From October 2016 to January 2017, we hosted 17 stakeholder roundtable sessions and public open houses in communities across the province, along with 17 Indigenous engagement sessions.

There were also approximately 1,500 submissions posted through the Environmental Registry, and 2,285 people completed an online survey that included a comment section.

Taken together, this feedback will help inform the development of policies and programs for the next LTEP.

Public open houses

There were 17 public open houses, attended by hundreds of Ontarians.

Read what happened at each below.

Toronto

Location: YMCA

Date: October 25, 2016

In attendance: 60

What we heard

  • Transition towards 100% renewable energy
  • Decommission nuclear energy plants; do not pursue refurbishment
  • Incorporate new technologies
  • Develop an integrated approach for de-carbonization
  • Increase carbon price on oil and natural gas
  • Place a moratorium on pipeline development
  • Expand the Ontario Electricity Support Program
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Resume Large Renewable Procurement II
  • Opposed to sale of Hydro One
  • Increase interties with Quebec
  • Better explain the Global Adjustment
  • Create more Indigenous-focused consultations and programs
  • Natural gas expansion runs counter to province’s climate change objectives
  • Prefer town hall meetings as opposed to open houses

Sudbury

Location: Willet Green Miller Centre

Date: October 27, 2016

In attendance: 30

What we heard

  • Transition towards 100% renewable energy
  • Promote energy literacy, particularly the benefits of conservation and available programs
  • Generate electricity from landfill-based methane and geothermal
  • Address Northern Ontario’s concerns specific to Energy East
  • Refineries should be incorporated into pipeline planning
  • Concerns with gasoline pricing
  • Resume Large Renewable Procurement II
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Northern Ontario has unique energy needs

Barrie

Location: Monte-Carlo Inn

Date: November 1, 2016

In attendance: 25

What we heard

  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Promote energy literacy, particularly available programs
  • Transition towards 100% renewable energy
  • Opposed to sale of Hydro One
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Prefer town hall meetings as opposed to open houses
  • More must be done to promote conservation
  • Expand natural gas access to rural Ontario
  • Concern with cap and trade costs on families and business
  • Consider full lifecycle costs including waste in nuclear planning
  • Increase interties with Quebec

Kenora

Location: Clarion Lakeside Inn and Conference Centre

Date: November 1, 2016

In attendance: 10

What we heard

  • Demonstrate benefits of electric heating and provide incentives to encourage its use
  • Power interruptions are common outside of Kenora
  • Electric vehicles may not be reliable in Northern Ontario
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Kenora residents are building off-the-grid residential homes
  • Consider Northern Ontario is winter-peaking
  • Prefer town hall meetings as opposed to open houses

Thunder Bay

Location: Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel

Date: November 2, 2016

In attendance: 20

What we heard

  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Decommission nuclear energy plants
  • Northern Ontario experiences power outages due to a lack of transmission
  • Increase interties with Quebec
  • Transition towards 100% renewable energy
  • Need to invest more in energy storage
  • Expand natural gas access in Northern Ontario
  • Energy solutions that serve southern Ontario don’t necessarily serve northern Ontario

Peterborough

Location: Peterborough Lions Community Centre

Date: November 3, 2016

In attendance: 40

What we heard

  • Questions on incentives available for home energy retrofits
  • Move towards net-zero housing by 2030
  • Decommission nuclear energy plants
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Continue renewable energy procurement
  • Promote microgrid technology
  • Local communities should have a greater role in energy planning

Sault St. Marie

Location: Algoma’s Water Tower Inn

Date: November 15, 2016

In attendance: 15

What we heard

  • Need better communication for rate mitigation measures
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Concerns raised about pipeline safety
  • Support for renewable energy, as well as concern about nuclear and fossil fuels
  • Environmental concerns raised about a local wind energy project
  • Questions on benefit of smart grid and implications of nuclear waste

Timmins

Location: Days Inn and Conference Centre

Date: November 16, 2016

In attendance: 8

What we heard

  • Transmission constraints
  • Concerns with the global adjustment
  • The components of a residential natural gas bill
  • District heating
  • Need for predictability of electricity prices
  • More focus is needed in Northern issues
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Interest in microgrids, storage technologies and net metering
  • Interest in biomass
  • Concerns with energy retailers
  • Interest in net metering

