As the old adage goes: it takes money to make money. So if you’ve got a side-gig or brilliant idea that you need help turning into a viable source of income, it’s imperative your business strategy should include sourcing liquidity to have on hand for your business’ long-term financial health. Even if you were a self-starter who found success in getting your enterprise off the ground, you could still benefit from an additional lumpsum to help you get to the next level and make your operations more efficient.

Why business funding matters

Despite getting excellent returns every quarter, you may still benefit from additional funds. Business funding is a way to quickly inject capital – perhaps, more cash than you may have on hand – so it can be reinvested in your growth and development strategies, stay afloat during any financial shocks or periods of low returns. If you haven’t started your business yet, it could even give you the seed money needed to get off the ground and established in the market and grant you access to other competent managers and executives who can help you navigate the arena and grow financially.

If you wait until financial strain develops or an emergency to beckon financiers and investors, they may not have the confidence in your outlook to invest in your flailing enterprise. That’s why getting funding for your business before a crisis is important, as it gives you a safety net to protect you from a financial downward spiral, and shows other financiers that the executives of a company are competent, proactive and therefore present a lower risk of failure in which to invest.

There are many different funding opportunities for businesses with different benefits, drawbacks and eligibility requirements that may or may not suit your goals and needs. Some may be in the form of loans that incur debt to be repaid, an initial investment in exchange for a share of the profits, grants that don’t require a payment back but have an agreed-upon outcome stipulated and so on. If you’re a novice entrepreneur and unsure of where to turn for capital, heading to your local bank and taking on a large and high-interest loan can not only start your business drowning in debt that devours profits in its infancy, may not only give you an uphill start but it might not have even been your only option. This is why navigating and understanding the complex financial industry is essential to your success.

Compare your business funding options

This is where a funding platform such as Swoop Canada comes in handy. They let you compare a wide array of sources of funding and savings for your business to help you manage your company’s finances. This includes, but is not limited to, start-up, business and government loans, grants, investors and even tax credits. Since their launch in 2018, they’ve helped thousands of businesses procure millions of Great-British Pounds in funding, and been acclaimed by media sources such as Forbes, the BBC and The Financial Times. They’ve since expanded their services from the UK to Ireland, Australia and, as of September 2021, Canada. To get started, simply register as a business or advisor and provide your annual turnover, the age of enterprise and how much funding you require.

You’ll gain access to an array of loans, grants and investors so you can sift through the options that are tailored to you before you apply, rather than individually pitching to potentially hundreds of investors, banks and benefactors and wasting time by finding out you were ineligible for their funds, to begin with.

For the entrepreneur doing it on their own, you can also find a knowledge hub with detailed articles explaining how to manage your assets, the difference between a variety of loans and credit lines, types of equity, tax credits and more.

---

---

Types of funding Canadian businesses can source on Swoop

• Unsecured business loans.
• Secured business loans.
• Startup loans.
• Government funding.
• Revolving credit facilities.
• Merchant cash advances.
• Asset finance.
• Invoice finance.
• Equity.
• Business grants.
• Commercial mortgages.
• R&D tax credits

In addition to this, they have interviews with other entrepreneurs and positive case studies for inspiration. But the piece-de-resistance is the fact that you can find help managing your overhead costs by finding affordable plans for your quotidian operational expenses. Given that commercial purchases are larger and more expensive than personal ones, expenses can wrack up quickly and be detrimental to your business’ savings accounts. Having lean operations is crucial to the long-term health of your portfolio, as it ensures that you have money on hand for emergencies, for reinvesting in growth and is just practical management.

You can find different saving measures for different costs you routinely incur such as insurance, telecommunications and commercial utilities (that’s where we can help!)

Contact Swoop Funding Canada

• Phone number: 647 946 3001
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: swoopfunding.com/ca/
• Address: Camden St Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5V 1V1, Canada

How to find energy advisors to build an energy-efficient home in Canada

For some, building or moving into an energy-efficient home is an attractive option – you’d be starting off with energy-efficient appliances instead of having to piece-meal upgrade old appliances and electronics in your current home. Still though, having to curate every appliance and house upgrade yourself can get overwhelming. That’s why there are service providers such as energy auditors and advisors available to make the process much easier.

In Canada, independent energy advisors can be licensed under Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) official marks and software. This means these auditors meet all the qualifications required by NRCan to provide you with EnerGuide labelling services. They’re not NRCan employees or agents but are recognized by the government as energy advisors.

In case you’re looking for an energy advisor and don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. Via NRCan’s tool called “Find a service provider for new homes”, you’ll be able to find a service organization or a builder participating in energy-efficiency initiatives in your area, so you can learn your options for building or buying a new energy-efficient home.

