A little background info
Re: Bring Power Smart home (Think Tank, Oct. 21)
Steven Fletcher's op-ed column overlooks important history behind Efficiency Manitoba and the need to reconsider its targets.
In December 2003, Gary Doer's NDP government announced plans for a separate agency to co-ordinate energy efficiency, water conservation and waste reduction. Provisionally named Efficiency Manitoba in 2004, the initiative became Green Manitoba, a special operating agency launched in April 2006.
However, Manitoba Hydro opposed transferring its Power Smart programs and was allowed to retain them.
In 2014, following hearings into Hydro's northern development plans, including Keeyask and Conawapa, the Public Utilities Board recommended transferring electricity and natural gas demand-side management (DSM) to an independent agency. The PUB cited the inherent conflict of interest in having a utility sell energy while encouraging customers to consume less.
Greg Selinger's NDP government accepted the recommendation in July 2014 and committed to establishing an independent agency. Brian Pallister's Progressive Conservatives, elected in April 2016, shut down Green Manitoba in April 2017, claiming $1 million in savings. Ironically, the same government then enacted legislation establishing today's Efficiency Manitoba.
Unfortunately, the prolonged transition from Hydro's Power Smart programs to Efficiency Manitoba's April 2020 launch and subsequent start-up cost energy conservation efforts considerable momentum.
Fletcher raises legitimate questions about Efficiency Manitoba's performance against its legislated savings targets. Yet he overlooks the PUB's 2020 recommendation to revisit those targets through integrated resource planning led by Hydro.
With Manitoba facing a projected winter electricity capacity shortfall by 2030 and Hydro proposing $3 billion in gas turbines, expanded, cost-effective DSM deserves greater attention for its potential to defer new generation investments and ease pressure on rates.
Efficiency Manitoba's mandate and performance deserve review. But transferring DSM back to Hydro requires compelling evidence of savings, a plan to improve programs without further disruption, and safeguards against the conflict of interest identified by the PUB.