Energy demand load shifts to residential base Significant GHG emissions reductions are projected by Barbara Carss The energy demand load has shifted in sync with the vast majority of Ontario’s workforce from commercial to home offices, prompting the Ontario government to suspend time-of-use (TOU) pricing during the current COVID-19 related upheaval. Residential, small business and farm customers will be charged the off-peak rate of 10.1 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) throughout the entire day until at least early May, substantially reducing the cost of electricity consumption during the 12 hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “Reduced peak from office buildings should compensate the increased load from the residential side,” notes Bala Gnanam, vice president, energy, environment and advocacy, with the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Toronto. “Plus, other energy-based activities related to having kids and others home will increase the residential load. So it is only fair that the Ontario Energy Board suspends the TOU and extends the offpeak rate until this is over.” 14 | Canadian Apartment | Part of the REMI Network |
Alternatively, a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions provides at least one bonus of these unprecedented times. Energy management specialists affirm that it won’t be a simple neutral shift from the commercial to the residential sector. Rather, commercial reductions should far outweigh the uptick residential buildings might cause. “There has been significant reduction in commercial natural gas use due to ventilation setbacks, but only marginally higher