Below is a tutorial on how to use this tool and find licensed energy advisors for building a new home.

Note: in case you need an energy advisor for home improvements to an older house, there’s a resource list at the end of this article.

Step 1. Visit the tool website here

Step 2. Select the service(s) you require

EnerGuide is the official Government of Canada mark associated with the labelling and rating of the energy consumption or energy efficiency of specific products. An EnerGuide rating demonstrates the energy performance of a home, in GJ/year.

ENERGY STAR is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that promotes energy efficiency. Its goal is to help consumers, businesses, and industries save money and protect the environment through the adoption of energy-efficient products and practices.

R-2000 is a voluntary housing standard – R-2000 homes are designed and built to have high R-values and greater energy efficiency throughout your home. R-values refer to an insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow – in other words, a high R-value refers to greater insulating effectiveness.

Step 3. Select what service provider(s) you’re looking for

Step 4. Select the region you’re in or wanting to relocate to

Step 5. Check the list of licensed energy auditors

We didn’t add a screenshot of this step as different people will see different lists based on what they’ve checked before. However, this filtered list is quite straightforward and will show the information about each service provider, including address, phone number, official website, email address, and the labels they are licensed under, such as R-2000, EnerGuide, and ENERGY STAR.

What is an energy advisor?

An energy advisor refers to a third-party consultant who is registered via a service organization licensed by Natural Resources Canada. Licensed energy advisors can provide the following services (note that they may only work on Part 9 residential buildings):

• Delivery of Natural Resource Canada’s EnerGuide Rating System, ENERGY STAR® for New Homes and R-2000 programs.
• Provide both energy modelling and airtightness testing, the two services needed to demonstrate compliance under the BC Energy Step Code for Part 9 residential buildings.

Why do I need a licensed energy advisor? What will an energy advisor do?

While you don’t technically need an energy consultant, they can make things a lot easier, whether it’s assisting builders with planning out energy efficiency measures or upgrading a current home.

The designation of energy advisor (EA) registered with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) means that a person has met and maintained all of the required qualifications to deliver EnerGuide rating services for eligible homes in Canada.

According to NRCan, certified energy advisors demonstrate experience and knowledge in areas such as:

• EnerGuide Rating System.
• Residential construction practices for low-rise housing.
• Energy efficiency renovation practices.
• Building science.
• Basic arithmetic, geometry and computers skills.
• Data collection requirements.
• Energy simulation modeling using HOT2000, and
• Good client relations.
• Available grants for improving energy efficiency for housing.

Below are some common things an energy advisor can do for you:

• Bring third-party verification and inspection to a project via use of the Ener-Guide rating system.
• Home energy audits.
• Test homes at completion while also creating a final report and providing documentation for the EnerGuide Label.
• Provide further details of labelling programs that may best fit a project.
• Provide home evaluations based on plans prior to construction.
• Offer suggestions for improving energy usage of a home, with or without mechanical systems.
• Provide details for which materials are best to use in order to maximize air quality and energy efficiency.
• Use tools and perform testing for ensuring that a building envelope is performing at its best.

What are the energy advisor databases available in Canada?

Below is a list of the energy advisor databases available in Canada – you can use these databases to find energy advisors near you:

• Better Homes BC Search Tool: Using this tool, you can search for Part 9 residential energy home advisors or energy modellers. You can also search by location or project type: new home or renovation.
• Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors (CACEA)
• NRCan’s “Find a service organization for existing homes” tool: Looking for improvements for an older home? This other NRCan tool is similar to the one detailed in the tutorial above. However, it focuses on a list of energy advisors offering EnerGuide evaluations for home improvements, instead of builders and new homes only.

How much does it cost to charge an EV?

Unfortunately, finding out the cost to charge an electric car isn’t as straightforward as calculating the cost of a regular vehicle, where all you have to do is look at gas prices and the amount you’ve driven. There are a number of factors to take into consideration when estimating the cost of charging your electric vehicle – we’ll go over them below:

• Manufacturer stated fuel economy – Most electric vehicles can cover up to 100 kilometres within 15 kWh according to Energuide, but you’ll need to check with your manufacturer for a more exact value. This value also depends on the type of driving you’re doing (highway or city) – with city driving, you’d be needing to charge your car more often than someone who predominantly drives outside the city.

• Electricity costs –This will depend on whether you’re charging at home or if you’re predominantly charging your car up at charging stations. Public electric car charging stations will often charge by the hour and pricing can vary from location to location. Meanwhile, charging at home can be more cost friendly and straightforward. Regardless, to help you calculate an estimate of how you spend charging your vehicle, note the number of kilometers driven before you need to recharge as well as the amount you pay at charging stations or the cents/kWh rate you pay for electricity at home over a few months.