St. Catharines

Location: Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Conference Centre

Date: November 17, 2016

In attendance: 25

What we heard

  • Preferences for different types of generation (Nuclear, renewables)
  • Concerns with wind development
  • Resume Large Renewable Procurement II
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Promote energy literacy, particularly the benefits of conservation and available programs

Guelph

Location: Holiday Inn Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre

Date: November 21, 2016

In attendance: 30

What we heard

  • Concerns with wind development
  • Transition towards 100% renewable energy
  • Ontario should proceed with nuclear refurbishment
  • Supply should have full-cost accounting of costs and emissions
  • Increase interties with Quebec
  • There should be a Canada Energy Strategy
  • There should be better ties between energy planners and housing developers
  • 8% HST rebate is bad as it benefits the higher consumption users
  • Supportive of changes to net metering

Pembroke

Location: Best Western Pembroke Inn & Conference Centre

Date: November 22, 2016

In attendance: 30

What we heard

  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Questions on how cap and trade reduces emissions
  • Opportunities for regional planning in effectively siting projects
  • Concerns about consultation process for pipeline projects
  • Interest in net metering; concerns about cost of large renewables
  • Promote energy literacy, particularly the benefits of conservation and available programs

Ottawa

Location: Nepean Sportsplex

Date: November 23, 2016

In attendance: 60

What we heard

  • Decommission nuclear energy plants; do not pursue refurbishment
  • Increase interties with Quebec
  • Consider impacts of nuclear waste
  • Prefer town hall meetings as opposed to open houses
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • More conservation programs are needed
  • Increased local input in renewable energy development

Kingston

Location: Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront

Date: November 24, 2016

In attendance: 25

What we heard

  • Don’t add supply in times of system surplus
  • Concerns with wind and solar development ; desire for regional consultation
  • Nuclear safety concerns
  • Delivery charge should be based on electricity used
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • Empower customers with literacy tools, net metering programs and home energy storage
  • electric vehicle apps should include status of charging stations

Windsor

Location: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites

Date: November 28, 2016

In attendance: 30

What we heard

  • Microgrids should be pursued over other alternatives
  • Develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure on major highways
  • Cap and trade needs to consider rural areas not served by public transit
  • Decommission nuclear energy plants; do not pursue refurbishment
  • Transition towards 100% renewable energy
  • Government should offer more audit/retrofit programs
  • Economic development officers need support in explaining industrial rates (i.e., what is ‘all-in’ rate after the Industrial Conservation Initiative)
  • Need transmission capacity to connect greenhouses
  • Ontario should pursue interties/contracts with US states
  • Opposed to sale of Hydro One
  • Make the Environmental Registry more user-friendly
  • Pursue "pay as you save" financing for retrofits

Kitchener

Location: Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre

Date: November 28, 2016

In attendance: 50

What we heard

  • Rural Ontarians face reliability issues
  • The government should not force ratepayers to pay for the Ontario Electricity Support Program or Indigenous-related energy programs
  • Delivery charge should be equal across the province
  • The government should cancel renewable procurements
  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Maintain public ownership of energy infrastructure
  • Prefer town hall meetings as opposed to open houses
  • Resume Large Renewable Procurement II
  • Increase support for energy storage, hydrogen fuel cell research
  • Maintain conservation first approach

London

Location: Best Western Plus Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre

Date: November 29, 2016

In attendance: 40

What we heard

  • Reduce electricity prices
  • Opposed to sale of Hydro One
  • Expand natural gas access to rural Ontario
  • Concern with impact of cap and trade costs on families and business
  • Strong opposition to wind development. Government should ensure community support for renewable projects
  • Deep Geological Repository should not be built on Great Lakes Basin
  • Decommission nuclear energy plants; do not pursue refurbishment
  • Pipelines are safer for transporting fuel than rail
  • Improve energy literacy and skills development for energy sector

Mississauga

Location: Mississauga Living Arts Centre

Date: November 30, 2016

In attendance: 50

What we heard

  • Transition towards 100% renewable energy, and other support for renewable development expressed
  • Decommission nuclear energy plants; do not pursue refurbishment
  • Government should consider the quality of energy jobs
  • Building codes should be regulated to encourage energy efficiency
  • Interest in innovation and how to encourage it without picking winners
  • Promote energy literacy, particularly the benefits of conservation and available programs

Stakeholder sessions

Approximately 550 stakeholders from the energy sector, the business community and various municipalities attended roundtables focused on five major themes. These included:

  • energy delivery
  • innovation
  • energy supply
  • conservation and energy efficiency
  • energy prices

Read a summary of feedback below.

