Canada’s Budget was announced by the Federal government on March 28^th, 2023. Announced in the budget are new strategies and programs that look forward toward Canada’s goals to become net-zero by 2050.

Budget 2023 makes significant steps to further electrify the nation, reducing emissions from the electrical grid and supporting the green economy. We looked over the new budget, organized the changes and recently introduced programs so that you can understand the changes. There are many investing initiative programs available, so knowing what might apply to your projects could mean a lot to future development.

Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit

One of the most notable ways that the Canadian Federal Government is supporting green investments is through investment tax credits.

One of these credits is the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit is an “investment tax credit that will pose over 10 billion through 2035 (CA$4.5 billion over five years, starting in 2023-24, and an additional CA$6.6 billion from 2028-29 to 2034-35).

Announced as part of the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, this tax credit will provide a refundable 30% tax credit on the capital cost of investments made by taxable entities in wind, solar, and energy-storage technologies. Budget 2023 establishes this investment tax credit to include geothermal energy systems.

Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit

Clean electricity development is a priority for the Federal Government, and Budget 2023 establishes how the government will support clean electricity projects.

The “Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit” is a 15% refundable tax credit for investment in environmentally conscious electricity projects, including non-emitting electricity generation projects, and clean electricity storage and transmission projects, applicable for both taxable and non-taxable entities alike.

Clean Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit

The Clean Manufacturing Technology Investment Tax Credit is proposed to refund up to 30% of the cost of “investments in machinery and equipment used to manufacture or process key clean technologies, and extract, process, or recycle certain critical minerals essentials to clean technology supply chains”.

Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit

Canada’s government unveiled the Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit during the 2022 Fall Economic statement, but it took until Budget 2023 for the details of this tax credit to be unveiled.

The levels of support the Canadian government is willing to commit to clean Hydrogen projects vary between 15 and 40% of eligible product costs, with more support being given to those that produce the cleanest Hydrogen.

Net-zero Transmission Project Support

The Federal government has committed Canada to have a net-zero-emitting electricity grid by 2035.

While the Canadian Infrastructure Bank has already committed $5 Billion to advance the generation, transmission, and storage of clean electricity, Budget 2023 establishes long-term investments to help Canada reach its net-zero goals, including a proposition to provide an additional $3 billion over the next 13 years.

This funding is in part going to the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, as well as fund renewals of the Smart Grid program and the creation of new investments to capitalize on Canada’s wind potential, particularly offshore in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Additionally on the docket for the Federal government is the advancing of the Atlantic Loop by 2030 – “a series of interprovincial transmissions lines that will provide clean electricity among Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.”

Go to the official page for more information.

Canadian Infrastructure Bank

The Canadian Infrastructure Bank will also play a significant role in the future of Canada’s energy sector.

Budget 2023 reaffirms the Canadian Infrastructure Bank’s role in shaping a greener economy, as the Canadian Infrastructure Bank will invest at least 10 billion through its “Clean Power” and “Green Infrastructure” priority areas.

These Canadian Infrastructure Bank will be used in the development of numerous renewable energy projects, including storage, interties and transmission, as well as expanding the infrastructure for projects for Hydrogen, wastewater, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and electric vehicles.

For more info, check here.

Recapitalization of the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs)

Another program previously announced that will see changes in Budget 2023 is the SREPs, which involves providing funding for renewable energy and grid modernization projects during their construction phase. This program can provide up to 25 million to each eligible project in funding, and will provide a total of 1.56 billion over eight years.

Budget 2023 announces that the funding for the SREPs will be recapitalized to “support regional priorities and Indigenous-led projects”.

The types of projects eligible for this funding include Established renewable resource, Emergent technologies, and Grid monetization, up to different proportions of the total project cost, with a maximum funding a project can receive being $25 million. For a more thorough look at funding information, check it out here.

While Budget 2023 has confirmed the recapitalization of the SREPs, other details including the timeline of this project are to be determined. To keep up to date with the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways program, you can submit a request to sreps-erite@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to be added to the SREPs distribution list.