• Time of Use Rates – Depending on which province you live in, time of use rates may exist – choosing to charge your EV during off-peak or mid-peak hours would be largely different than charging during peak hours, in which electricity prices are higher.

• Charger costs – Indirect costs are also something to consider when thinking about the costs of charging EVs – a standard charger versus a level 2 charger will have significant differences. While a level 2 charger will charge up your vehicle faster, it can cost around $,2000 USD (about 2,500 CAD) for its parts and installation into your home, according to Kelley Blue Book.

How can an EV impact my electricity bill? Do time-of-use rates affect your EV charging costs?

This really depends on a few things. Like we mentioned earlier, charging your vehicle overnight or during off-peak hours can prevent your monthly electricity bill from skyrocketing.

Let’s take a look at the time of use pricing for Ontario on September 6, 2021, as an example – 8.2 cents per kWh was the price for off-peak use, 11.3 cents per kWh was the price for mid-peak use and 17.0 cents per kWh was the price for on-peak use. You could save more than half your charging costs if you chose to only charge during off-peak hours, in this case.

For individuals who don’t plan to charge at home, electricity bill impacts will be fewer to none – however, it can potentially cost more to charge in public stations than it does at home since many charge by time rather than the amount used.

Electric vehicles vs gas-powered cars: Which type is cheaper?

It may be surprising, but in terms of fuel consumption, electric vehicles come out on top. The table below shows a comparison by BCHydro in various BC cities of electricity vehicle energy consumption costs vs gas consumption costs for comparable vehicles (2020 Nissan Leaf S Plus vs 2020 Chevy Spark 1LT):

City	Electricity Costs Per Year (2020 Nissan Leaf S Plus)	Fuel Costs Per Year (2020 Chevy Spark 1LT)
Richmond	$156.00	$721.05
Surrey	$343.30	$1586.30
Coquitlam	$322.40	$1409.17
Abbotsford	$780.00	$3605.24

As you can see, in this specific scenario, the costs of charging an electric vehicle were considerably lower than gasoline costs.

Additionally, a Forbes article also found that EV costs were generally cheaper. In the USA, operating an electric vehicle cost around $485 a year whereas the average amount for a regular gas-powered vehicle was $1117.

Furthermore, since electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, no exhaust system and fewer parts that need to be changed (e.g. no timing belts or fan belts), maintenance costs may also potentially be lower.

Overall, the costs of owning an electric car can potentially be lower than owning a regular gasoline car.

How is an electric vehicle’s fuel efficiency calculated?

Rather than using litres per 100 km (Canada) or miles per gallon (USA), L_e/100 km (litres per 100 km equivalent) and MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent).

There are approximately 33.7 kWh per gallon of fuel according to the EPA and 8.9 kWh per litre according to NRCAN.

Are there any incentives for electric vehicle owners in Canada?

Below, we’ve sorted the incentives for electric vehicle owners in Canada by province:

• British Columbia – The CleanBC Go Electric light-duty vehicle rebate program offers up to:

-$3,000 for the purchase or lease of a new battery-electric vehicle, hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, or longer-range plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

– $1,500 for the purchase or lease of a shorter-range plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Electric car rebates are available to BC residents, businesses, non-profit organizations and local government organizations – however, zero emission vehicles with a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) above $55,000 are not eligible for rebates.

• Ontario – Plug n’ Drive offers two incentives:

– Up to $1000 is provided towards the purchase of a used fully electric car by Used EV incentive program.

– Up to $1000 is offered towards the purchase of a used fully electric or plug-in hybrid electric car when you scrap your old gas-powered car via the Scrappage Incentive Program.

• Québec – The Québec government is offering individuals, businesses, organizations, and Québec municipalities a rebate of up to $8,000 on the purchase or lease of a new electric vehicle. A table summarizing current available rebates in Québec is below:

Vehicle Type	Other Conditions	Rebate Amount
All-electric vehicles	If the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is less than $60,000	$8,000
Plug-in hybrid vehicles	If the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is less than $60,000 The amount of the rebate is calculated based on the capacity of the battery.	$500, $4,000 or $8,000
Hydrogen-powered vehicles	If the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is less than $60,000 *Note: There are currently no eligible vehicles in this category.	$8,000
Electric motorcycles		$2,000
Limited-speed electric motorcycles (electric scooters)		$500

• Newfoundland and Labrador – Drivers can receive incentives from $2,500 for shorter range plug-in hybrids to $5,000 for all-electric and longer-range plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

• New Brunswick – The government of New Brunswick has the following incentives available for assisting New Brunswickers who purchase or lease a new or used electric vehicle at a licensed automobile dealership:

– New Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): $5,000

– New long range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): $5,000

– New PHEV: $2,500

– Used BEV: $2,500

– Used PHEV: $1,000

– Electric Vehicle Home Charging Stations: $750

• Prince Edward Island – The government of Prince Edward Island offers $5,000 to Islanders who purchase a new or used EV. Government will also offer $2,500 to those who buy a plug-in hybrid from April 1, 2021, onwards. Additionally, Islanders who utilize the PEI Universal EV Incentive (both BEV and PHEV) will receive a free Level 2 charger.

