption patterns in near-real time. This enables new opportunities for conservation and energy cost management.

Ministry Programs and Activities

The Ministry of Energy is responsible for setting the legislative and policy framework to assure a clean, reliable and affordable electricity system for all Ontarians.

The Ministry develops and advises on all aspects of energy policy for Ontario, including electricity, natural gas and oil. It oversees the OEB and the IESO. The Ministry also represents the shareholder in dealings with Hydro One and OPG.

The Ministry is also responsible for updating and developing policy related to the LTEP.

The Ministry works with many partners inside and outside the government to promote energy conservation, and develop the electricity generation, transmission, distribution and other energy-related facilities that help power the economy, and ensure that Ontario remains one of the best places in the world in which to live, work, invest and raise a family.

Table 1: Ministry Planned Expenditures 2015-16 ($M)

	2015-16 Budget ($M)
Operating	940.1
Capital	0.002
TOTAL	940.1

Note: Totals include statutory appropriations but do not include operating and capital consolidation adjustments of $242.80 million.

Below is a detailed description of each program within the Ministry of Energy.

Ministry Administration

This program works to achieve ministry and government objectives by providing executive direction, strategic advice and vital corporate services, including communications, strategic human resources, accessibility, French Language Services, information technology and business solutions, legal services, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy activities, information and records management, accommodations and facilities management, emergency management, continuity of operations planning, procurement, controllership and accounting, and strategic and resource planning and allocation activities.

Energy Development and Management

This program is responsible for developing Ontario’s energy policy framework, which is central to the building of a strong and prosperous economy. It provides leadership and support to the energy sector to ensure clean, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supply, transmission and distribution systems. The program supports energy conservation and efficiency, grid modernization, and the development of cleaner forms of energy. The program supports effective policy, regulatory and business oversight of Ontario’s energy sector and agencies. This program also oversees engagement and consultation with First Nations and Métis on provincial energy sector activities and projects while facilitating the participation of Aboriginal communities in renewable energy and transmission system developments.

Electricity Price Mitigation

Electricity Price Mitigation programs help Ontarians manage electricity costs and assists consumers with the transition to a reliable and cleaner electricity system. These programs include the OCEB and the NOEC which is delivered as part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit.

• The OCEB provides direct relief to eligible electricity consumers, through a benefit equal to 10 percent of the total cost of electricity on their electricity bills including tax for the first 3,000 kWh per month of electricity consumed, until the end of 2015.
• The NOEC helps low-to moderate-income individuals and families living in northern Ontario with their home energy costs, which are often higher in the North due to more severe winters.

More information on the programs and policies in this document can be found online at:

• Ministry of Energy
• Ontario Energy Board (OEB)
• Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
• Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
• Hydro One

Highlights of 2014-15 achievements

In 2014-15, the Ministry of Energy continued to create and deliver key initiatives in support of the Ministry’s long-term priorities.

To meet these priorities, the 2013 LTEP set out the direction for Ontario’s energy future with the following five principles: cost-effectiveness, reliability, clean energy, community engagement and putting conservation first before building new generation and transmission facilities.

The following are highlights of achievements for 2014-15. For further information on each achievement, please refer to the Appendix: Annual Report.

1. Implementation of commitments under the updated 2013 LTEP.

In December 2013, the updated LTEP was released. It was developed after the most comprehensive consultation and engagement process undertaken to date by the Ministry, with input from thousands of people across the province.

The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with its related entities and various stakeholders, is working to implement commitments made under the 2013 LTEP.

2. Review of Part II of the Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010 (ECPA) by the OEB is under way.

In December 2013, the Minister requested that the OEB conduct a review of Part II of the ECPA and the regulations made under Part II and report back on any proposed recommendations to further strengthen its effectiveness.

3. Continued delivery of the OCEB, which is helping residential consumers, farms and small businesses transition to a cleaner, modern electricity system.

The ministry continued to provide a 10 percent rebate for the first 3,000 kWh of electricity consumed per month by families, farms and small businesses.

4. Continued delivery of the NOEC, which helps northern Ontario residents with the higher energy costs they face living in the North. The credit is paid monthly as part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit.

The NOEC is a refundable tax credit for low to middle-income individuals and families living in northern Ontario, effective for 2010 and subsequent years. The maximum annual credit for an individual is $143 and for a family (including single parents) is $221.

5. Expanded eligibility in IEI to allow for participation from a wider range of companies.

The IEI program is designed to capitalize on the province’s healthy supply of electricity by incenting increased production and expansion through reduced electricity rates.

The application window for the expanded program closed in November 2014. Under IEI, eligible companies in electricity-intensive sectors can qualify for a reduced electricity rate on their incremental consumption for a specified term. The IESO has contacted successful applicants and contract execution is pending.

6. Effective July 2015, expansion of the ICI program to include eligible customers with a monthly peak demand greater than 3 MW, down from the current threshold of 5 MW.

The ICI encourages eligible electricity consumers to shift consumption to off- peak hours to save on costs.

Approximately 200 of Ontario’s largest consumers are already participating in ICI – current participants save approximately 20 percent on average on their electricity bills by reducing consumption during peak hours and benefitting from ICI

The expansion will open participation to eligible electricity-intensive consumers in the manufacturing, mining, refrigerated warehousing, greenhouse and data processing sectors. Through this expansion, eligible consumers who participate in ICI will be able to reduce their electricity costs by reducing demand during peak hours.

7. Investment of $1.5 billion by Hydro One in improvements, replacements and expansions to its transmission and distribution systems.

This includes the west of London rewiring project and upgrades to a major transformer station in the Niagara area, and a new transformer station in Northwest Ontario.

In addition, Hydro One has completed more than $157 million in upgrades in the Toronto area, including upgrades to three major transformer stations.

8. Contracting and launch of Smart Grid Fund Round 2.

All 17 projects offered funding were successfully contracted by March 2015. The Minister announced the projects publicly in November 2014.

9. Opening of the smart grid laboratory at Ryerson University.

The Minister opened the laboratory in March 2015. This laboratory will be a collaborative facility for research, development and testing of smart grid algorithms, products and systems for Ontario institutions.

10. Supporting innovation through the development of the Advanced Energy Centre (AEC).

In February 2014, the Premier announced the establishment of the Advanced Energy Centre (AEC), a partnership between MaRS, Siemens and Capgemini. The AEC will help high-potential energy innovators commercialize in Ontario and export their solutions globally.

