Latest news with #DerekEllis
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. government reducing many of its energy efficiency rebates as of Monday
Social Sharing Prince Edward Islanders who invest in some energy efficiency measures will get lower rebates from the provincial government starting Monday, while amounts offered to help pay for insulation and window and door replacement will go up. The province announced the changes to its Net Zero and efficiencyPEI rebates on Thursday, after it paused accepting new applications for some programs earlier in the year. "We're trying to balance fiscal responsibility — staying within the budgets that we have in the division — while maximizing our return on investment," said Derek Ellis, the director of sustainability for the province's Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. That means "moving some investments away from some of the poorer-performing programs from an energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions perspective and over to the higher-performing programs," he said. As a result, the amount of money Island homeowners will get for installing heat pumps, buying electric vehicles and putting in solar panels is set to decrease. The province will also pause new applications for free heat pumps, free insulation and free electric hot water heaters due to high demand, a news release said. The province measures the cost effectiveness of its programs based on dollar spent per ton of greenhouse gas emission elimination, as well as dollar per kilowatt hour saved, Ellis said. "We have a good idea of how [programs] perform over time and have made some changes in response to that," he said. Details of new P.E.I. government rebate levels as of June 2, 2025 Popular programs The province has seen a lot of uptake on its heat pump and solar panel rebates, Ellis said, adding that the province is happy to continue offering rebates to homeowners on those items, at a lower rate. The heat pump rebate for residential properties is set to decrease from $1,200 to $900 per unit, while the solar panel program will see a change in incentive rate and a rebate capped at $5,000 for solar panels installed on a home, compared to the prior $10,000 cap. People wanting solar panels who were previously approved by the province will get the old amount, while anyone who applied on or after Jan. 8, 2025, will get the new amount if they are deemed eligible. "Incentives and caps for commercial and agricultural clients will remain the same," the news release adds with regard to solar panels. "Rebates on energy-efficient equipment for business, community, commercial and industrial buildings [are] increasing, including air source heat pump rebate increasing from $600 to $900. Rebates are also increasing for selected lighting and for packaged terminal heat pumps." Rebates for the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles have been popular, particularly in Charlottetown and Summerside, Ellis said. While the amount of those rebates are going down, annual registration of those vehicles will still be free. Ellis also said the province will not be making changes to its infrastructure plans to support EVs, citing projects underway to create more fast charging stations in communities across the Island. Some rebates the same or higher Some of the energy efficiency and rebate programs will continue unchanged, including the e-bike incentive, instant rebates on appliances, and the provincial subsidy for home energy audits. As well, the provincial news release says, there will be a "40 per cent increase in rebates for insulation for attics, walls, basements, headers, exposed floors, windows and doors, and air sealing." As for new home construction, the news release said, "incentives will be increased and re-aligned to match national building code tiers, so people will get more money back." Ellis said the province tries to stay in line with the latest trends and best practices to help Islanders minimize energy costs.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
P.E.I. government reducing many of its energy efficiency rebates as of Monday
Prince Edward Islanders who invest in some energy efficiency measures will get lower rebates from the provincial government starting Monday, while amounts offered to help pay for insulation and window and door replacement will go up. The province announced the changes to its Net Zero and efficiencyPEI rebates on Thursday, after it paused accepting new applications for some programs earlier in the year. "We're trying to balance fiscal responsibility — staying within the budgets that we have in the division — while maximizing our return on investment," said Derek Ellis, the director of sustainability for the province's Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. That means "moving some investments away from some of the poorer-performing programs from an energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions perspective and over to the higher-performing programs," he said. As a result, the amount of money Island homeowners will get for installing heat pumps, buying electric vehicles and putting in solar panels is set to decrease. The province will also pause new applications for free heat pumps, free insulation and free electric hot water heaters due to high demand, a news release said. The province measures the cost effectiveness of its