Canada Growth Fund

Another thing the government has updated from the Budget 2022 is the Canada Growth Fund (CGF)- a 15 billion dollar “low-carbon financing initiative”, designed to encourage private investment in Canadian low-carbon projects.

Budget 2023 amends the CGF to come under the management of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) to manage the $15 billion fund. The PSP’s management of 230 billion CAD in pension assets will help to ensure confidence in private investments in our green economy.

In Ontario, The Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) price plan is a third option for electricity consumers, along with the Time-of-Use (TOU) and Tiered plans. The ULO plan was created in response to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs).

As of May 1, 2023, Toronto Hydro, London Hydro, Centre Wellington Hydro, Hearst Power, Renfrew Hydro, Wasaga Distribution, and Sioux Lookout Hydro will offer the ULO option. By November 1, 2023, all utility services must offer the ULO plan to customers.

How the rates are determined

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets the rates for the ULO. Similar to the TOU plan, the ULO plan is grouped into different pricing periods. Prices depend on when you use electricity.

Here is the pricing structure as of May 1, 2023:

Who is eligible

The ULO is available to all residential and small-business customers. Customers who primarily use electricity overnight would likely see the most benefit.

The benefits of the ULO pricing plan

The main benefit of the ULO plan is that it will help certain customers save money on their electricity bills. As mentioned earlier, customers who mostly use electricity overnight (e.g., shift workers, and late-night businesses) will see the greatest benefit from the ULO. According to the Ontario government, ULO customers could save up to $90 per year on electricity. EV users will also see reduced costs with the ULO plan. Charging an EV at night is less expensive and will be quicker since there is less demand on the grid.

Another benefit of the ULO price plan is that it will help reduce emissions. More customers will be encouraged to use evening electricity, which is usually generated from zero-emission resources like hydro, wind, and nuclear power. Shifting electricity generation to overnight hours also enables Ontario to better manage the clean electricity grid. Efficiency will increase, resulting in $5.7 million per year in potential capacity cost savings.

The downside to the ULO price plan is that it’s not beneficial for the average Ontario consumer. Most Ontarians use electricity during on-peak hours (4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on weekdays). Therefore, they cannot take advantage of the reduced rate and instead pay 24 ¢/kWh. These customers will likely benefit more from the Tiered or TOU pricing plans.

For more information on Ontario electricity rates, click here.

Other Ways to Save on Energy Costs

Websites like EnergyRates.ca can help you find the best energy rates in your areas with just a few clicks. Just fill in the type of service you’re looking for and your postal code.

Our team can also provide quotes and custom advice for businesses, commercial and industrial operations based on their energy needs. To get in touch, simply fill in this form or call 1-855-635-9608.

Apple announced Clean Energy Charging with iOS 16 and introduced it in the United States in 2022. Many users have stated worry if this reduces the efficiency or speed of charging their Apple devices, otherwise impacting their electronics and power consumption.  

If you’re interested in learning more about renewable energy or are delving into switching to renewable energy more in your home and reducing your overall carbon footprint, in this post, we’ll explain what Clean Energy Charging is, its potential impacts on the overall power grid, and how using renewable energy, whether personally at home or by larger companies incorporating new ideas that can make changes for the better. 

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Rare W for the environment

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What is Clean Energy Charging?  

Clean Energy Charging is Apple’s attempt at bringing awareness to using cleaner energy and helping users make climate-smart choices. Clean Energy Charging selectively charges your Apple device when lower-emission electricity such as wind or solar is readily available. Depending on your region this could be daytime or at night. You can opt-out if you would rather not use it. 

To support their feature, your iPhone gets a forecast of carbon emissions on your local energy grid, it then charges your phone when the cleanest energy is available. 

How does Clean Energy Charging Work? 

Clean Energy Charging works by selectively charging your device when lower carbon-emission electricity is available. It utilizes local carbon emissions data to reduce its overall carbon footprint. 