11. Launching and nearing completion of the procurement process to integrate 50 MW of energy storage resources into Ontario’s grid.

The 2013 LTEP made a commitment to include 50 MW of energy storage resources into procurement processes by the end of 2014.

This commitment has been fulfilled, with 34 MW already successfully selected in the first phase of the procurement for ancillary services, and the process to select the remaining 16 MW for capacity services underway through phase two, which is planned to be completed by August 2015.

12. Development and release of Ontario Energy Reporting.

In December 2014, the Ministry partnered with the IESO to launch OntarioEnergyReport.ca, a new website that provides content from across Ontario’s energy sector all in one place. The website also hosts quarterly reports that provide regular updates on electricity, and oil and natural gas data.

13. Becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to fully eliminate coal as a source of electricity generation when the last operating coal-fired facility, Thunder Bay Generating Station, burned its last supply of coal in April 2014.

Ontario is committed to investing in clean energy. Ontario became coal-free in April 2014. The elimination of coal as a source for electricity generation has resulted in a significant improvement in air quality in Ontario.

14. Signing an MOU with Quebec for 10 year seasonal capacity sharing agreement.

In August 2014, Ontario and Quebec Ministers of Energy committed to establishing a working group which would explore, among other key energy issues, the potential to enhance bilateral electricity trade.

In November 2014, Ontario and Quebec cabinets endorsed a seasonal capacity sharing agreement. Under the agreement, both provinces are expected to provide up to 500 MW of capacity, based on their respective seasonal and annual needs, over the period from December 1, 2015 to November 30, 2025. This agreement will likely reduce the need for Ontario to procure additional capacity, including potential new gas-fired capacity, and will provide value to ratepayers.

Ontario and Quebec continue to engage in discussions around the potential for additional clean import agreements.

15. Continued procurement of small renewable energy project generation capacity under the FIT and microFIT programs.

Between 2013 and the end of 2017, 900 MW of new capacity will be made available through the FIT and microFIT programs.

These measures are expected to create 6,400 jobs and to produce enough electricity each year to power more than 125,000 homes.

In 2014, the IESO announced 832 FIT contract offers totalling 223.5 MW. Approximately 100 percent of contract offers were participation projects.

16. Launching of Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) program.

On November 4, 2014 the IESO posted a list of 42 successful LRP I Qualified Applicants. On March 10, 2015, the IESO posted the final Request for Proposals (RFP) and Contract for LRP I.

The project proposal submission period will run from March 10 to September 1, 2015. Up to 565 MW of generation capacity is expected to be procured under LRP I.

In June 2013, the Minister directed the IESO to end procurement of large renewable energy projects under the FIT program and commence the development of a new competitive procurement process that will take into account local needs and considerations before contracts are offered.

17. Continuing to implement recommendations of the joint IESO/former OPA report to ensure Ontario builds energy infrastructure in a process that facilitates greater community involvement.

The IESO is continuing to implement the recommendations as regional planning is implemented across the province.

In October 2013, Ontario adopted in full the recommendations of the IESO and former OPA’s report on planning and siting.

18. Delivering on the commitment to put conservation first in electricity and natural gas utility planning processes at the regional and local levels.

In December 2014, the OEB also released the 2015-2020 DSM Framework which ensures that natural gas utilities consider DSM in infrastructure planning at the regional and local levels.

The Ministry is working with its related entities to acknowledge the Conservation First policy in their MOUs/Agreements with the Ministry and identify an executive within the organization to support the policy’s implementation.

19. Transition of Demand Response from a program approach to a market approach.

On March 31, 2014, a direction was issued to the former OPA, now IESO, to facilitate the transition of DR from a program approach to a market-based approach.

20. Launch of the new DSM Framework (2015-2020) for natural gas distributors.

In December 2014, the Ontario Energy Board released the 2015-2020 DSM Framework. The DSM Framework reflects the March 2014 Conservation Directive to the Ontario Energy Board.

21. Launch of the new Conservation First Framework on January 1, 2015.

Ontario’s new six-year Conservation First Framework was launched on January 1, 2015. Under the new Framework LDCs will remain the face of conservation to their customers, and are being provided with the funding and certainty they need to deliver conservation programs to their customers.

22. Implementation of the next phase of the Green Button Initiative and the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge - Connect My Data.

This initiative will provide energy consumers with tools to help manage and control their electricity consumption by allowing them to access their data in a standardized and machine-readable format.

The next phase of this initiative is the implementation of “Connect My Data,” which allows customers to automate the process of accessing their energy data through innovative third-party software applications.

The Ministry supported the development of energy applications through the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge, which awarded $50,000 to the winning developers. Two 12-month pilots were launched in late 2014 and are currently underway with London Hydro and Hydro One.

23. Launch of Round 2 of the Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) Program.

MEPs align energy, environmental issues, land use and growth planning to identify the best possible energy efficiency and green energy options for a community.

MEPs support regional energy planning and Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan, conservation policy, and the 2014 Provincial Policy Statement’s energy and land-use objectives.

24. Second successful reporting year under O Reg. 397/11 with a 93 percent reporting rate. In addition, in 2014, 82 percent of Broader Public Service (BPS) organizations provided links to their five-year conservation plans.

O.R .397/11 was established to help public entities (municipalities, municipal service boards, post-secondary, school boards, and hospitals) better understand how and where they use energy, and to develop conservation plans to guide energy savings.

This regulation requires broader public sector organizations to:

• report annually to the Ministry on their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions; and
• develop five- year energy conservation and demand management plans (CDM).

25. Continued partnership with Ontario EcoSchools to bring more energy conservation into the classroom.

The Ministry has partnered with Ontario Ecoschools, the largest environmental education program in the province.

In 2014-15 EcoSchools will provide over 1,200 teachers with information and resources to increase energy conservation through Professional Development (PD) sessions, bringing more energy conservation into the classroom with 302 schools supported under this initiative.

26. Delivering on the 2013 LTEP commitment to work make new financing tools available to consumers starting in 2015, including on-bill financing for energy efficiency retrofits.

The Ministry is promoting a voluntary utility led approach to implementing on-bill financing in Ontario.

Electricity and natural gas utilities are best positioned to assess local needs in their service territories and deliver on-bill financing based on identified need.

