New report assesses best practices following extreme weather events
At the direction of Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has launched consultations on proposals to improve the reliability of Ontario’s electricity grid.
The OEB, which is hosting a session later today on “Distribution Sector Resilience, Responsiveness and Cost Efficiency”, will provide advice to the Minister this summer including best practices to
ensure Ontario families and businesses have access to reliable electricity despite the increase in extreme weather events.
“Disruptions to electricity supply caused by extreme weather create significant financial and safety risks for Ontarians” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “Our government is ensuring that Ontario’s electricity system continues to adapt to these changing conditions so that it remains resilient and continues to deliver reliable electricity to families and businesses both now and in the future.”
Energy infrastructure, and electricity in particular, is a critical resource, playing a key role in enabling infrastructure that protects our most vulnerable, including healthcare, telecommunications, water, and food. In recent years Ontario has seen major storms including in May 2022 when a powerful derecho swept through southern Ontario causing widespread power outages and in December 2022, when severe winter storms impacted electricity supply for thousands of Ontarians.
Following Minister Smith’s direction to the OEB in 2022, the OEB has released a draft report that outlines resiliency measures and is now working with local utilities and other electricity service
providers on potential next steps to improve resilience and responsiveness with an eye to cost efficiency. Some measures outlined in the report include increasing redundancies in the grid,
ensuring equipment is on hand, reinforcing poles in areas prone to damage and the deployment of automated components to instantly pinpoint where crews are needed.
“With a generational energy transition underway, alongside the prospect of increased severe weather events, this project has significant importance, said Susanna Zagar, Chief Executive
Officer, Ontario Energy Board. “We are in this together and, with consumers in our focus, we are working with our stakeholders toward the creation of a road map to achieve greater grid resiliency.”
As Ontario’s electricity demand continues to grow due to electrification and economic growth and with Ontario families increasingly depending on electricity for transportation and home heating, the government is taking the action required to protect our grid. Ontario’s affordable, reliable and clean electricity supply has been a key driver to the record-setting investments and job creation we’ve experienced over the past months.
“The power needs to be there when families and businesses in Peterborough-Kawartha flip the switch,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawarha. “I’m glad our government is thinking
ahead and preparing for extreme weather events now, to provide families and businesses with the peace of mind they need to ensure the continued growth of Ontario’s economy and access to
reliable, affordable and clean electricity.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
