Efficiency Manitoba taking aggressive approach to energy conservation because it has to: CEO

The new Manitoba Crown corporation focused on energy conservation says it will act aggressively to find savings in electricity and natural gas usage even asking children for helpbecause it must be aggressive to meet government orders.

Efficiency ManitobaCEO ColleenKuruluksays although they present a challenge, she's excited to tackle the mandated targets reducing electricity consumption by 1.5 per cent and natural gas consumption by 0.75 per cent annually over a 15-year period.

"Our targets were definitely difficult to reach, so we had to stretch into everything to get more savings,"Kurulk said.

A three-year plan submitted by Efficiency Manitoba to the Public Utilities Board forapproval the first such plan for the corporationsays its energy conservation measures will includedoing more in-homevisits than before, expanding the appliance recycling program, and even asking children to check their homes and determine what energy-saving tools are needed.

The energy reduction targets are "very aggressive targets," Kuruluk said, "and not only were we able to meet them, but we were able to meet them cost-effectively. I think that's the overriding positive to the plan."

The new agency is planning an averageannual budget of $69.9 million over the next three years, which is nine per cent lower than what Manitoba Hydro budgeted forenergy-savingprograms under Power Smartin 2015-16.

Permanent solar rebate program by 2022

Efficiency Manitoba says it will aim to employ 75 full-time employees a number30 per cent lower than Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart staff complement in 2015-16, before theutility was mandated to cut jobs. Efficiency Manitoba is also estimating spending $4 million less on incentive costs than Manitoba Hydro spent in 2015-16,while cutting staff and overhead costs by 37 and 32 per cent, respectively.

Efficiency Manitoba proposes spending$13.8 millionto deliver its programming for 2020-21, whichis 39 per cent higher than what Manitoba Hydro set aside for 2015-16.

The three-year plan, which must still be endorsedby the Public Utilities Board, also proposesdeveloping a online portal to guide customers on how to reduce energy use.

If acustomerwants more help, a professional could provide anin-housecheckup for a fee. A similar program existed under Power Smart, but only for low-income users,Kuruluk said.

A morecomprehensive audit is alsoproposed,where thehome would receive an energy efficiency rating.

The corporation also wants to make efficiency kits, including items likeshower heads, bathroom aerators andLED light bulbs, available for purchase.

It would also create simpler versions of these packages for kids. Students will be encouraged to walk through their homes and, based on what they find,Efficiency Manitoba will send them energy-saving products.

The corporation isplanning to provide new offers for major home renovations, make a solar energy rebate program permanent in 2022, and offer incentivesfor wood-pellet and wood chip heating systems, as well as high-efficiency windows.

No cash for bar fridges

The corporation would still collect old refrigerators and freezers for cash and nowdehumidifiers, window air conditioners and bar fridges as wellbut won't offer acashincentive,the three-year plan says.

The agency also wants to work with theManitoba Metis Federation to assist Mtis customers.

Efficiency Manitobawill stillsupport rebates and incentives on certainproducts, andwill offer programs specific to low-income, Indigenous, commercial, industrial and agricultural users.

The plansounds good, says Curt Hull, project director withClimate Change Connection, but he wishes Efficiency Manitoba wasguided by more than a two-prongedfocus to cut electricity and natural gas use.

If the corporation was mandated by law to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it might champion the push for electric vehicles, which would require more electricity, he said.

Sarah Guillemard, the newly appointed ministerofthe province's conservation and climate department,wasn't made available for an interview, but the government said in a statement Efficiency Manitobais an "important partner in helping to ensure Manitoba becomes the cleanest, greenest, and most climate resilient province in Canada."

NDP MLA Adrien Sala questionedwhyEfficiency Manitoba is falling short of its consumption reduction targetin its first year. (It says it will reach the target, on average, over the three years).

"Ofcourse, they're suggesting that they'll overcome those shortfalls in years to follow, but why would we believe them,given the troubles that they've had getting the whole enterprise off the ground?" Sala said. The Progressive Conservative government promised the creation of the new conservation agency during the 2016 election campaign.

In a statement, Efficiency Manitoba said any shortfall or surplus in its targets can be carried into the next year, as per the legislation.

Kuruluksaid she wantsManitobansto treat energy efficiency as a valuableresource, which would reduce the need for expensive energygeneration projects. She said it will take EfficiencyManitoba 12 yearsto save the amount of energy created by the massiveKeeyask generating system in one year at a fraction of the cost.

"When you start looking at the numbers and start reflecting that we can build the same output as Keeyask for $540 milliondollars, it's apretty powerful plan."