27. Delivering on the 2013 commitment to show leadership in establishing minimum efficiency requirements for products and appliances.

Ontario regulates more products than any other jurisdiction in Canada (including NRCan) and has the most stringent efficiency requirements in Canada for a number of products, such as residential appliances, lighting products and some HVAC and water heating products.

28. Development and implementation of Ontario’s Five-Point Small Business Energy Savings Plan

Five points of the business plan are to:

1. Promote the use of Roving Energy Managers to small businesses;
2. Market the saveONenergy for Business Conservation Program;
3. Enhance the saveONenergy for Business Conservation Program;
4. Work to make on-bill financing available for small businesses; and
5. Provide long-term stable funding for small businesses under the Conservation First Framework.

29. OEB holds province wide consultations on TransCanada’s Energy East crude oil pipeline project.

The OEB undertook First Nation, Métis and community meetings to learn the views of Ontarians with respect to the Energy East project.

The OEB also hired experts to provide technical reports on various aspects of the proposed project. The final OEB report is expected in June 2015.

30. Identification of six principles to be applied when reviewing pipeline projects.

Ontario adopted six principles it will use to review large scale pipeline projects to ensure that they meet the highest environmental and safety standards as well as benefit Ontario’s economy.

Ministry organization chart

As of May 12, 2015

• The Honourable Bob Chiarelli Minister of Energy
  • Deputy Minister, Serge Imbrogno
    • Director, Communications, John Whytock
    • Director, Legal Services, Carolyn Calwell
    • Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Information Officer, Central Agencies I&IT Cluster, Robert Devries
    • CAO&ADM, Corporate Services, Robert Burns
      • Director, Business Planning & Finance, Lawrence Wagner
      • Director, Service Management, Betty Morgan
      • Director, Strategic HR Business Unit, Dan Keating
    • ADM, Energy Supply Policy, Rick Jennings
      • Director, Energy Supply & Economics, Michael England (A)
      • Director, Nuclear Branch, Cedric Jobe
      • Director, Energy System Planning, Tim Christie (A)
    • ADM, Strategic, Network & Agency Policy, Michael Reid
      • Director, Delivery & Agency Policy, Douglas MacCallum
      • Director, Strategic Policy & Analytics, Scott Nelms
      • Director, Energy Networks & Partnerships, Ken Nakahara
    • ADM, Conservation & Renewable Energy, Kaili Sermat-Harding
      • Director, Conservation & Energy Efficiency, Usman Syed
      • Director, Conservation Programs & Partnerships, Jennifer Block
      • Renewable Energy Facilitation Office, Mirrun Zaveri

Agencies, Boards And Commissions (ABC)

Ontario Energy Board

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is a quasi-judicial adjudicative and regulatory tribunal that regulates the province’s electricity and natural gas sectors in the public interest.

The OEB’s mandate and powers in relation to the energy sector are set out principally in three statutes – the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, the Electricity Act, 1998 and the Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010 and the regulations made under those statutes. Other statutes, such as the Statutory Powers Procedure Act also inform the OEB’s jurisdiction and powers.

The revenues and expenses of the OEB are consolidated onto the Ministry’s financial records. However, the OEB’s operations and activities are fully-funded by its regulated stakeholders in the gas and electricity sectors, under the auspices of its cost-assessment authority pursuant to Ontario Regulation 16/08 (Assessment of Expenses and Expenditures).

OEB 2015-16 Budget

2015-16 Budget	$M
Operating Expense	31.7
Capital Expense	0.9
Total	32.6

Independent Electricity System Operator

On January 1, 2015, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) were amalgamated to become one organization known as the IESO.

The new IESO’s mandate is embodied in the Electricity Act, 1998. The new IESO’s primary responsibilities include ensuring there is enough power to meet the province’s energy needs in real time, planning and securing energy for the medium and long-term future, and coordinating province-wide conservation efforts. The IESO is also responsible for operating the Meter Data Management and Repository (MDM/R), the provincial system which stores and processes smart meter data.

The revenues and expenses of the IESO are consolidated onto the Ministry’s financial records. IESO recovers all its costs through an annual usage fee approved by the Ontario Energy Board and charged to electricity rate payers such that its expenses are fully offset from the electricity rate base.

ESO 2015-16 Budget

2015-16 Budget	$M
Operating Expense	185.0
Capital Expense	25.2
Total	210.2

Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation

Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One) is wholly-owned by the Province. The Government of Ontario, through the Minister of Energy, is the sole shareholder of Hydro One. Through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, it owns and operates most of Ontario’s electrical transmission system. It also serves as a local electricity distributor, mostly in rural communities throughout Ontario.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is in the business of generation and sale of electricity in Ontario. The Government of Ontario, through the Minister of Energy, is the sole shareholder of OPG. OPG operates the following generating assets: two nuclear generating stations, three thermal generating stations, 65 hydroelectric generating stations and two wind power turbines.

Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation 2015-16 Budget

2015-16 Budget	$M
Combined Projected Net Income	1,012

Detailed financial information

The following table summarizes the Ministry of Energy’s combined operating and capital budgets by program (or Vote) for 2015-16. The Ministry has three programs (Votes):

1. Ministry Administration
2. Energy Development and Management
3. Electricity Price Mitigation

Table 2: Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Votes

Votes/Programs	Estimates 2015-16 $	Changes from Estimates 2014-15 $	%	Estimates 2014-15* $	Interim Actuals 2014-15* $	Actuals 2013-14* $
Operating and capital expense
Ministry Administration Program	15,099,900			15,099,900	15,099,900	14,399,325
Energy Development and Management	38,941,100			38,941,100	32,840,100	29,119,881
Electricity Price Mitigation	886,000,000	(239,500,000)	(21)	1,125,500,000	1,104,835,700	1,031,465,954
Less: Special Warrants		(400,503,700)	(100)	400,503,700
Total Operating and Capital Expense to be Voted	940,041,000	161,003,700	21	779,037,300	1,152,775,700	1,074,985,160
Special Warrants		(400,503,700)	(100)	400,503,700
Statutory Appropriations	66,014			66,014	65,014	65,654
Ministry Total Operating & Capital Expense	940,107,014	(239,500,000)	(20)	1,179,607,014	1,152,840,714	1,075,050,814
Consolidation Adjustments:
Independent Electricity System Operator	210,231,200	50,957,700	32	159,273,500	213,292,600	149,856,926
Ontario Energy Board	32,572,600	(501,400)	(2)	33,074,000	30,771,100	34,035,303
Ontario Power Authority		(59,578,000)	(100)	59,578,000		58,080,000
Total Including Consolidation Adjustments	1,182,910,814	(248,621,700)	(17)	1,431,532,514	1,396,904,414	1,317,023,043
Capital assets Energy Development and Management	1,000			1,000	1,000
Total Capital Assets to be Voted	1,000			1,000	1,000

*Estimates, Interim Actuals and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure. Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2015 Ontario Budget.

