OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2021 - 12

ADVOCACY IN ACTION
IESO Gas Phase-Out
Impact Assessment
E
ngineers are supportive of the goal that longterm
energy planning in the province is to
ensure reliable, cost effective, affordable, and
sustainable energy systems. This is critical
to guarantee affordable energy prices to all
end users, ensure the competitiveness of industrial and
commercial customers, and foster a healthy provincial
economy. Through this approach there is a focus on
protecting the environment while enabling the province
to meet its targets for greenhouse gas emissions and
conservation.
OSPE's Energy Task Force knows that Toronto has
become the latest city urging the provincial government
to phase out natural gas power generation. The Energy
Task Force affirms this is not the right move if the province
wishes to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. OSPE
recommends that carbon reductions focus on the most
cost-effective means - a key metric is dollar spent per
tCO2e abated. Ontario's electricity grid is already over 95%
emissions-free. It will cost much more per ton of carbon to
remove the last ~5% of emissions from electricity, compared
with focusing on other emissions-producing sectors.
The largest GHG-emitting sectors in Ontario are
transportation at 35% of emissions, heavy industries
(including iron, steel, and chemicals) at 24%, and buildings
(residential and commercial) at 22%. If Ontario wants to
reduce emissions, it should focus on targeting these three
sectors.
ONTARIO CONTINUES
WASTING CLEAN ELECTRICITY
FOR 7TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
O
12
ntario's electricity pricing system is not structured to account for the low demand it has been
experiencing. In addition to the curtailment of clean electricity, the province has continued to export
surplus hydroelectric, wind, solar and nuclear generated electricity to adjoining power grids in
neighbouring jurisdictions from 2014 to 2020 at prices much lower than the total cost of production.
This occurs because the province produces more clean electricity than Ontarians currently use and
doesn't have storage capacity, forcing it to sell off the surplus at a very low price.
" Over the last seven years, Ontario has wasted (curtailed) 45.5 terawatt-hours of clean electricity, " said Mark
Frayne, P.Eng., President and Chair of OSPE. " This system is too expensive and not sustainable. Change is required
now. Engineers are calling on the provincial government and the Ontario Energy Board to explore reformed retail
pricing plans for consumers to subscribe to on a voluntary basis. "
Engineers on OSPE's Energy Task Force met with Minister Todd Smith in September to discuss electricity price
reform and ways to make our energy system more reliable, affordable and sustainable. OSPE is also arranging a
meeting with Ontario's Minister of the Environment to discuss ways to move forward with the electrification of
our transportation systems, and the implementation of hydrogen technologies.
THE VOICE December 2021

OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2021

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