How does the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program work?

In addition to provincial incentives, there are also federal EV incentives – the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program offers up to $5000 for purchasing or leasing new zero-emissions vehicles.

You can find a list of eligible vehicles here as well as the incentives for varying lease times.

Incentives from the iZEV program will be applied at the point of sale by the dealership. It will appear directly on the bill of sale or lease agreement on eligible ZEVs on, or after, the eligibility date. The dealer must apply taxes and fees to the purchase or lease before applying the incentive.

The dealer must submit the documentation required to be reimbursed for an incentive provided to consumers at the point of sale.

What are the most fuel-efficient electric cars in Canada?

Below is a table of the most fuel-efficient electric cars in Canada for 2021, as presented by NRCAN:

Vehicle Class	Electric Vehicle
Minicompact	Polestar_1 170 kW electric motor, 2.0 L, 4 cylinder plug-in hybrid, 8-speed automatic with select shift
Subcompact	BMW i3 (120 Ah) 125 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic BMW i3s (120 Ah) 135 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic
Compact	Porsche Taycan 4S (Performance Battery) 320 kW electric motor, 2-speed automatic
Mid-size	Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus 211 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic
Full-size	Tesla Model S Long Range 494 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic
Small station wagon	Chevrolet Bolt EV 150 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic Kia Soul EV (120 Ah) 150 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic
Sport utility vehicle: Small	Tesla Model Y Standard Range 211 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic
Sport utility vehicle: Standard	Tesla Model X Long Range Plus 398 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic
Minivan	Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 89 kW electric motor, 3.6 L, 6 cylinder plug-in hybrid, continuously variable

Is charging electric cars free? Where to find electric car charging stations across Canada?

Depending on your location, you may be able to find free public charging stations – sites like ChargeHub or PlugShare can help you locate such stations. Note, however, that paying to charge an electric car at public charging stations is fairly common.

Is charging an EV at home safe?

It’s safe to charge an electric car at home – however, just like regular electronics, there are some precautions you should consider:

• Only use charging adaptors provided by your vehicle’s manufacturer or by an electric vehicle supply equipment manufacturer.
• Don’t use modified or damaged charging equipment.
• Don’t use any faulty charging equipment.
• Don’t use household adaptors like a multi-box, double plug or a travel plug between electric vehicle supply equipment and a socket outlet.

How environmentally friendly are electric vehicles?

While electric vehicles generally don’t have tailpipe emissions, they can still indirectly contribute to emissions and pollution depending on how the electricity used to power electric vehicles is generated. Electricity grid power that was generated by fossil fuels going to fuel electric vehicles is only marginally better than gasoline fuelled vehicles emitting exhaust into the air.

Without investment towards cleaner energy sources, there’s a limit to how much electric vehicles can benefit the environment.

Additionally, as stated by a CBC article, electric vehicle batteries require lithium mining, which is connected to environmental harm such as water supply contamination as well as emissions from processing.

Corporate Knights Inc. released a report where a modelling study found that all new cars and SUVs sold by 2030 were 100% electric, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 33 million tonnes per year. Additionally, if 75-80% of all new trucks were electrified by 2030, GHG emissions could be reduced by 30 Mt per year.

How long do electric car batteries last?

That depends on a range of things such as the manufacturer, exposure to extreme temperature and charging habits. On average, your electric vehicle’s car battery loses 1-2% function per year – generally, most individuals will change vehicles long before their electric vehicle battery becomes unusable.

As a general estimate, you can expect an electric vehicle battery to last between 10-20 years before needing replacement.

Below are a few things to keep in mind in order to extend your electric vehicle’s battery life:

• Avoid prolonged usage in extreme weather conditions.
• Keep your battery charged between 60-80% – depleting your battery to 0% frequently will cause your battery to degrade faster.
• Fast charging your vehicle frequently will also cause your battery to degrade faster.

Is fast-charging an electric vehicle costlier?

Public charging stations will charge more for use of DC fast chargers since the equipment is expensive – according to a study from the International Council on Clean Transportation, DC Fast Chargers (DCFC) cost approximately $28,000 to $140,000 to install (per station).

How long does it take to charge an electric car at a charging station?

According to Kia, charging an electric car battery can take anywhere between half an hour or half a day, depending on your battery and the speed of the charging point you’re using.