For additional financial information, see:

• Expenditures Estimates
• Public Accounts of Ontario
• Ontario Budget

Legislation

The following is a list of legislation for which the Ministry of Energy has primary legislative or administrative responsibility.

1. Electricity Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 15, Sched. A
   • Except Parts V, V.1,VI, (Minister of Finance), Part VIII (Minister of Government and Consumer Services) and Part IX.1(Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure)
2. Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010, S.O. 2010, c. 8
3. Green Energy Act, 2009, S.O. 2009, c. 12, Sched. A
   • Except for section 10 and except for subsection 8 (2) which is shared with the Minister of Infrastructure
4. Hydro One Inc. Directors and Officers Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 3
5. Ministry of Energy Act, 2011, S.O. 2011, c. 9, Sched. 25
   • In respect of energy matters, except for sections 7 and 10 insofar as the powers and duties set out in those sections are required to develop and administer the Ontario Ethanol Growth Fund program, assigned to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
6. Ontario Clean Energy Benefit Act, 2010, S.O. 2010, c. 26, Sched. 13
   • Except in respect of sections 7, 8, 9 and 10, which are administered by the Minister of Finance.
7. Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 15, Sched. B
8. Power Corporation Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 18
9. The Toronto District Heating Corporation Act, 1980, S.O. 1980, c. 73
10. Toronto District Heating Corporation Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 15, Sched. C
    • Except for section 4

Glossary of terms

• ABCs - Agencies, Boards and Commissions
• BPS - Broader Public Sector
• CDM - Conservation and Demand Management
• CHP - Combined Heat and Power
• CNSC - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• ECPA - Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010
• FIT - Feed-in Tariff
• GEGEA - Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009
• GHG - Greenhouse Gas
• IESO - Independent Electricity System Operator
• IO - Infrastructure Ontario
• kW - Kilowatt
• kWh - Kilowatt Hours
• LDC - Local Distribution Company
• LRP - Large Renewable Procurement
• LTEP - Long-Term Energy Plan
• MEP - Municipal Energy Plan
• Mt - Megatonnes
• MW - Megawatts
• NOEC - Northern Ontario Energy Credit
• OCEB - Ontario Clean Energy Benefit
• OEB - Ontario Energy Board
• OPA - Ontario Power Authority
• OPG - Ontario Power Generation
• RFP - Request for Proposals
• RFQ - Request for Qualifications
• SGF - Smart Grid Fund
• TOU - Time-of-Use
• TWh - Terawatt-hour

Appendix: Annual report 2014-15

2014-15 Achievements

In 2014-15, the Ministry of Energy’s key achievements were:

1. Implementation of Commitments Under the Updated 2013 Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP)

In December 2013, the government released its updated Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP). In setting out the direction for Ontario’s energy future, the LTEP takes into account the following five principles: cost-effectiveness, reliability, clean energy, community engagement, and putting conservation first before building new generation or transmission.

Highlights of the 2013 LTEP include:

• Lessening the need for new supply by using conservation programs and improved codes and standards to offset most growth in electricity demand over the next 20 years;
• Lowering costs for consumers;
• Aiming to use Demand Response to meet 10 percent of peak demand by 2025;
• Working to make new financing tools available to consumers starting in 2015, including on bill financing for energy efficient retrofits;
• Moving ahead with nuclear refurbishment at both Darlington and Bruce Generating Stations, beginning in 2016;
• Extending the phasing-in of wind, solar and bioenergy for three more years than estimated in the 2010 LTEP, with 10,700 MW online by 2021;
• Increasing the hydroelectric energy target of 9,000 MW to 9,300 MW by 2025;
• Developing a new competitive procurement process with the IESO for future renewable projects generally larger than 500 kW;
• Continuing to encourage First Nation and Métis participation in transmission, renewable energy generation and conservation;
• Working with municipal and community partners to ensure early and meaningful involvement in regional electricity planning;
• Introducing a new energy reporting process as part of Ontario’s Open Government initiative, and helping to identify changes in demand and plan prudently for more resources if and when they are needed;
• Pursuing options with natural gas distributors and municipalities to expand the gas infrastructure to service more communities in rural and northern Ontario;
• The establishment of six pipeline principles the government will use to evaluate oil and natural gas pipeline projects; and
• Directing the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to undertake consultations with the public, including First Nation and Métis communities and stakeholders concerning TransCanada’s Energy East application and to report back.

2. Review of Part II of the Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010 (ECPA) by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB)

The Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010 (ECPA) and its supporting regulations came into effect on January 1, 2011 to offer enhanced protection to Ontario energy consumers. This legislation enhances protection of consumers in their dealings with energy retailers, ensuring that consumers will have the information they need to make the right decisions about energy contracts, and the confidence that they are protected by fair business practices. This legislation also provides the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) with a strong legislative framework to create codes and rules to protect Ontario’s electricity and natural gas consumers.

The Government is committed to ensuring that it is doing all that it can do to protect Ontario energy consumers in light of an evolving energy sector. Accordingly, in December 2013, the Minister of Energy requested that the OEB undertake a review of Part II of the ECPA and the regulations made under Part II of the ECPA, and report back on any proposed recommendations to further strengthen its effectiveness.

3. Continued Delivery of the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (OCEB)

The Ministry will continue to deliver the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (OCEB) program to help families, small businesses, and farms manage rising electricity prices until the end of 2015. The OCEB provides a benefit of 10 percent of the total cost of electricity on eligible consumers’ bills, including tax, limited to the first 3,000 kWh of electricity consumed each month until the end of 2015. Typical residential customers will receive an average annual benefit of $180.

