The province is turning the P.E.I. Energy Corporation into a public utility and making it responsible for administering programs aimed at reducing energy use in P.E.I.
Government has tabled amendments to the Electric Power Act that will designate the energy corporation as a utility so that it can put forward a demand-side management plan.
“A demand-side energy management plan is in fact programs and efforts that can be made to help people do initiatives to reduce their energy consumption… to take the demand off the electricity that we use,” Energy Minister Paula Biggar explained.
“By putting in efficiency programs people can reduce their energy consumption, which then reduces the demand on the system.”
Currently, Maritime Electric is responsible for demand-side management for the province.
But Biggar says this arrangement was “counter-productive,” as Maritime Electric is a private, for-profit utility.
“We felt it was important for us… to have initiatives that the government would be able to direct on behalf of Islanders for efficiency programs.”
“We need to be out there looking at other options for energy, which we are doing. The Energy Corp (is) working on a smart grid and a grid modernization program, so we are doing that work as part of our energy strategy, which is a 10-year strategy.”
-Paula Biggar
As for what the province’s draft demand-side management plan will look like, Islanders will have to wait four to six weeks before its submission is ready to be submitted to Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.
However it will likely include such programs as home energy retrofits and programs aimed at reducing water, oil and electricity use. But Biggar stressed the province is on a time crunch to get a plan submitted to IRAC and approved, as negotiations on a new contract with New Brunswick Power for a new power purchase agreement will soon be underway.
“Our contract with New Brunswick Power runs out in 2019, the one where our rates are guaranteed until then, so we want to have plans in place that we know what programs will help be there for Islanders to help reduce our consumption.”
On Friday in the legislature, Opposition MLA Jamie Fox questioned Biggar on how the province is developing its plans and asked for a list of companies and individuals that government has consulted with.
He suggested the province has been “quietly meeting with larger electricity consumers and other stakeholders,” and is deliberately trying to keep its plans secret.
Biggar denied any secret meetings, but did acknowledge the province has been meeting with energy industry officials to ensure P.E.I. can develop innovative programs to help Islanders reduce their energy consumption.
“We need to be out there looking at other options for energy, which we are doing. The Energy Corp (is) working on a smart grid and a grid modernization program, so we are doing that work as part of our energy strategy, which is a 10-year strategy.”
The province has applied to the federal government’s low-carbon energy fund, of which P.E.I. is eligible for up to $34 million.
