Toronto, ON — Ontario is developing new legislation aimed at improving energy affordability through distributed energy resources and deep retrofits.
Currently sitting at its second reading, if passed, Bill 172, 2024, which is called the Affordable Energy Act, would establish Affordable Energy Ontario as an agency. Its objects would relate to the “development, oversight, financing, facilitation, and delivery of specified programs,” according to the province. This would include programs for deep retrofitting of buildings, and providing opportunities to benefit from distributed energy resources.
A vote as part of its second reading was held on April 15, which lost on division.
An example of a distributed energy resource would be rooftop solar photovoltaic units. “The cost of distributed energy resources is dropping every year, and this trend is expected to continue. Meanwhile, the cost of conventional resources such as natural gas will continue to be volatile,” according to the preamble of the bill.
“Energy efficiency measures, especially deep retrofits, have always been the best way of reducing energy bills. Deep retrofits involve extensive overhauls of building systems that can substantially reduce energy costs. By decreasing building heating and cooling loads, such retrofits also reduce the impact of electrification on energy bills and the grid, ensuring that the full benefits of distributed energy resources are realized.”
Social housing and low-income rental housing are expected to be prioritized through the bill.
According to the bill, when carrying out its objectives, “The Agency shall, in accordance with the regulations, ensure that unionized workers are hired to carry out necessary work where a project is financed or facilitated by the Agency.”
The legislation looks to establish an integrated energy plan, which would introduce a new framework for integrated energy planning that would coordinate all energy resources. In addition, nuclear power in generation build-out would be prioritized. More electric vehicle chargers would be built under the proposed legislation.
This act would come into force six months after the day it received royal assent.