To help make electricity more affordable for families following the conclusion of the OCEB on December 31, 2015, two new initiatives for providing assistance to residential consumers were proposed – the Ontario Electricity Support Program and the removal of the Debt Retirement Charge from residential users’ electricity bills. These programs were announced in April 23, 2014 and work is underway to meet their January 1, 2016 implementation dates.

The Ontario Electricity Support Program would provide targeted, ongoing assistance directly on the bills of eligible low-income electricity consumers after December 31, 2015. The proposed program is being implemented by the OEB with support from the Ministry of Energy and through collaboration with the IESO, LDCs, unit sub-metering providers and social service delivery agents. Through the Ontario Electricity Support Program, qualifying consumers could be eligible for a $20 to $50 monthly credit depending on their household size and income.

The government is planning to remove the Debt Retirement Charge from residential users' electricity bills after December 31, 2015. This would save a typical residential electricity ratepayer $5.60 per month before tax.

4. Continued Delivery of the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)

Continuing this year was the delivery of the Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC). The NOEC is a refundable tax credit for low-to middle-income individuals and families living in northern Ontario, effective for 2010 and subsequent years. The NOEC is paid monthly as part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit. The maximum annual credit for an individual is $143 and for a family (including single parents) is $221.

5. Expansion and New Window of IEI Program

The Industrial Electricity Incentive (IEI) program is designed to capitalize on the province’s healthy supply of electricity by incenting increased production and expansion through reduced electricity rates.

Ontario expanded eligibility in IEI to allow for participation from a wider range of companies. Under the new application window, which closed in November 2014, eligible companies in electricity-intensive sectors can qualify for a reduced electricity rate for the expansion at their facility for a specified term.

6. Expansion of ICI Program

The Industrial Conservation Initiative (ICI) encourages eligible electricity consumers to shift consumption to off-peak hours to save on costs. Approximately 200 of Ontario’s largest consumers are already participating in ICI Current participants save approximately 20 percent on average on their electricity bills by reducing consumption during peak hours.

Effective July 2015, the expanded program will include eligible customers with a monthly peak demand greater than 3 MW, down from the current threshold of 5 MW. This will open participation to electricity-intensive consumers in the manufacturing, mining, refrigerated warehousing, greenhouse and data processing sectors. Through this expansion, eligible consumers who participate in ICI will be able to reduce their electricity costs through reduced demand during peak hours.

7. Investment of $1.5 Billion by Hydro One in Improvements, Replacements and Expansions to its Power Systems

Since 2003, Hydro One has invested more than $13 billion in its transmission and distribution systems, including upgrades more than 11,000 km of lines. In 2014 alone, Hydro One invested over $1.5 billion in improvements, replacements, and expansions within its transmission and distribution systems.

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) estimates that significant transmission projects over the last ten years have increased Ontario’s transmission capacity by about 10,000 MW. Hydro One continues to make investments in improving supply and reliability through projects like the Midtown Toronto Transmission Reinforcement project, the Guelph Area Transmission Refurbishment and the new Clarington Transmission Station.

8. Contracting and Launch of Round 2 of the Smart Grid Fund (SGF)

With a solid foundation set by the deployment of smart meters, the continued modernization of the distribution system with smart grid technologies will:

• Improve system operation and reliability;
• Facilitate the addition of renewable and distributed generation to the grid; and
• Allow customers to have greater control over their energy usage.

In April 2011, the Ministry launched the Smart Grid Fund (SGF), a grant program that provides financial resources to help companies and organizations design, test and commercialize the next generation of smart grid solutions, further solidifying Ontario’s reputation as a global hub for smart grid technology. The SGF aims to develop and advance the smart grid in Ontario in the near term, create economic development opportunities and jobs for Ontario, and reduce risk and uncertainty of important electricity sector investments.

In November 2014, the ministry announced the 17 successful recipients from SGF Round 2. In total, SGF now supports over 25 innovative technology demonstrations. SGF is providing these projects with over $35 million in funding, resulting in over $150 million in total electricity sector investment. These projects are also creating over 900 jobs and involve over 20 utility partners.

9. Opening of the Smart Grid Laboratory at Ryerson University

In August 2013, the Ministry announced its support in the creation of a smart grid laboratory at Ryerson University Centre for Urban Energy. This Laboratory will be a collaborative facility for research, development and testing of smart grid algorithms, products and systems for Ontario institutions.

It will be used to develop strategies and solutions for effective use of Ontario’s smart meter investment including solutions for LDCs to leverage smart meters for technical innovation, reliability enhancement and improved delivery service. The infrastructure would integrate energy storage systems and renewable energy sources, which will model similar circumstances and challenges faced in Ontario.

The laboratory will also help educate and train the next generation of smart grid experts in Ontario. The Minister formally opened the laboratory in March 2015.

10. Supporting Innovation through the Development of the Advanced Energy Centre (AEC)

In February 2014, the Premier announced the establishment of the Advanced Energy Centre (AEC), a partnership between MaRS, Siemens and Capgemini.

The AEC, funded by the Ministry of Energy ($5 million), with contributions from MaRS Discovery District, and corporate partners including Capgemini and Siemens, will help high-potential energy innovators commercialize in Ontario and export their solutions globally. The AEC has added additional partners, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Hydro Ottawa, and has established itself as a thought leader in both domestic technology adoption and international market entry. The AEC is poised to deliver value to Ontario’s energy sector through the remainder of its mandate.

11. Integrating Energy Storage

Through direction to the former OPA and requests to the IESO, the Ministry fulfilled its LTEP 2013 commitment to include 50 MW of energy storage resources into the procurement processes. The LTEP also committed to addressing regulatory barriers to energy storage’s participation in Ontario’s electricity market, and to commission an independent assessment of the value of storage to Ontario.

An IESO-led Phase 1 of 2 energy storage procurement was completed in 2014, with the successful selection of 34 MW of energy storage resources to supply reliability services to the Ontario grid. Phase 2 of the procurement, to select the balance of 50 MW, kicked off in October 2014 with a Request for Qualification (RFQ) to participate in the currently ongoing Request for Proposals for storage to supply capacity services to the Ontario grid. It is anticipated that Phase 2 will be completed in the summer of 2015.

Progress has also been made in moving toward ensuring a level playing field for energy storage resources in the Ontario electricity market, whereby an OEB-led collaborative Storage Working Group submitted a document that clarifies the barriers that need to be addressed, and storage project data from the 50 MW procurement will support informed decisions on how best to move forward. In addition, the Ministry continues to work with the sector stakeholders.

