Ontario’s demand for electricity varies throughout the day, requiring different forms of supply to perform different roles to meet reliability. Learn how Ontario’s electricity system works.
Using electricity wisely offers benefits for individuals and businesses, as well as Ontario’s electricity system. Energy efficiency typically involves upgrading or replacing existing equipment with energy efficient alternatives.
By achieving greater energy efficiency, individuals and businesses can realize significant cost savings. This also helps reduce the amount of energy the provincial electricity system needs to produce and deliver, which can limit (or avoid) the need for investments in new electricity supply or transmission line infrastructure.
Save on Energy
Through Save on Energy, the IESO offers programs and incentives to help individuals and businesses use energy more wisely. Discover your energy-saving potential by visiting the Save on Energy website
Energy Saving Tips
When you save on energy, you save on your electricity bill and make a lasting contribution to reducing long-term energy costs in Ontario. The benefits of energy efficiency go beyond lower costs though. Businesses can improve productivity, workplace safety and employee satisfaction while families can make their homes brighter and more comfortable. Here are some energy efficiency tips for your home or business.
Families
Shift activities that use a lot of electricity (e.g., laundry, electric vehicle charging) to off-peak hours, when the demand for electricity is low
Adjust the temperature on your thermostat up slightly in the summer or down slightly in the winter
Install a smart thermostat that can be programmed to increase or decrease indoor temperature based on the weather
Businesses/Facilities
Arrange an equipment and/or lighting retrofit
Educate and train employees on best practices for conserving energy
Seek the expertise of a professional energy manager, who can conduct an energy audit