Saving energy a priority, Manitoba government vows, despite funding halt to furnace replacement program

The Manitoba government says it is committed to energy efficiency, after the province stopped funding a furnace replacement program a move that appearsto make it more difficult to reduce natural gas consumption.

The NDPslammed the government during question period on Thursday for efforts they perceive areundermining Efficiency Manitoba,aCrown corporation devoted to promoting energy conservation,before its three-year plan takes effect in April 2020.

The new regulatory changes, which were approved bygovernment in August and takeeffect next April, say no additional money will be spent on afurnace replacement program.

The province also changed the terms of the Affordable Energy Fund, a pool of money supportingefficiency improvements, soits funds cannot bespent onimproving the efficiency of natural gas projects.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew questioned how the government could reducenatural gas consumption while pulling funding.

'This is a bad move'

"This is going to mean a bigger carbon footprint for our province. It's going to mean morepeople using natural gas than they otherwise might," he told reporters.

"Thisis a bad move and it's coming at a time when we know we have to do more to create a safe, clean and healthy environment."

Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton would notexplain the government's rationale for changing the regulations, but said Efficiency Manitoba has not lost sight of its missionto annuallyreduceelectricity consumption by 1.5 per cent and natural gas consumption by 0.75 per cent, as legislated.

The new Crown corporationispreparing a three-yearenergy conservation plan that, with the approval of the Public Utilities Board, would take effectin April2020.

At thattime, the agency will unveil its own programs to cut back on energy consumption as well asnatural gas.

Reducing natural gas a priority: Wharton

"In that plan will be a number of initiatives, I'm sure," Wharton said. "I know that Efficiency Manitoba will continue to focus on energy savings for Manitobans, in Hydro and gas, as they go forward."

A government official said Efficiency Manitoba hasn't given up on cuttingnatural gas use. The agency's budget is funded through Manitoba Hydro, and within theirmandate is an orderto develop and support any initiatives that reduce natural gas consumption.

Meanwhile, Manitoba Hydropreviously determined the current $3.8-million fund associated with the furnace replacement program issufficient, and no more moneyshouldbe collected from customers to coverfurnace replacements or conversions any longer, spokesperson Bruce Owen said.

Efficiency was spun off Manitoba Hydro because of a promise made in the 2016 election campaign, whenthen-Opposition leader Brian Pallisterconsidered it "an inherent conflict"for autility producing power totell Manitobans to conserve energy.

A recent mandate letter to the board dictatedEfficiency shouldbe as successful if not more so as the currentconservation programs run by Manitoba Hydro,at a "significantly smaller percentage of the cost and materially less labour costs."

Efficiency was supposed to submit its three-year plan for review by Oct. 1, but the deadline was extended bya month because Wharton, new tooverseeing the Crown services file, asked for more time.

Wharton dismissed the NDP's accusation during question period thathe wasimproperly interfering in the actions of a Crown agency byasking for a delay.