Other things that will affect charging speed are the max charging rate of your vehicle, how much power is left in your battery, as well as weather conditions (charging in low temperatures takes longer than charging at moderate temperatures.)

What are the most common electric vehicle myths?

Below are several of the most common electric vehicle myths according to the EPA and BBC:

Electric vehicles are worse for the climate than gasoline cars because of the power plant emissions.

• Even accounting for emissions that are released when electricity is generated for electric vehicle use, research shows that an EV is typically responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than an average new gasoline car.

Electric vehicles don’t have enough range to handle daily travel demands.

• Electric vehicles are more than sufficient to handle daily household travel, which equates to about 50 miles (~80 km) for a typical USA household. Many electric vehicle models can travel 200 miles (~321 km) on a fully charged battery.

Electric vehicles only come as sedans.

• Electric vehicles come in a variety of shapes and sizes – if you review our section about what electric vehicles are the most fuel-efficient for 2021, you’ll see that electric vehicles range from compact cars to minivans.

There is nowhere to charge.

• In the States, there are over 38,000 charging stations available. According to Plug n’ Drive, there are currently over 5,000 charging stations in Canada.

Electric vehicles are worse for the climate than gasoline cars because of battery manufacturing.

The greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those from an average gasoline-powered vehicle, even when accounting for manufacturing.

You can compare the overall greenhouse gas emissions between a gas vs electric vehicle in the graph by the U.S Department of Energy:

Source: https://greet.es.anl.gov/ (2019)

Electric vehicles aren’t safe because the battery can be an additional hazard in the event of an accident.

• The same risks exist for all drivers, regardless of how the vehicle is powered. Precautions, such as collision detectors, cooling systems and protective coverings are available in electric vehicles.

How to reduce electric car charging costs?

Below are a few tips you can try for reducing electric car charging costs:

• If you primarily charge your car at home and you’re in an area affected by time-of-use rates, try to do most of your charging during off-peak hours.
• Use tools like EnergyRates.ca to find the lowest electricity rates in your area.
•  For individuals who need to charge at public charging stations, research and compare the price of charging at various stations. Additionally, charging electric cars for free is a possibility at some stations.
• Avoid charging your car in cold temperatures as low temperatures will slow down the rate your EV charges at.

As we’ve mentioned above, one way to maximize your electric car savings is through using cost comparison tools like EnergyRates.ca – you can find the lowest electricity rates in provinces where electricity is deregulated (Alberta and Ontario). Plus, our experts can also help you find green energy rates and plans to help you further limit your carbon footprint.

Learn more: What is Electrification, and How Does it Affect Energy Markets?

There’s been talk of significant changes in the transportation sector – in particular, the Canada Energy Regulator predicts that there will be three key shifts that affect passenger transportation fuel use: increasing vehicle fuel economy standards, increasing renewable fuel content (up to 15%) in gasoline and diesel, and, most significantly, an increasing share of battery-electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

Additionally, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) recently published its 2021 Long-term Outlook. One interesting development is the AESO’s “clean tech scenario” which has electric vehicles consuming as much as 4,000 MW by 2041. Putting this into perspective, currently, the entire Alberta grid uses ~ 10,000 MW and it took the last two decades for all sectors in the province to change aggregate load by about 4,000 MW.

A potential increase in demand for electricity could mean increased electricity rates as well as increased emissions, depending on how the electricity is generated.

Below, we’ll explore what electrification is, its importance, the future of electrification and other common queries associated with electrification.

What is electrification?

Electrification refers to powering various processes through electricity rather than through fossil fuels. Examples of such processes include space heating, water heating and the powering of vehicles.

Why is electrification important?

Depending on what perspective you take, there are numerous reasons why electrification is important. In order to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, Canada will require electrification, according to Clean Energy Canada. Switching to electricity usage where possible means being able to take advantage of clean energy (e.g. energy generated through renewable means such as solar, wind or hydro) – it also means a maximum reduction of emissions.

The benefits of electrification don’t end with reducing emissions, there are financial benefits for considering industrial electrification. Electrically driven equipment has lower maintenance costs, as well as lower investment costs according to a McKinsey & Company article. In particular, sectors such as buildings and transport observe that electrical equipment is so energy efficient that the lifetime savings on energy costs make up for the current higher per-joule price of electricity.

What are the types of electrification?

There is full electrification in which all power demand is electrified, or in other words, all power-consuming processes are switched over to electricity.

Alternatively, there is partial electrification in which there is flexible switching between the consumption of electricity and fossil fuels – partial electrification is often seen in applications where low or medium temperature heat is required. Such electrification allows for companies to take advantage of electricity from intermittent renewable energy sites as well as the ability to switch to fossil fuels when electricity costs become too high.

