The province’s environmental commissioner says there’s not enough incentive for people to shift to off-peak hours when they use electricity.
Gord Miller says the difference in pricing between peak and off-peak electricity rates is nowhere near wide enough to encourage energy conservation.
He says his research suggests a ratio of four or five to one is necessary but in Ontario the difference between the pricing levels means only a ratio of 1.8 to one.
The Ministry of Energy says it plans to reduce electricity demand 16 per cent by 2032, but Miller says it’s difficult to keep tabs on progress toward a goal that’s 17 years away.