Toronto

Date: October 24, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 92
  • Energy Supply Groups: 42
  • Transmission and Distribution: 11
  • Other Private Sector: 23
  • Communities: 1
  • Other Public Sector: 15

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Consider impacts of climate change policy on grid and natural gas industry; Enable utilities to invest in new technologies

Innovation: Changes to regulatory framework can help spur innovation; Customer, not government, should dictate the technologies that emerge

Supply: Consider full lifecycle costs; retain flexibility in supply mix

Conservation: Expand programs to include other fuels and tailored programs for specific customers

Price: Costs for residents and businesses are too high; affecting competitiveness with neighbouring jurisdictions

Sudbury

Date: October 27, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 40
  • Energy Supply Groups: 13
  • Transmission and Distribution: 7
  • Other Private Sector: 9
  • Communities: 4
  • Other Public Sector: 7

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Consider new opportunities/ business models for local distribution companies to raise capital; support outcome based regulatory approach; voluntary consolidation should continue

Innovation: Highlighted technologies included energy storage, distributed energy, microgrids and electric vehicles.

Supply: Sector must be prepared to respond to changes brought on by distributed generation; More demand side management incentives can reduce need for fuels infrastructure

Conservation: Consider new energy management technologies and strategies such as benchmarking to increase conservation

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness; consider carbon-price impacts

Barrie

Date: November 1, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 26
  • Energy Supply Groups: 5
  • Transmission and Distribution: 6
  • Other Private Sector: 6
  • Communities: 4
  • Other Public Sector: 5

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Consider new opportunities/business models for local distribution companies to raise capital; distributed energy creates opportunities and challenges for local distribution companies

Innovation: Highlighted technologies included energy storage, distributed energy, microgrids and electric vehicles.

Supply: Consider capacity markets for supply going forward; distributed generation will present opportunities and challenges; consider economic development in supply decisions

Conservation: Promote benefits of conservation through community organizations; broaden conservation programs to include other fuels

Price: Prices are impacting industrial competitiveness; desire from industry for cost-certainty; improve consumer literacy to explain why bills have been increasing

Kenora

Date: November 1, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 10
  • Energy Supply Groups: 2
  • Transmission and Distribution: 3
  • Other Private Sector: 1
  • Communities: 0
  • Other Public Sector: 4

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Delivery charge is confusing term for customers; consider more interconnections with other jurisdictions; delivery charge should be consistent across province

Innovation: Electric vehicles may be present unique challenges in Northern climates

Supply: Distributed generation will present opportunities and challenges; question about MicroFIT program

Conservation: Changes to codes and standards, and building code can improve energy efficiency and conservation

Price: Prices are impacting industrial competitiveness

Thunder Bay

Date: November 2, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 28
  • Energy Supply Groups: 7
  • Transmission and Distribution: 0
  • Other Private Sector: 5
  • Communities: 14
  • Other Public Sector: 2

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Need increased transmission capacity and improved reliability in the North; consider changing "beneficiary pays" principle for new transmission

Innovation: Technologies discussed included energy storage, small modular reactors, advanced biomass and electric vehicles

Supply: Provide more input to communities and consider economic development when making supply decisions

Conservation: Continue and enhance existing programs; broaden conservation programs to include other fuels

Price: Desire from industry for cost-certainty; improve consumer literacy to explain why bills have been increasing

Peterborough

Date: November 3, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 22
  • Energy Supply Groups: 9
  • Transmission and Distribution: 2
  • Other Private Sector: 4
  • Communities: 6
  • Other Public Sector: 1

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Communicate that costs go towards improved infrastructure; consider expanding access to natural gas

Innovation: Technologies discussed included microgrids, net zero homes, distributed energy, energy storage and renewable natural gas