12. Ontario Energy Reporting

The Ministry of Energy partnered with the IESO and other electricity entities to create OntarioEnergyReport.ca. Regular energy reporting was a commitment of the 2013 LTEP and supports the provincial Open Government initiative.

OntarioEnergyReport.ca includes content from the Ministry of Energy, IESO, OEB, Hydro One and OPG all in one place. OntarioEnergyReport.ca also houses quarterly Ontario Energy Reports that provide content on supply, demand and cost from the electricity and oil and natural gas sectors. The first Ontario Energy Report was released in December 2014, with the second coming out in March 2015. New reports will continue to be released each quarter to allow users to compare energy trends over time.

13. The Last Operating Coal-Fired facility Burned its Last Supply of Coal

Ontario fulfilled its commitment to end coal-fired generation in advance of its target of the end of 2014. In April 2014, Thunder Bay Generating Station burned its last coal and Ontario became the first jurisdiction in North America to fully eliminate the use of coal as a source of electricity generation.

With the last coal burned at Thunder Bay Generating Station, Ontario has now removed over 7,500 MW of coal fired capacity since 2003. This has reduced annual carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30 Mt.

Ontario’s phase-out of coal-fired electricity, achieved in April 2014, remains the single largest climate change initiative in North America.

14. Ontario Signed an MOU with Quebec for a 10-Year Seasonal Capacity Sharing Agreement

In the 2013 LTEP, Ontario committed to exploring opportunities for clean import agreements where such agreements would align well with Ontario’s system needs and provide value to ratepayers.

Following through on this commitment, in September 2014, Ontario established with Quebec a bilateral working group to explore key energy issues of mutual interest including the potential to enhance electricity trade.

On November 21, 2014, Ontario and Quebec signed an MOU for a seasonal capacity sharing agreement. Under the agreement, both provinces are expected to provide up to 500 MW of capacity, based on their respective seasonal and annual needs, over the period from December 1, 2015 to November 30, 2025. This agreement will likely reduce the need for Ontario to procure additional capacity, including potential new gas-fired capacity, and will provide value to ratepayers.

Ontario and Quebec continue to engage in discussions to explore opportunities for additional clean import agreements which could both help Ontario meet its emissions targets, and provide system benefits and value to ratepayers in both provinces.

15. Continued Procurement of Small Renewable Energy Project Generation Capacity under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and microfit Programs

In October 2009, the province launched the largest, most comprehensive clean energy initiative of its kind in North America. The FIT and microFIT programs, enabled by the GEGEA, continue to spark the development of renewable energy projects by offering standard pricing to developers of wind, water, solar, and bioenergy projects.

The FIT program delivers significant benefits to project developers, including communities, Aboriginal communities, municipalities and public sector entities that are leading or partnering on projects. It also delivers significant benefits to equipment suppliers and installers, consumers and the overall provincial economy.

Between 2013 and the end of 2017, 900 MW of new capacity will be made available through the FIT and microFIT programs. These procurements are expected to create 6,400 jobs and to produce enough electricity each year to power more than 125,000 homes.

In 2013, the FIT program rules were updated (FIT 3) to allow the prioritization of projects with municipal or public sector participation. FIT 3 applications were accepted from November 4 to December 13, 2013. On July 30, 2014, the IESO announced 500 FIT 3 contract offers totalling 123.5 MW and 63 Unconstructed Rooftop Solar Pilot (URSP) contracts totalling 15 MW. The capacity targets for both of these procurements were fully allocated.

On August 29, 2014, the Minister of Energy directed the IESO to extend the FIT 3 procurement by allocating up to 100 MW of the 2014 FIT procurement target (150 MW) to eligible FIT 3 applicants who did not receive contract offers. On December 19, 2014, the IESO announced 332 extended FIT 3 contract offers totalling 100 MW. 831 of the 832 FIT contracts offered in 2014 received priority in the contract award process because of municipal, public sector, co-operative or Aboriginal community participation in the project.

The microFIT program is for renewable energy projects 10 kW or smaller. On January 1, 2014, the IESO began accepting microFIT applications towards the 2014 procurement target of up to 65.3 MW.

As of December 24, 2014, more than 20,000 microFIT projects representing more than 170 MW of generation capacity have been connected to the grid.

On August 29, 2014, the Minister of Energy directed the IESO to conduct the annual price review process. The new price schedule was posted by the IESO on September 30, 2014 and came into effect immediately for the FIT Program, and as of January 1, 2015 for the microFIT program.

From December 1, 2014 to January 23, 2015, the IESO posted Discussion Papers that outlined proposed enhancements to the FIT and microFIT programs for stakeholder comment. On April 7, 2015, having considered the feedback received, the Minister directed the IESO to revise the FIT program. Changes to the program include a revised priority point system and points for voluntary price reductions to FIT contract prices. Draft FIT program rules were posted to the IESO website on April 28, 2015 for stakeholder comment.

16. Launching of Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) Process

In June 2013, the Minister directed the former OPA to end procurement of large renewable energy projects under the FIT program and commence the development of a new competitive procurement process.

The new LRP program replaces the large project stream of the FIT program, for future renewable energy projects generally larger than 500 kW. Developers are required to take into account local needs and considerations before contracts are offered.

The LRP program includes an initial Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to qualify applicants, followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to evaluate projects. On November 4, 2014, the IESO posted a list of 42 successful RFQ applicants who are eligible to submit proposals under the RFP.

On November 7, 2014, the Minister directed the IESO on aspects of the RFP, including mandatory engagement and site consideration activities. On November 17, 2014, the IESO posted the draft RFP and draft Contract for public review and comment until December 19, 2014.

On March 10, 2015, the IESO posted the final RFP and Contract. The LRP I project proposal submission period runs from March 10 to September 1, 2015.

In addition to mandatory LRP I requirements for community engagement, points will be awarded to proposals that demonstrate engagement over and above the mandatory requirements. Projects that receive points may increase their likelihood of success in the RFP process.

17. Implemented Recommendations of Joint IESO/former OPA Report to Ensure Ontario Builds Energy Infrastructure in a Process that Facilitates Greater Community Involvement

In October 2013, Ontario adopted in full the recommendations of the IESO and former OPA’s report on planning and siting. The IESO is continuing to implement the recommendations as regional planning is implemented across the province.

