Smart Grid Technology Coming To Ontario

The Ontario government is investing in a fund to give families and businesses more control over how and when they use electricity. 

This fund will develop a smart grid, which among other things will allow consumers to control appliances and lights in their homes from anywhere at anytime.

Smart grid technology delivers electricity from the supplier to homeowner using two-way digital communications, which helps consumers control their electricity use and costs. A smart grid will also ensure consumers have reliable, clean power by letting utility companies pinpoint and automatically fix power outages.

Building a smart grid is an important part of Ontario's plan to bring more clean power online. It is also a key element of the McGuinty government's Long-Term Energy Plan to revitalize Ontario's electricity system, clean up the air we breathe by shutting down coal-fired power and keep the lights on in homes and businesses.

To help Ontarians manage the costs of turning on more clean, reliable power, the government is:

• Taking 10 per cent off monthly electricity bills for families, farms and small businesses over the next five years with the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit.
• Moving the Time-of-Use off-peak period for electricity from 9 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays starting May 1, 2011. This will provide an extra 10 hours of electricity each week at the lowest available rate.