Supply: Provide more input to communities and consider economic development when making supply decisions; consider capacity markets for supply going forward

Conservation: Continue and enhance existing programs; broaden conservation programs to include other fuels; educate students on benefits of conservation

Price: Desire from industry for cost-certainty; improve consumer literacy to explain why bills have been increasing; consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates

Sault Ste. Marie

Date: November 15, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 10
  • Energy Supply Groups: 2
  • Transmission and Distribution: 5
  • Other Private Sector: 1
  • Communities: 1
  • Other Public Sector: 1

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Change rate design to allow for smart grid projects with system benefits; expand transmission system to enable new renewable projects; delivery charges should be consistent across the province

Innovation: Renewable fuels may create issues in colder climates

Supply: Environmental requirements for fuel content have created supply challenges

Conservation: Specific programs for northern/rural communities should be offered; Support for conservation must be maintained, consider opportunities to address line loss.

Price: N/A

Timmins

Date: November 16, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 9
  • Energy Supply Groups: 2
  • Transmission and Distribution: 3
  • Other Private Sector: 0
  • Communities: 0
  • Other Public Sector: 4

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Communicate updates on pipeline projects and benefits (reliability and expansions) of transmission projects; delivery charges should be consistent across the province

Innovation: Different energy storage technologies discussed included flywheels, batteries, compressed air and pumped storage

Supply: Provide more input to communities and consider economic development when making supply decisions

Conservation: Tailor programs to certain customers and regions; broaden conservation programs to include other fuels; seek ways to increase customer awareness

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates

St. Catharines

Date: November 17, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 36
  • Energy Supply Groups: 7
  • Transmission and Distribution: 11
  • Other Private Sector: 13
  • Communities: 2
  • Other Public Sector: 3

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Delivery charges should be equal across the province; Consider impacts of climate change policy on grid; Change rate design to allow for smart grid projects with system benefits

Innovation: Technologies discussed included microgrids, renewable natural gas, electric vehicles, energy storage, combined heat and power and geothermal

Supply: Discussed moving to new market mechanisms (e.g., capacity market) as well as specific technologies including renewable, nuclear and hydro-electric

Conservation: Consider changes to Time of Use Pricing; improve program communication to increase awareness

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness; provide more information to customers on why costs have been increasing

Guelph

Date: November 21, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 42
  • Energy Supply Groups: 12
  • Transmission and Distribution: 5
  • Other Private Sector: 12
  • Communities: 8
  • Other Public Sector: 5

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Sector must invest in grid infrastructure to be prepared for impacts of electrification; change regulations to enable utilities to invest in new technologies

Innovation: Technologies discussed included electric vehicles, energy storage, renewable natural gas and demand response applications

Supply: Discussed moving to new market mechanisms (e.g., capacity market) and retaining a balanced portfolio of resources

Conservation: Allow companies to aggregate loads for Industrial Conservation Initiative; add consumer literacy initiatives

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness; provide more information to customers on why costs have been increasing

Pembroke

Date: November 22, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 13
  • Energy Supply Groups: 3
  • Transmission and Distribution: 2
  • Other Private Sector: 2
  • Communities: 2
  • Other Public Sector: 4

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Sector must invest in grid infrastructure to be prepared for impacts of electrification; support for voluntary local distribution company consolidation; delivery charge should be consistent across the province

Innovation: N/A

Supply: Distributed generation will present opportunities and challenges; consider economic development in supply decisions

Conservation: Provide more incentives for purchasing energy efficient equipment; broaden conservation programs to include other fuels

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness

Ottawa

Date: November 23, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 23
  • Energy Supply Groups: 13
  • Transmission and Distribution: 6
  • Other Private Sector: 5
  • Communities: 1
  • Other Public Sector: 1

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Change regulations to enable utilities to invest in new technologies; Consider new opportunities/ business models for local distribution companies to raise capital

Innovation: Revised market systems and regulatory reform could spur innovation; there needs to be consistent direction across different government policies

Supply: Decisions should be technology neutral and consider full lifecycle costs; discussed opportunities for different renewable technologies

Conservation: Consider using apps and community-oriented solutions to increase consumer awareness; provide new incentives for energy efficiency projects