18. Delivering on the Commitment to Put Conservation First in Electricity and Natural Gas Utility Planning Process at the Regional and Local Levels

As part of the Conservation First Framework, launched January 1, 2015, the IESO is encouraging electricity utilities to work collaboratively to develop regional conservation plans and targets to incorporate the policy of conservation first into regional planning.

On March 31, 2014, Ontario also directed the OEB to consider and take appropriate steps by January 1, 2015 to implement the government’s policy of putting conservation first in electricity and natural gas utility planning processes at the regional and local levels.

In December 2014, the OEB responded by releasing Conservation and Demand Management Guidelines for LDCs. The Guidelines outline how LDCs should consider conservation in their demand forecasts, cost of service applications, and transmission applications. The Guidelines also specify cases where distributors may apply to fund conservation initiatives through distribution rates to address local system constraints.

In December 2014, the OEB also released the new Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework which ensures that natural gas utilities consider DSM in infrastructure planning at the regional and local levels.

19. Transition of Demand Response from a Program Approach to a Market Approach

On March 31, 2014, a direction was issued to the former OPA, now IESO, to facilitate the transition of Demand Response (DR) from a program approach to a market-based approach.

IESO is expected to hold the first DR Auction in the last quarter of 2015 for a procurement of approximately 360 MW.

DR pilots are being planned with delivery beginning in 2016.

20. Launch of the new Demand Side Management Framework (2015-2020) for Natural Gas Distributors

In December 2014, the OEB released the 2015-2020 Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework. The DSM Framework reflects the March 2014 Conservation Directive to the Ontario Energy Board and supports the continued delivery of natural gas conservation programs in the province.

The 2015-2020 DSM Framework seeks to align natural gas DSM with the new Conservation First Framework and puts conservation first, by:

• Doubling budgets (8.42 percent of total average natural gas distribution revenue), bringing Ontario’s total spending on DSM in-line with leading U.S. jurisdictions;
• Ensuring that natural gas utilities consider DSM in infrastructure planning at the regional and local levels;
• Applying a 15 percent non-energy benefit added to the cost-benefit test used to screen DSM programs, to account for the environmental and social benefits of natural gas DSM; and
• Encouraging the coordination and integration of natural gas conservation programs with electricity conservation programs.

21. Launch of the New Conservation First Framework

Ontario’s new six-year Conservation First Framework was launched on January 1, 2015. Under the new Framework, LDCs will remain the face of conservation to their customers and are being provided with the funding and certainty they need to deliver conservation programs to their customers.

The new Conservation First Framework was established through a directive to the Ontario Energy Board (dated March 26, 2014) and a direction to the IESO (dated March 31, 2014).

The directive to the OEB provides the regulatory context and outlines the role of the OEB in the Conservation First Framework. The directive requires the Board to establish, as a condition of license, that electricity distributors make conservation programs available to all customer segments within their service area. This will ensure conservation programs are available throughout the province.

As of December 31, 2014, the OEB amended all LDCs licences to include a requirement to deliver programs to each customer segment in their service area.

The OEB was also directed to consider and take appropriate steps to implement the policy of conservation first in electricity and natural gas distributor infrastructure planning processes at the regional and local levels.

The direction to the former OPA directed that the IESO coordinate, support and fund the delivery of conservation programs through local electric utilities to achieve a 7 TWh reduction in electricity consumption in 2020.

This approach builds on the success of current programs and supports the development of new programs to meet local needs and offer more choice for consumers. Local utilities know their customers and are in the best position to deliver conservation programs.

The new Framework gives local utilities more control over the conservation programs offered in their service area, and a streamlined approvals process through the IESO to encourage innovation in program design.

22. Implementation of the Next Phase of the Green Button Initiative and the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge - Connect My Data

The Green Button Initiative is designed to provide energy consumers with tools to help manage and control their energy consumption. The Ministry is coordinating this initiative along with a MaRS-led working group.

This initiative has reached an important milestone in early 2014, with 60 percent of the province’s electricity customers now able to access their electricity consumption data in Green Button format. Through the next phase of the initiative, Connect My Data, customers will be able to securely share their data with third party applications designed to promote conservation and energy efficiency, among other benefits.

To help build the software applications needed for consumers, the Ministry supported the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge, which provided $50,000 in awards to developers to build the next generation of energy applications. This challenge received 27 submissions, including three from outside Ontario and provided awards in six categories. As part of the next steps, the Ministry is supporting two Green Button Connect My Data pilot projects with London Hydro and Hydro One, which were launched in late 2014.

23. Launch of Round 2 of the Municipal Energy Plan Program (MEP)

In August 2013, the ministry launched the Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) Program. The MEP program is designed to help municipalities better understand their local energy needs and conservation opportunities, set goals and develop implementation plans. Participation is optional and will complement the LTEP and regional energy plans by focusing on unique community needs and goals.

The program will help municipalities develop energy plans that focus on increasing conservation and help identify the best energy infrastructure options for a community. Energy plans help municipalities:

• Assess their energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
• Identify opportunities to conserve, improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions;
• Consider impact of future growth and options for local clean energy generation; and
• Support economic development by better meeting local energy needs. Engaging municipalities is part of the government’s plan to build strong communities, powered by clean, reliable and affordable energy.

24. Second Successful Reporting Year Under the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plans Regulation

A key conservation initiative that will assist Ontario in achieving its conservation goals is the energy reporting and conservation plan regulation (O. Reg. 397/11 (Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plans)) developed under the Green Energy Act, 2009. O. Reg. 397/11 became effective January 1, 2012.

The regulation requires certain broader public sector (BPS) organizations, including hospitals, municipalities, universities, colleges, school boards and municipal service boards responsible for water and sewage treatment and pumping operations to:

• Report on their annual energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in designated buildings/facilities by July 1 beginning in 2013; and
• Develop and implement five-year energy conservation and demand management plans (CDM) plans by July 1, 2014.

The requirement for BPS organizations to report their energy use and develop conservation plans:

• Raises the profile of energy conservation within BPS organizations;
• Helps identify energy savings opportunities to manage energy costs, which can free up funding for core activities;
• Allows organizations to track and benchmark their energy usage; and
• Assists Ontario in achieving its Long-Term Energy Plan conservation target of 30 TWh in 2032.