What are the main challenges for electrification?

Below are the main challenges associated with electrification:

• Electrification doesn’t necessarily make sense in all regions – cold regions will have a much higher cost associated with electrification than warmer ones.
• Initially, there may be high costs associated with electrification. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, electrification could increase consumer costs by $590–1,186 billion on a cumulative basis over the 2016-2035 period.
• In regard to electric vehicles, there is a lack of widespread electric vehicle charging stations/infrastructure.
• Increased electricity demand caused by electrification of industries can cause power prices to spike.
• Existing regulations and policies may favor one fuel over others (e.g., fossil fuels over electricity generated by hydro).
• The capital cost of fuel switching may deter companies from switching over to electric powered equipment.

How does electrification affect the electricity grid?

Predictably, electrification will place a high demand on the electricity grid – as such, upgrades in grid infrastructure are expected to occur in order to support electrification in the coming years. Increased demand that cannot be met with adequate supply will often lead to increased power prices, brownouts or even blackouts.

Will electrification make power prices higher?

Any event where electricity demand is increased can make power prices higher – however, using grid balancing practices can help curb any increased costs that are a result of electrification. An example of grid balancing practice is consuming excess electricity generated during peak periods of renewable generation.

Another way of curbing higher prices is planning ahead; since industry sectors and lawmakers know these changes are going to happen in the long term, it is expected that they will invest in electricity grid improvements, which could ensure we have enough power to meet the higher energy demand caused by electrification.

Is electricity demand in Canada growing?

According to NRCAN, electricity demand in Canada is expected to grow at an annual rate of 1% between 2014 and 2040.

Will electric vehicles put pressure on electricity grids? How will Canada’s electricity grid be affected by electric cars?

As stated by a CBC article, it’s estimated that in a clean-tech scenario that we’ll see, on average, 100,000 electrical vehicles registered per year over the next 20 years.

To put that into perspective, that could mean potentially adding electricity demand equal to the peak demand of two Calgarys. In a CBC article, Leo Tovar, a senior analyst with the AESO, says that “while EVs will drive energy demand, overall consumption in Alberta is expected to stay relatively flat with a modest half-percentage-point increase over the next 20 years — one of the lowest growth rate predictions in years.”

This is in part due to electric vehicles offsetting negative factors pushing down energy consumption, such as transitions to more efficient equipment and transitions to working from home.

What you may not know about electric vehicles is that they’re capable of powering buildings as well as the wider grid – in other words, they can do more than just drain the electrical grid.

As a CBC article explains, some models of electric vehicles (such as the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander) are capable of bi-directional charging, where they can feed power from their batteries back into buildings and the electricity grid when plugged in.

As utilities are attempting to incorporate more clean energy (e.g. wind and solar power), electric vehicles with bi-directional charging capabilities offer extra storage and backup power that can help with maintaining electricity supply when variable power sources are not producing enough to meet demand.

Concerned about high electricity costs? Fortunately, there are options available for lowering your monthly power bills – one of the easiest methods is to compare the energy rates for all the retail energy providers in your area in order to find the lowest electricity rate.

Sites like EnergyRates.ca can make this process easier for you – simply filling in your required energy type and postal code will bring up the best rates in your area. Best of all, EnergyRates.ca works for all consumers whether you’re looking for commercial, industrial, or business energy services.

Additionally, our team can assist you with incorporating green energy (RECs and Carbon Offsets) into your commercial energy use  – you can read more about sustainable energy options on our site here.

With a federal election just around the corner, there are many hot-button issues that will be in debate. One of the issues that has been covered extensively by the media has been Canada’s creation of greenhouse emissions and Canada’s commitment to net-zero energy. For years, carbon emissions have been a topic of debate each election cycle, but after a recent summer with record-breaking heatwaves and catastrophic fires, environmental concerns are a key issue for many voting Canadians. As the 2030 deadline imposed by the Paris Agreement draws nearer, how our political parties plan to reach these emission goals can not only significantly impact the climate crisis, but the economy too.

We have broken down the carbon policies of Canada’s main political parties, so you can be informed on one of the biggest issues Canadian’s are currently facing, and understand where each major political party stands on climate change.

We looked through the environmental and economic policies of the Canadian Progressive Conservatives, The Green Party, the Liberal Party of Canada, and the New Democratic Party to bring you this guide.

The Parties’ Carbon Platforms

The Canadian Progressive Conservatives

The Conservative carbon policy for the upcoming election details both economic and environmental strategies. The Canadian Conservative Party has changed its tone dramatically on the implementation of carbon pricing since a central tenet of its 2019 election campaign was the removal of the carbon tax. The current platform of the Conservatives involves replacing the current Carbon tax installed by the Liberal Party with a new plan.