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness; provide more information to customers on why costs have been increasing

Kingston

Date: November 24, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 15
  • Energy Supply Groups: 4
  • Transmission and Distribution: 0
  • Other Private Sector: 2
  • Communities: 3
  • Other Public Sector: 6

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Increase access to natural gas Delivery charges should be equal across the province

Innovation: Technologies discussed included compressed natural gas; small modular reactors (SMRs); geothermal and storage

Supply: Municipalities should be included in supply decisions; do not build more generation when Ontario has surplus supply

Conservation: Better communicate the benefits of conservation; leverage smart grid

Price: Costs for residents and businesses are too high; affecting competitiveness with neighbouring jurisdictions

Windsor

Date: November 28, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 29
  • Energy Supply Groups: 6
  • Transmission and Distribution: 11
  • Other Private Sector: 5
  • Communities: 4
  • Other Public Sector: 3

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Need for expanded/enhanced transmission and natural gas infrastructure; Prepare for impacts of climate change policy/ electrification on grid

Innovation: Technologies discussed included electric vehicles, microgrids and applications to increase consumer engagement

Supply: Distributed generation will present opportunities and challenges; retain flexibility as supply contracts expire; consider economic development in supply decisions

Conservation: Communicate long-term system benefits of conservation; provide more incentives for home energy audits and retrofits

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness

Kitchener

Date: November 28, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 44
  • Energy Supply Groups: 6
  • Transmission and Distribution: 12
  • Other Private Sector: 18
  • Communities: 3
  • Other Public Sector: 5

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Change regulations to enable utilities to invest in new technologies; small/medium local distribution companies may be more efficient than larger ones

Innovation: Technologies discussed included small modular reactions; bioenergy; storage and net zero homes

Supply: Distributed generation will present opportunities and challenges; consider how climate change policy will impact supply decisions

Conservation: Tailor programs for certain customers and regions; Consider initiatives to increase consumer awareness

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness; provide more information to customers on why costs have been increasing

London

Date: November 29, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 43
  • Energy Supply Groups: 13
  • Transmission and Distribution: 10
  • Other Private Sector: 8
  • Communities: 6
  • Other Public Sector: 6

Summaries by topic

Delivery: Reinforce grid for increase in electrification; debate on who pays for new transmission

Innovation: Technologies discussed- microgrids; electric vehicles; renewable and compressed natural gas; storage; combined heat and power

Supply: Supply decisions should be technology neutral and prioritize cost-effectiveness

Conservation: Expand programs to include other fuels and target specific customers

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness

Mississauga

Date: November 30, 2016

  • Total Number of Stakeholders: 66
  • Energy Supply Groups: 25
  • Transmission and Distribution: 6
  • Other Private Sector: 23
  • Communities: 3
  • Other Public Sector: 9

Summaries

Delivery: Delivery charges should be equal across the province; Enable utilities to invest in new technologies

Innovation: Technologies discussed included fuel cells, small modular reactors, microgrids and storage

Supply: Distributed generation will present opportunities and challenges; retain flexibility as supply contracts expire; consider economic development in supply decisions

Conservation: Align programs with initiatives from Climate Change Action Plan; consider new initiatives such as social benchmarking

Price: Consider funding from tax base to reduce electricity rates; prices are impacting industrial competitiveness; provide more information to customers on why costs have been increasing

Indigenous engagement sessions

Around 200 attendees from nearly 100 Indigenous communities and organizations participated in 17 Indigenous engagement sessions.

Summaries of each Indigenous session are provided below. For sessions in which three or fewer Indigenous communities participated, feedback is included in the summary below.