Clean Energy Charging only charges your device when your house is pulling from cleaner sources of energy based on your local electrical grid, for some areas this may be during the daytime when renewable energy, such as solar power, is at its peak, though most will be during nighttime. Your iPhone will get a forecast of the carbon emissions on your local power grid, and charges when the cleanest power is available. 

When you plug your phone in to charge, it will do so. With Clean Energy Charging enabled it may decide to suspend charging until the cleanest energy is available. A lock screen notification will let you know when it does so and how long it estimates it will take for your device to fully charge up. You can also touch and hold the notification itself, tap Charge Now, and receive a proper charge if you’re in a hurry. 

It can all also be opted out of if you prefer. 

• Clean Energy Charging is (so far) only available in the United States where it is enabled on your iPhone after updating to iOS 16.1 
• It tends to work best with Optimized Battery Charging enabled, as it learns your charging habits to the extent that cleaner energy activates closest to when you tend to charge your phone. Which could be at bedtime or in the middle of the day. 
• You need to have your Location services settings set to work with it so that it can reach your local grid and patterns. 
• You can easily toggle it off under Settings – Battery – Battery Health & Charging, and there will be a toggle for Clean Energy Charging. 
• It is smart enough to see if you’re travelling, in a new location, or at times where you may be away from reception; when it detects any of those it will automatically turn itself off. 

Why has Apple released Clean Energy Charging? 

Apple decided to release Clean Energy Charging to better help users make climate-smart choices and to better work with renewable energy and bring it to consumers’ attention. 

Can Clean Energy Charging and other similar actions affect the electricity grid and renewable energy consumption? 

Although phone charging is not the most energy-consuming activity, there are billions of iOS devices across the world, which has a big impact on global energy consumption. Such a change could make more consumers interested in learning about green energy, passive housing, bi-directional meters, and even transitioning to 100% renewable sources. However, it is not possible at this point to estimate if and how that will affect energy grids in the long run. 

Similar projects: 

For those interested in learning about which apps to use that are similar in nature that work best with solar panels you may already have, or are interested in looking into, to get a gauge on what information is most important: 

• EMA App – The EMA App is a mobile energy monitoring app designed for use by owners of APS microinverter products. You can check the real-time performance, environmental benefits of your PV systems, and power output history.  You can see a representation of your solar panels individually and determine how well each is performing. You can also track the output of your system daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and lifetime. 

Another feature is that it helps calculate energy savings and environmental savings, broken down into terms such as gasoline, trees, and CO2 emissions. 

• MySolarEdge Monitoring App – The SolarEdge monitoring app is another popular one when it comes to tracking your solar system’s energy production and overall output. It can be easily accessed from any internet-enabled devices such as computers, phones, or tablets. It includes analysis and robust reporting tools that even allow users to schedule automatic reports and can set alerts on any system issues. MySolarEdge can also help customers detect excessive energy use, allowing you to get ahead on potentially expensive electric bills. 

• Enphase – Enphase’s main solar monitoring app is based in-browser on the web, with a desktop or laptop. They recently launched a mobile app which includes most of the same actions you can do on a desktop. While not all the actions are present, users can at-a-glance monitor their solar system and see how much energy there is being used and stored, with a real-time, in-depth view of your solar systems. 

Electric meters are unstoppable in their constant measuring of consumed electricity. Your utility company, later on, sends a bill, based on those measurements. That is where the knowledge of most people about their electric meter ends. To learn more about how your household meter works, how to measure your electricity usage, and a comparison between cumulative and interval meters, read further.   

One important fact to keep in mind is that your home’s energy meter is not part of your home property. Utility providers own the electric meter; hence those companies are responsible for maintaining, installing and reading recorded data. That is why any attempt to interfere with a meter’s work is not authorized.   

So, how exactly does an electric meter work?  

Most electricity meters come with a disk where multiple measurement spin as you use electricity, and kilowatt-hours get pulled from the grid, creating a new reading. Your utility company takes current and previous readings to determine energy usage and billing amount.   

