2021-2024 Conservation and Demand Management Framework

The 2021-2024 Conservation and Demand Management Framework (CDM) will help the province to cost-effectively meet its electricity system needs through the delivery of programs, training and other mechanisms that enable Ontario’s electricity consumers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, businesses, institutions and industrial facilities. As the province recovers from the economic impacts of COVID-19, energy usage is changing. Programs under the framework provide continued opportunities for electricity consumers to save on energy costs and to address not only bulk system needs and customer needs, but local and regional electricity needs across Ontario as well.

The IESO projected in its 2021 Annual Planning Outlook that there would be a need for additional electricity capacity beginning in 2025, and the 2022 Annual Acquisition Report identified necessary actions to ensure system reliability, including new energy-efficiency programs. Based on expedited findings from the mid-term review, the government accepted the IESO’s recommendation to roll out new and expanded energy-efficiency programs, which are among the lowest-cost ways of meeting system needs, for spring 2023.

In October 2022, the IESO received a ministerial directive in connection with the 2021-2024 Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) Framework to enable additional CDM programming through a $342 million increase to the budget, from $692 million to a total of just over $1 billion. This new funding and programming will deliver additional peak electricity demand savings of 285 megawatts (MW) and annual energy savings of 1.1 terawatt (TWh) by 2025.

Report cover for the Conservation and Demand Management Framework Mid-Term Review 2022

On December 15, 2022, the IESO submitted its 2021-2024 CDM Framework Mid-Term Review that evaluates program offerings and targets, and suggests recommendations and next steps.

In the remaining two years of the framework, enhancements will be made to the programs to reflect changing market conditions and customer feedback. This takes the four-year framework’s cumulative targets to 725 megawatts (MW) of peak demand savings and 3.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy savings by 2025, with continued savings persisting well beyond the framework term.

2021-2024 CDM Framework Mid-Term Review (PDF)

Supporting Material

The Conservation and Demand Management Framework Mid-Term Review was used to inform the Pathways to Decarbonization report and the Annual Planning Outlook.

November 19, 2024: 2023 Energy Efficiency Report Released

In 2023, the IESO delivered and expanded its suite of energy efficiency programs—while increasing energy savings targets—to achieve a cumulative total of 1,698 GWh of energy savings and 283 MW of peak demand savings over three years under the 2021-2024 Conservation and Demand Management Framework. The actual and committed savings totals represent 77 per cent of the 2021-2023 energy savings target and 68 per cent of the 2021-2023 peak demand savings target. These achievements are a result of 162,303 energy-efficiency projects initiated through Save on Energy.

View the 2023 Energy Efficiency Report

December 7, 2023: 2022 Energy Efficiency Report Released

Save on Energy programs have exceeded energy savings targets at the mid-point of the IESO’s 2021-2024 Conservation and Demand Management Framework. Over 2021 and 2022, programs resulted in 1,124 GWh of actual and committed net energy savings (8 per cent above target); and 173 MW of net peak demand savings (10 per cent above target). Thanks to program participants taking part in 41,825 business and residential projects, 7,410 tonnes of annual greenhouse gas emissions were avoided, which is equivalent to removing 1,610 gas-powered cars from the road. 

View the 2022 Energy Efficiency Report

June 8, 2023: 2021 Energy Efficiency Report Released

In the first year of the 2021-2024 CDM Framework, modest progress was made to the new set of provincial targets. Participation in Save on Energy programs is expected to increase throughout the remaining years of the framework and the IESO expects to achieve the framework targets. Overall, 451 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy savings (83 percent of the annual target) was achieved by the end of 2021, as well as 76 megawatts (MW) of peak demand savings (86 percent of the annual target). This involved 19,116 energy-efficiency projects across the suite of Save on Energy programs. These achievements include both “actual savings,” which result from completed projects, and “committed savings,” which represent projects that have been pre-approved for implementation but have not yet completed.

View the 2021 Energy Efficiency Report

Current Save on Energy programs under the framework include:

The following additional Save on Energy programs were already planned to launch in 2023:

  • Strategic Energy Management Program, an evolution of the Energy Manager Program 
  • Existing Building Commissioning Program
  • Commercial Midstream Lighting Program
  • Additional local initiatives in targeted areas of the province where electricity constraints exist.

The IESO is working toward delivering four new or enhanced Save on Energy programs in response to the October 4, 2022, ministerial directive:

  • a new residential demand response program
  • new targeted support for greenhouse growers in Southwest Ontario
  • enhancements to the Save on Energy Retrofit Program to include custom energy-efficiency projects
  • enhancements to the Save on Energy Local Initiatives Program.

For more information, please visit the Save on Energy website.

More information on the framework, including a detailed breakdown of program budgets and energy savings and peak demand targets expected to be achieved, can be found in the CDM Framework Program Plan, which has been updated to reflect the enhanced budget and targets from the October 4, 2022 ministerial directive.