Fort William First Nation

Location: Mountain Bingo

Date: October 20, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: Need to provide more reliable transmission; support for a new high voltage transmission line to meet local area needs and the needs of large industrial clients

Supply: Support for renewable energy; concerns about nuclear energy

Conservation: The quality of housing stock impacts the effectiveness of conservation measures; interest in lighting retrofits

Price: Electricity costs are too high; delivery charges should be eliminated

Programming: Programs should be available to help remote First Nations better prepare for connection to the grid

Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining First Nation

Location: Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining First Nation

Date: October 26, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: First Nations should be involved in transmission and pipeline projects

Innovation: Interest in microgrids

Supply: Support for small-scale, local renewable energy; net metering; and concern with nuclear energy

Price: Electricity costs are too high resulting in disconnections; delivery charges should be removed; concern that cap and trade will further increase electricity costs

Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation

Location: Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation Roundhouse

Date: November 2, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: First Nations should receive revenues from linear infrastructure

Supply: Support for small-scale, local renewable energy projects; need for employment and business opportunities in the energy sector

Conservation: Need to better promote awareness about conservation programs

Price: Electricity costs are too high; delivery charges should be removed

Fort Severn First Nationfootnote 1

Location: Fort Severn First Nation Youth Centre

Date: November 4, 2016

Mattagami First Nation

Location: Mattagami Community Complex

Date: November 15, 2016

Summaries

Innovation: Interest in innovative technologies (geothermal, solar) and microgrids

Supply: Support for small-scale, local renewable energy projects

Conservation: Support needed to build energy efficient housing that will reduce energy consumption and enhance health and well-being

Price: Electricity costs are too high resulting in energy poverty; delivery charges should be reduced or removed

Programming: Need for additional information about funding programs

Matawa Tribal Council

Location: Thunder Bay

Date: November 17, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: Need for enhanced transmission reliability; too many outages. Support for a new high voltage transmission line to supply local area needs and the needs of large industrial clients

Innovation: Interest in renewable micro-grids

Supply: Support for renewable energy, including biomass

Conservation: Quality of housing stock impacts the effectiveness of conservation measures

Price: Electricity costs are too high; delivery charges should be eliminated

Programming: Need for continued funding to support partnership building, economic development and feasibility studies. Need for additional information about funding programs

Sandy Lake First Nationfootnote 1

Location: Sandy Lake

Date: November 22, 2016

Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Location: Mohawk Community Center

Date: November 24, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: Resource-benefit sharing for linear infrastructure; single-phase power limits economic development opportunities

Innovation: Interest in renewable microgrids

Supply: Support for small-scale, local renewable energy projects; concerns about nuclear energy

Price: Electricity costs are too high, particularly for vulnerable people and Band-owned businesses and buildings; delivery charges should be eliminated

Programming: Application process for programs can be onerous; need for continued support for community energy planning; need for more innovative and streamlined options for Indigenous communities to finance energy projects

Historic Saugeen Métisfootnote 1

Location: Historic Saugeen Métis Interpretive Learning Centre

Date: November 25, 2016

Red Sky Métisfootnote 1

Location: Thunder Bay

Date: November 28, 2016

Atikameksheng Anishnawbek

Location: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek Community Center

Date: November 29, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: First Nations should be involved in new transmission and distribution development

Innovation: Interest in microgrids

Supply: Support for renewable energy and net metering

Conservation: Need to develop more robust conservation programs

Price: Electricity costs are too high; delivery charges should be eliminated

Programming: Need for funding support to help implement community energy plans

Manitoulin Island

Location: Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre

Date: November 30, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: Single-phase power limits economic development opportunities

Innovation: Interest in microgrids

Supply: Interest in promoting renewable energy opportunities, including net metering; need to consider full lifecycle costs, including waste in nuclear planning

Conservation: Need to promote greater awareness about conservation, especially successful conservation programs; need to develop more conservation programming, including energy efficient housing

Price: On and off-reserve electricity costs are too high; delivery charges should be eliminated

Programming: Need to provide funding support to implement community energy plans, develop energy efficient housing and strengthen education and capacity building; develop programmes to promote youth engagement

Algonquins of Ontariofootnote 1

Location: AOO Consultation Office, Pembroke

Date: December 6, 2016

Aamjiwnaang First Nation

Location: Aamjiwnaang Community Centre

Date: December 7, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: Need for transmission upgrades; frequent outages; First Nations should be involved in new transmission development

Innovation: Interest in storage technology, electric vehicles and microgrids

Supply: Support for renewable energy, including wind, interest in net metering, concern about nuclear waste

Conservation: Poor housing stock limits the effectiveness of conservation measures; more support required for energy efficient housing retrofits and conservation

Price: Electricity costs are too high; delivery charges should be eliminated

Programming: Streamline program applications; need for more education about energy sector and bills; need to implement energy plans