Basically, if you have a smart meter, it directly sends information about your current usage to utility companies by a cellular signal or radio waves. Meanwhile, an older meter requires a worker to come to your home and write down numbers. (Homes with a solar power system will require a replacement of an old meter for a new smart one.)  

Read more about smart electric meters.

Considering that all kinds of electric meters should be approved by Measurement Canada (the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act), the accuracy of an electric meter is confirmed. Every utility company has to submit a prototype of any new meter for inspection. After it has been inspected and sealed, meters still get checked periodically for accuracy.    

Cumulative Meters   

Residential buildings, especially older houses, often choose cumulative meters that read once every two months. Cumulative meters also known as a mechanical (or traditional) type, require a meter reader to visit your place and record electricity usage numbers (The AER (Alberta Energy Regulator) and BC OGC). A month when electricity is not measured by a company representative, usage is estimated—which could cause under or overbilling. That is the main disadvantage of a mechanical electricity meter.   

The lifespan of cumulative meters is about thirty years.  

Interval meters  

Interval meters, on the contrary, record electricity usage every 30 minutes. Those meters are electronic with a display that is programmed to show time, date and kilowatt hours. The interval meter reader works by downloading the 30-minute recorded data into a handheld computer. The information is sent to a system and further to the electricity retailer.   

Such type of a meter allows easy tracking of the difference between electricity usage throughout the day. A main benefit of an interval meter is detailed information on the energy use, hence an opportunity to reduce electricity demand during certain hours. Electronic meters typically last from fifteen to twenty years.  

What do electricity meters measure?   

An electrical meter is designed to measure the usage of electricity. Installed in both commercial and residential buildings, meters count electricity in watts. (Watt is counted in voltage and amperage as 1 watt = 1 volt x 1 amp.)  

Where are electricity meters located?

Typically, electric meters are located on an outer wall where the power line runs into your house. They could also be placed in the basement, garage, or utility rooms. Most likely the electric meter and the panel will be placed next to each other.   

How to read electricity meters?

Although all those numbers on the meter might be confusing, it is fairly simple to read electricity meters. A number of kilowatt-hours (1s, 10s, 100s, 1000s and 10,000s) are displayed on a dial. To read your meter correctly start from the right and move to the left, then write down those numbers. (The pointer is between two numbers on the dial.)  

When were electricity meters invented?

The electricity meter was patented in 1881. Thomas Alva Edison introduced an electrical distribution system proving that electricity can be sold and distributed just like gas.   

The first electrical meter contained an electrolytic cell with a strip of copper placed at the beginning of the billing period. When the billing period was over, the copper strip was weighed one more time. The difference in the amount of electricity that passed through in the designated time frame, was recorded.   

Later on, Edison added a counting mechanism for the convenience of meter reading.  

Sustainability comes in many forms –  for example, swapping out your home appliances for more energy-efficient versions or taking shorter showers are some common methods people employ. But did you know that you can also look outside of your home for ways to promote energy conservation? 

For example, many people already have a garden on their property. In the first place, growing your own produce means contributing less to the emissions caused by transporting non-local goods to local grocers. Plus, every little bit of greenery helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through photosynthesis. The benefits don’t have to stop there though – read on below to learn more about how you can promote water and energy conservation in your garden and also save on your monthly utility bills. 

1. Plant Large Shade Providing Trees 

If you find yourself spending a lot on cooling, planting some trees around your property can help reduce that spending. As common-sense dictates, shady areas are cooler than sunny ones. By reducing the amount of sunlight reaching your home, you won’t have to crank up your air conditioning so much. 

2. Create Windbreaks on Your Property 

This is a similar concept to planting trees for shade. Except, rather than aiming for creating shade, you’re aiming to plant trees and shrubs in such a way that cold fall or winter wind has less of an impact on your home and its heating requirements. 

3. Make Early Morning Watering a Habit 

Watering your plants and lawn early in the morning gives your greenery a chance to soak in necessary water – any excess will then be evaporated as the day gets warmer. If you water in the middle of the day, the water will evaporate too quickly for your plants to get the full benefit and you’ll need to re-water to keep your lawn happy. And, if you water at night, excess water can linger, causing root rot, increased weed growth and increased fungal growth. 

