March 2, 2018 — Ontario is supporting 12 projects that aim to improve the delivery of electricity to customers, reduce costs and create over 100 jobs across the province.

Ontario’s Smart Grid Fund supports projects that test, develop and bring to market energy grid projects, helping consumers and businesses lower energy costs and incorporate new technologies.

“Supporting these 12 Smart Grid projects is an important investment in our clean energy future, and a key part of modernizing our province’s electricity grid. Through commitments made in our 2017 Long-Term Energy Plan, we will keep Ontario at the tip of the spear when it comes to embracing an innovative, smart and affordable electricity system, while creating good jobs in communities across the province,” said Minister of Energy Glenn Thibeault.

Initiatives that are receiving support include SPARQ Systems’ project with Hydro Ottawa, Eion Wireless and Queen’s University, which uses micro-inverter technology to help eliminate the by-products solar installations can produce. The project will create 18 jobs and is expected to improve the reliability and longevity of Hydro Ottawa’s infrastructure.

Another project supported by the Smart Grid Fund is the Advantage Power Pricing program led by Energate (acquired by Tantalus August 2017) and Alectra Utilities, which tested a pricing program for residential customers in which the daily on-peak price of electricity varied in response to overall provincial demand. On average, participants paid $74 less in electricity costs than they would have if billed at normal time-of-use rates.

Other recipients include Renewable Energy Systems, Utilismart, Survalent, Solantro, ARDA Power Inc., Opus One Solutions, Kinectrics, Burman Energy and Green Power Labs.