Under this plan, individual Canadians would pay up to $20 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions for every time they buy fossil fuels, ranging from gasoline to natural gas. This money would go towards a personal low carbon savings account, which can be used by Canadians to make decisions that would lead to reduced emissions down the road. Whether that means buying a bicycle or retrofitting a furnace with a more energy-efficient model, you can use this money to improve the energy efficiency of your life.

If elected, the Conservative Party’s carbon policy will aim to balance the fossil fuel economy and environment. The Conservatives are prepared to continue to significantly invest in energy sectors including Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil industry and get the Trans Mountain pipeline built. However, even if carbon is still an economic pillar of the Conservative policy, there are facets of the policy to reduce emissions. The Conservatives seek to introduce a tax credit that will incentivize the energy sector and other heavy-emission industries to adopt more carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology.

Other strategies that the Conservatives are prepared to introduce include the production of more zero-emission vehicles within Canada and investing in hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles. The Conservatives also have plans for upgrading the energy grid, by implementing more smart grid technology and looking forward to clean energies such as nuclear, hydrogen and other renewable energy. The Conservatives have committed themselves to reduce industrial carbon emissions to meet Canada’s 2030 Paris Agreement targets, while still committed to fossil fuel industries across Canada.

Green Party

The Green Party of Canada have long shouldered a commitment to the environment, and their platform in 2021 stays true to the party’s name. If elected, Annamie Paul and the Greens plan to implement a Canadian climate and energy strategy with the intention to invest in the green economy and sustain green economic growth.

The Green Party have many steps outlined in how they might attempt to establish a green economy. This includes the development of a “Sustainable Generations Fund,” that will provide training for tradespeople, invest in apprenticeships, and develop educational facilities. Since the Greens seek to divest from fossil fuels and end all subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, the “Sustainable Generations Fund,” aims to provide training and jobs of industrial trades and fossil fuel workers into the renewable energy sector. The Green’s seek to phase out coal-fired electricity to decarbonize our electricity grid, with the end goal being 100% renewable electricity, Canada-wide. Under green worker training programs, fossil fuel workers like those in the coal industry will see training to allow them to convert into renewable energy industries.

The Green’s also have plans that will reduce the greenhouse emissions of our homes and places of work, including the institution of Canada-wide programs for the retrofitting of all buildings for more energy efficient buildings. Homeowners would see incentivization to upgrade appliances with the help of home renovation tax credits. Finally, the Green Party is to introduce carbon pricing that is revenue-neutral, with a fee and dividend system that would see all the money collected from the price on carbon back in the pockets of Canadians.

With these plans established, it is the Green Party’s goal to set Canada on the track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2030, and to zero by 2050.

Liberal Party of Canada

Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada plan to introduce more policy in relation to carbon emissions and the environment if re-elected. Canada’s incumbent party seems to be standing pat on their commitment to their carbon pricing that they implemented through the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act that they passed in fall of 2018. Carbon pricing will rise to $50 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, from the $40 per tonne of 2021. The money from the GHGPPA goes towards Climate Action Incentive payments, which are rebates provided during tax season for Canadians, as well as funds going towards businesses, schools, hospitals, and other community funds.

The Liberals have also provided rebates for greener home upgrades and purchases of zero emission vehicles – which the Liberals will remain committed to if elected. The Liberal Party stands behind their commitments to the environment and their currently implemented policy. However, the Liberal Party has more plans going forward if they get the popular vote this fall.

The Liberals plan to develop a greener, more sustainable economy. Reaching this goal includes investing $2 billion into a Futures Fund for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador to partner with Canadian communities to create green jobs, introduce “Just Transition” legislation that seeks to get community feedback towards the transition towards a net-zero economy and establish a training centre for the development of skills required for jobs in these clean energy fields.

The Liberal government plans to commit to reaching a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, which has several steps outlined in how they plan to accomplish this goal. These steps include “implementing a Clean Electricity Standard,” offering a selection of tax credits to incentivize the use and development of clean energy, and the introduction of a “Pan-Canadian Grid Council,” partnering with the provinces and territories to convert Canada’s electricity grid into a cost-effective carbon-free system. This includes phasing out coal-fired electricity by 2030 and ending thermal coal exports.

Finally, the Liberals plan to implement legislation to reduce emissions within the oil and gas sector with the ultimate goal reaching net-zero by 2050, with the introduction of 5-year targets by 2025, and reduction of methane emissions by 75% of 2012 levels by 2030.

New Democratic Party

The New Democratic Party’s carbon policy primarily focuses on a commitment to achieving carbon-free energy. On the horizon for Jagmeet Singh and the NDP is the goal to power Canada with net-zero electricity by 2030, with the ultimate goal to accomplish being non-emitting electricity by 2040.