Sioux Lookout

Location: Sioux Lookout

Date: December 13, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: Provide support to connect remote First Nations communities; need for enhanced transmission reliability; concerns about the frequency of electricity outages

Supply: Support for renewable energy, including small-scale community projects

Conservation: Poor housing stock limit the effectiveness of conservation measures; more support needed for energy efficient housing retrofits and conservation

Price: Electricity costs are too high; high electricity prices affect the health of a community; delivery charges should be eliminated

Programming: Communities served by independent power authorities are not eligible for most provincial energy programs; need to fund energy education initiatives; programming should be available to support youth engagement

Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) Aboriginal Energy Working Group

Location: Toronto

Date: December 15, 2016

Summaries

Delivery: Lack of transmission capacity and aging infrastructure in the North limits energy project development

Innovation: Interest in microgrids, but concerns that the required system upgrades may be cost prohibitive

Supply: Interest in renewable energy and net metering; concerns with nuclear energy

Conservation: Need for more robust conservation programs province-wide

Price: Energy costs are too high, which negatively impacts businesses; delivery charge should be eliminated for on-reserve and off-reserve customers

Programming: Need to provide more innovative and streamlined options for Indigenous communities to finance energy projects

Métis Nation of Ontario

Location: Toronto

Date: January 14, 2017

Summaries

Delivery: Lack of transmission capacity in the North limits development

Innovation: Interest in energy storage technology

Supply: Concern about the high cost of fuel for small engines; interest in small-scale local renewable energy to balance further electricity price increases; concern about nuclear waste

Price: Electricity costs are too high; delivery charges should be eliminated

Summary of feedback from the Indigenous engagement sessions that had representation from less than three different Indigenous communities

Summaries

Delivery: Capacity constraints in Northwest Ontario hampers development opportunities

Innovation: Interest in microgrids

Supply: Concern about high costs of fuel for heating and for small engines; concern about diesel fuel spills; interest in net metering; interest in small-scale renewables; support and concern about nuclear energy

Conservation: Poor housing stock limits the effectiveness of conservation measures; additional support required for energy efficient housing retrofits and conservation

Price: Electricity prices are too high; delivery charge is too high; the high cost of electricity is hurting businesses

Programming: Need for programs to improve knowledge of the energy sector, its capacity, and conservation-related initiatives; need to fund and implement community-related energy plans and energy sector training

Environmental Registry submissions

On October 16, 2016, a summary of the Long-Term Energy Plan consultation process and supporting documents, were submitted through the Environmental Registry. In accordance with the Environmental Bill of Rights, the registry contains all of our environmental-specific "public notices."

This section provides an overview of the comments received from the public via the Environmental Registry summarized by regions.

The comments are organized into five provincial regions and six energy-related themes, which are:

  • delivery
  • supply
  • prices
  • innovation
  • conservation
  • Indigenous engagement

Topics were not mutually exclusive and a single comment may have been mentioned multiple topics.

Central

273 comments are submitted via Environmental Registry in Central Ontario.

Number of mentions by topic

  • Delivery: 46
  • Supply: 240
  • Prices: 38
  • Innovation: 53
  • Conservation: 73
  • Indigenous: 9

Eastern

233 comments are submitted via Environmental Registry in East Ontario.

Number of mentions by topic

  • Delivery: 37
  • Supply: 213
  • Prices: 36
  • Innovation: 34
  • Conservation: 58
  • Indigenous: 11

Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

650 comments are submitted via Environmental Registry in GTA Ontario.

Number of mentions by topic

  • Delivery: 97
  • Supply: 605
  • Prices: 79
  • Innovation: 97
  • Conservation: 173
  • Indigenous: 29

Northern Ontario

74 comments are submitted via Environmental Registry in North Ontario.

Number of mentions by topic

  • Delivery: 18
  • Supply: 60
  • Prices: 15
  • Innovation: 20
  • Conservation: 22
  • Indigenous: 4

Southern Ontario

173 comments are submitted via Environmental Registry in Southwest Ontario.

Number of mentions by topic

  • Delivery: 29
  • Supply: 161
  • Prices: 32
  • Innovation: 29
  • Conservation: 32
  • Indigenous: 7