The Ministry provided significant support to assist BPS organizations in meeting the reporting requirements, including online guidelines and instructional videos, sector webinars and a customer service email account.

95 percent of all BPS organizations reported to the Ministry by July 23, 2013. As part of Open Government, BPS data has been posted on Open Data. It will provide a resource for research and potential economic activity. In addition, in 2014, 82 percent of BPS organizations provided links to their five-year conservation plans.

25. Continued Partnership with Ontario EcoSchools to Bring More Energy Conservation Into the Classroom

The Ministry is continuing to work with Ontario EcoSchools to bring more information about energy conservation into the curriculum for students and teachers (Public, Catholic, and French-language) through the Energy Conservation Education (ECE) Teacher Professional Development Program.

The program focuses on providing teachers with the knowledge and resources to increase energy conservation education through professional development sessions. Teachers are agents of change within the school community and teacher professional development is a key method for schools to build the capacity to implement teaching and learning strategies for energy conservation. By targeting teacher capacity, this project fills the void for quality professional development focused on energy conservation in Ontario.

Ontario EcoSchools uses the local school as an energy education resource, encouraging students to reduce energy use in the classroom and providing them with skills they can take back home.

26. Delivering on 2013 LTEP Commitment to Make New Financing Tools Available to Customers Starting in 2015

On September 11, 2014, the Ministry of Energy held a consultation session with stakeholders to seek feedback regarding on-bill financing implementation options.

A total of 48 stakeholders participated in the consultation, including electricity utilities, natural gas utilities, industry groups and advocacy groups.

Based on feedback received from stakeholders, the Ministry decided to promote a voluntary utility led approach to implementing on-bill financing in Ontario.

Electricity and natural gas utilities are best positioned to assess local needs in their service territories and deliver on-bill financing based on identified need.

To facilitate the delivery of on-bill financing, the government is seeking to make regulatory amendments to clarify that on-bill financing is an activity that electricity utilities can undertake.

Natural gas utilities in Ontario can implement on-bill financing programs within their existing regulatory frameworks.

A number of utilities have expressed interest in offering on-bill financing to their customers and are currently exploring opportunities through the electricity Conservation First Framework and the natural gas DSM Framework.

27. Delivering on the 2013 Commitment to Show Leadership in Establishing Minimum Efficiency Requirements for Products and Appliances$

Ontario regulates more products than any other jurisdiction in Canada (including NRCan) and has the most stringent efficiency requirements in Canada for a number of products, such as residential appliances, lighting products and some HVAC and water heating products.

28. Ontario has Developed and is Implementing a Five Point Small Business Energy Savings Plan

Ontario has developed a new five-point plan to help mitigate electricity rate increases for small businesses by offering enhanced conservation programs. In partnership with LDCs and key sector entities, the plan will help small businesses conserve energy, manage costs and save money.

Five points of the plan being implemented in Ontario are:

1. Promoting the use of Roving Energy Managers to small businesses;
2. Marketing the saveONenergy for Business Conservation Program;
3. Enhancing the saveONenergy for Business Conservation Program;
4. Working to make on-Bill Financing available for small businesses; and
5. Providing long-term stable funding for small businesses under the Conservation First Framework.

29. Ontario Energy Board Holds Province-Wide Consultations on TransCanada’s Energy East Crude Oil Pipeline Project

In November 2013 the Minister asked the OEB to examine and report on TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline proposal. As part of the work, the Minister

requested the Board to meet with First Nation, Métis and communities along the pipeline route. The Minister also asked the Board to consider the implications of four areas of potential impact of TransCanada’s proposed Energy East Pipeline:

1. The impacts on Ontario natural gas consumers in terms of prices, reliability and access to supply, especially for those consumers living in eastern and northern Ontario;
2. The impacts on pipeline safety and the natural environment in Ontario;
3. The impacts on Aboriginal communities in Ontario, in particular how treaty and Aboriginal rights may be affected; and
4. The short and long term economic impacts of the project in Ontario.

To assist it in understanding the issues and to provide technical expertise, the Board hired experts which collectively produced the following six reports pertaining to the Energy East application:

1. Impact of Energy East on Ontario Natural Gas Prices;
2. Assessment of Impacts on the Natural Environment;
3. Assessment of Impacts on Pipeline Safety;
4. A discussion paper on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Resulting from the Energy East Pipeline Project;
5. A Review of the Economic Impact of Energy East on Ontario; and
6. Energy East Oil Pipeline: Potential Implications on Ontario Natural Gas Consumers.

Additionally, the Board hired a consultant to prepare a submission on the First Nation and Métis Community discussions pertaining to TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline. This report will be used by the Board in the drafting of its final report to the Minister.

The OEB held two rounds of First Nation, Métis and community meetings in the first half of 2014 and in January 2015. These meetings provided an opportunity for these groups to voice their concerns and raise issues about the project. The Board also held stakeholder forums in 2014 and 2015 to hear the views of industry and local natural gas distribution companies within Ontario.

The OEB’s final report on the Energy East pipeline is expected to be filed in May or June of 2015.

30. Ontario Identifies Six Principles it Will Apply When Reviewing Pipeline Projects

Ontario adopted six principles it will use to review large scale pipeline projects to ensure that they meet the highest environmental and safety standards as well as benefit Ontario’s economy.

Those principles are:

1. Pipelines must meet the highest available technical standards for public safety and environmental protection;
2. Pipelines must have the world leading contingency planning and emergency response programs;
3. Proponents and governments must fulfill their duty to consult obligations with Aboriginal communities;
4. Local communities must be consulted;
5. Projects should provide demonstrable economic benefits and opportunities to the people of Ontario, over both the short and long term; and
6. Economic and environmental risks and responsibilities, including remediation should be borne exclusively by the pipeline companies, who must also provide financial assurance demonstrating their capability to respond to leaks and spills.

Oil and natural gas pipelines are essential to Ontario’s economic prosperity. Ontario will continue to work with its federal and provincial partners to ensure that these six principles are applied to all pipelines within Ontario, regardless of whether regulatory oversight rests at the provincial or federal level.

Table 3: Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures 2014-15

	Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures ($M) 2014-15*
Operating	1,156.8
Capital	26.0
Staff Strength** (as of March 31, 2015)	196

*Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2015 Ontario Budget

** Ontario Public Service Full-Time Equivalent Positions