The NDP has committed to maintaining a price on Carbon, while adjusting policies favourable to “big polluters” that have not reduced their emissions enough. However, the NDP states that carbon pricing alone will not be enough. With the goal to reduce emissions to 50% of Canada’s 2005 levels by 2030, the NDP have a wide scoping climate strategy.

The NDP’s plan involves the creation of a “Canadian Climate Bank,” which will seek to invest heavily in renewable and low-carbon sources of energy, smart grid technology, and Canadian-manufactured renewable energy tech. Further commitments to align Canadian crown corporations like the Bank of Canada towards contributing to net zero initiatives and working with provinces to develop a framework for corporate climate accountability.

One big note regarding the NDP’s carbon policy is a refusal to spend “taxpayer money” on oil and gas subsidies, committing themselves to putting public funds for the transition of renewable sources of energy. The NDP also plans to prohibit this reversal by subsequent governments by putting in place legislation that will seek to ban any future subsidies for oil and gas.

The NDP has several additional plans that will either directly or indirectly impact Canada’s carbon and climate strategy. Improving transit in communities across Canada and undertake a long-term project to retrofit all Canadian buildings by 2050 with the intentions of improving the energy efficiency of the day-to-day life of Canadians. With more and more climate risks impacting communities across Canada, the NDP is seeking to create a National Crisis Strategy to help communities reduce and respond to climate risks as they happen.

Energy providers and utilities – these two terms seem to be used interchangeably in several resources pertaining to electricity and natural gas utilities. Surprisingly though, they aren’t the same. Consumers will often confuse these terms in deregulated markets – this is because, in deregulated energy markets, consumers are able to choose their own provider.

In regulated energy markets, utilities own and operate all electricity – often there will be only one local electricity company.

Below, we’ll go into the difference between these two terms as well as common questions that are associated with this subject, such as how utility companies charge customers and who to call in specific situations.

Utility Company vs Energy Retailer: What’s the difference?

Below, we’ll detail the difference between a supplier and a distributor, as well as the difference between utilities and providers.

In deregulated provinces like Alberta, there’s a set utility company for each service and region. Consumers can’t choose their local utility, but they can choose their energy retailer. For example, if you live in the Edmonton region, you can sign up with any electricity provider, but your utility is still going to be EPCOR, as the company is responsible for the distribution and transmission of power in the area.

A wire services provider (WSP), also known as the utility, are the companies responsible for transmission and electricity distribution – they move energy from generators to your home. To make it clear, the utility serves as the distributor.

On the other hand, a retail energy supplier refers to the company that sells energy to you – you can think of electricity and natural gas as products: the retailer is the company that sells you those products for a specific price.

You can check who’s your energy provider by having a look at your energy bill – oftentimes, there will be a logo or brand name that will tell you your provider.

Some common competitive energy providers in Canada include Encor by EPCOR, ENMAX, Direct Energy, ATCOenergy and Spot Power.

What will change on my energy bill if I switch retailers?

When you switch energy retailers, the only changes on your energy bill you’ll see are admin fees and energy charges (whether for electricity or gas.)

Admin fees or administration charges refer to the amount that energy providers charge customers in order to cover billing and customer service costs.

Energy charges refer to the amount that an energy provider charges your property based on your consumption for the previous billing period. It is usually charged in ¢/kWh (for electricity) and $/GJ (for natural gas.) These do not include the costs of transporting electricity or natural gas to your home or business.

Who do I pay for my electricity and gas?

On your monthly energy bill, the distribution and transmission costs go to the local utility while the energy retailer receives the supply charges and admin fees.

When should I call my utility company?

You should call your utility company for any of the following issues:

• There’s a problem with your power meter.
• For reporting a gas leak, downed power lines or other emergencies of similar nature.
• You’re experiencing an unexpected power outage, gas leak or other issue of similar nature.

When should I call my energy retailer?

You should call your provider or retailer for any of the following issues:

• You have questions or disputes over billing.
• You want to make a payment over the phone.
• You want to change plans or services.
• You want to change your service address.

Compare electricity and natural gas providers in Canada

Looking to understand how the energy market works in your province, or compare your energy options? EnergyRates.ca can help you with that. The website is Canada’s largest unbiased energy rate comparison tool.

EnergyRates.ca allows you to compare the best electricity and natural gas providers based on your location. Businesses, large corporations, and industrial energy consumers can get multiple free custom quotes for their specific energy needs. Just enter your postal code on the form above, and we’ll do the rest for you!

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

• How to Set Up Your Utility Service When You Move in Ontario
• Moving in Alberta? Here’s How to Transfer Energy Services