Bill 79 2008

An Act to promote the conservation of power in Northern York Region and the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Interpretation

   1.  A word or expression that is defined in section 2 of the Electricity Act, 1998 has the same meaning in this Act.

Restriction

   2.  No person shall construct or operate a simple cycle generating station with an electrical generating capacity of greater than 30 megawatts in the following municipalities:

    1.  Town of Aurora.

    2.  Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.

    3.  Town of East Gwillimbury.

    4.  Town of Georgina.

    5.  Township of King.

    6.  Town of Newmarket.

    7.  Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

    8.  A municipality prescribed under section 4.

Reduction of electricity consumption to meet overall peak demand

   3.  (1)  In exercising its powers and performing its functions under the Electricity Act, 1998, the Ontario Power Authority shall make every reasonable effort to reduce electricity consumption in the municipalities listed in section 2 by the amount necessary to meet the overall peak demand for electricity in those municipalities.

Conservation measures

   (2)  For the purpose of meeting the overall peak demand for electricity referred to in subsection (1), the Ontario Power Authority shall do the following:

    1.  Engage in activities that promote electricity conservation and the efficient use of electricity.

    2.  Engage in activities to facilitate the diversification of sources of electricity supply by promoting the use of cleaner energy sources and technologies, including alternative energy sources, renewable energy sources and combined heat and power technology.

    3.  Engage in such other power conservation activities as may be prescribed under section 4.

    4.  Promote such power conservation programs as may be prescribed under section 4.

No limits on purchase of demand response offers

   (3)  For the purpose of meeting the overall peak demand for electricity referred to in subsection (1), the Ontario Power Authority shall not limit the number of cost effective demand response contracts it enters into.

Definition

   (4)  In this section,

"demand response contract" means a contract between the Ontario Power Authority and another person that is entered into under a demand response program operated by the Ontario Power Authority to reduce the consumption of electricity during peak demand times.

Regulations

   4.  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

  (a)  prescribing municipalities for the purposes of paragraph 8 of section 2;

  (b)  prescribing power conservation activities for the purposes of paragraph 3 of subsection 3 (2);

   (c)  prescribing power conservation programs for the purposes of paragraph 4 of subsection 3 (2).

Commencement

   5.  This Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title

   6.  The short title of this Act is the Northern York Region Power Conservation Act, 2008.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill prohibits the operation and construction of simple-cycle generating stations with an electrical generating capacity of greater than 30 megawatts in certain municipalities.  The Bill also requires the Ontario Power Authority to make every reasonable effort to implement conservation measures in those municipalities in order to reduce electricity consumption to meet the overall peak demand for electricity.