4. Use Plenty of Mulch 

Mulch can help slow how quickly water evaporates from your garden’s soil, meaning you can cut down on the amount of water you need to use. As a bonus, mulch can also slow weed growth and improve soil quality. 

5. Install Solar Powered Garden Lights 

Solar energy is typically available year-round, even in the winter. While the cost of solar-powered garden lights can be more expensive than regular LED units, over time, you can save on energy costs. 

6. Collect Rainwater in Containers 

While this is a common tip, it’s still a good one. When it rains out, leave out large, empty containers to collect water that you can use for watering your plants at a later time. Be sure to keep these containers covered – otherwise, you could begin to see swarms of mosquitoes near your home.  

7. Install a Rain Sensor 

Many individuals have sprinklers installed to water their gardens and lawn at a set time every day. To avoid overwatering your plants when it happens to rain (and also save a little bit on your water bill), you can install a rain sensor which will shut off your sprinklers when there’s a downpour happening. 

8. Use an Electric Lawn Mower Rather Than a Gas Lawn Mower 

Another way to contribute to energy savings is to use an electric lawn mower rather than a gas one when possible – electric-powered lawn mowers tend to be more energy efficient. Plus, they also tend to release fewer emissions than gas-powered ones. 

9. Install Thermal Heat Curtains for Your Greenhouse 

If you happen to have a small greenhouse on your property, installing thermal heat curtains helps retain heat while lessening the amount of energy that needs to be used to maintain the temperature of your greenhouse.

10. Repurpose Grey Water for Watering Your Garden 

Grey water refers to water from your baths, showers, sink and laundry water. Essentially, it’s any used water from your household excluding water from your toilets. Using grey water can help especially reduce water usage during the hotter months. Do note, however, that you should only use grey water to water non-edible plants or your lawn. It’s best to use clean or non-repurposed water for your fruit and vegetable plots. 

A topic that homeowners may have to deal with in the future or are curious about are idle service charges and what that means in Alberta. If you own a home or are looking to purchase one in the future, it is good to know your options and what this means. 

What are idle service charges? 

The idle service charges are in a nutshell – the charge for electricity lines and poles, delivery of those services, and your property still being hooked up to the province’s power grid, regardless of whether you have service currently or not. It helps to maintain and keep things running across the province and stay connected. 

Any rural property in Alberta that is wired for electricity will receive idle service charges, even if the service itself is discontinued. Being charged for periods of idleness is how electricity distributors pay for the cost of maintaining nearby transmission lines and how they keep the area wired to the province’s power grid. 

How to avoid idle service charges and bills? 

To avoid any idle service charges, you will have to go the route of asking your distributor to ‘salvage’ the property, meaning they will come in to remove your electricity meter and other equipment — in some cases, they may also remove poles and power lines. As stated before, this is only recommended if you have no intention of electricity being used at the site again, as the cost to reinstall any removed equipment and lines will be far more than any other fees would be. 

There is a reconnection fee if you choose to have electricity back on your land and that can be extremely expensive in comparison to the idle fees. It is advised to be completely sure that you do not want power hooked back up onto your property in the future if you are choosing to have it disconnected by your provider. 

Idle service charges vs Disconnecting services 

When you disconnect your services from your distributor, you are also responsible for the idle service charges that can accumulate afterwards. Many think that once your services are ended that you don’t have to pay any more energy bills or fees. If you ask your electricity distributor beforehand about any idle service charges, they may be on a monthly basis or if you need a longer timeframe, they may be able to work out a yearly bill for you.

In the case of looking to fully disconnect from fees or idle charges, you may contact the UCA (Utilities Consumer Advocate) for advice or directly contact your wire service provider to have them physically take out lines, poles, and electricity meter. 

As stated previously – be sure that you do not want to run power to the property again or are prepared to pay exorbitant fees in the future, as putting equipment back and reconnecting is a heavily expensive chore.