programs based on dollar spent per ton of greenhouse gas emission elimination, as well as dollar per kilowatt hour saved, Ellis said. "We have a good idea of how [programs] perform over time and have made some changes in response to that," he said. Popular programs The province has seen a lot of uptake on its heat pump and solar panel rebates, Ellis said, adding that the province is happy to continue offering rebates to homeowners on those items, at a lower rate. The heat pump rebate for residential properties is set to decrease from $1,200 to $900 per unit, while the solar panel program will see a change in incentive rate and a rebate capped at $5,000 for solar panels installed on a home, compared to the prior $10,000 cap. People wanting solar panels who were previously approved by the province will get the old amount, while anyone who applied on or after Jan. 8, 2025, will get the new amount if they are deemed eligible. "Incentives and caps for commercial and agricultural clients will remain the same," the news release adds with regard to solar panels. "Rebates on energy-efficient equipment for business, community, commercial and industrial buildings [are] increasing, including air source heat pump rebate increasing from $600 to $900. Rebates are also increasing for selected lighting and for packaged terminal heat pumps." Rebates for the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles have been popular, particularly in Charlottetown and Summerside, Ellis said. While the amount of those rebates are going down, annual registration of those vehicles will still be free. Ellis also said the province will not be making changes to its infrastructure plans to support EVs, citing projects underway to create more fast charging stations in communities across the Island. Some rebates the same or higher Some of the energy efficiency and rebate programs will continue unchanged, including the e-bike incentive, instant rebates on appliances, and the provincial subsidy for home energy audits. As well, the provincial news release says, there will be a "40 per cent increase in rebates for insulation for attics, walls, basements, headers, exposed floors, windows and doors, and air sealing." As for new home construction, the news release said, "incentives will be increased and re-aligned to match national building code tiers, so people will get more money back." Ellis said the province tries to stay in line with the latest trends and best practices to help Islanders minimize energy costs. "Where we can make life more affordable and also reduce energy and GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions, we will always make the case for that, and ultimately the decision-makers here in government will have the final say."
CBC
13-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Province plans pilot projects to help stabilize Island's electrical grid, MLAs told
Social Sharing As recent power instability issues on Prince Edward Island bring attention to system shortcomings, the provincial government will be launching pilot projects aimed at better managing the electrical grid. Homes and businesses in western P.E.I., and Summerside in particular, have been experiencing ongoing power issues this week due to damage at a Maritime Electric substation. P.E.I.'s second-largest city operates its own utility but relies on Maritime Electric to transmit supplemental power it buys from New Brunswick. Islanders have been asked to conserve energy for three straight evenings, and on Thursday, Maritime Electric continues to ask customers across the Island to avoid using big appliances during peak hours. Derek Ellis, the province's director of sustainability, told the legislature's standing committee on natural resources and environmental sustainability on Thursday that concerns about P.E.I.'s electricity grid have been a "hot topic." As more Islanders switch to electric heating and transportation, encouraged by government incentives designed to reduce P.E.I.'s carbon footprint, the increased demand is putting additional pressure on the system, he said. "We're in the process of seeking a proponent now to help implement some pilot measures that can help shift demand [to] off-peak times, using the existing infrastructure that we have," Ellis told MLAs. Demand response programs in development Andy Collier, acting senior manager of energy policy and programs at Efficiency P.E.I., also spoke to the committee. He said he hopes a request for proposals (RFP) will be issued next week to look for someone to design and deliver those demand-response programs. "Demand-response programs in that RFP would be things like replicating the thermal storage technology that Summerside Electric uses in their Heat for Less Now program," he said. What Maritime Electric, Summerside officials and others had to say on Day 3 of P.E.I. power shortage 22 hours ago Duration 4:27 The City of Summerside, which operates its own electric utility, continues to warn residents that power outages may be necessary if demand exceeds the grid's capacity. Wayne Thibodeau spent the day in the community of 17,000 to learn how the power uncertainty is affecting people and businesses. The Heat for Less Now program uses electric thermal storage systems to store excess wind energy for home heating and hot water, offering a reduced rate of $0.08/kWh guaranteed for five years, according to the City of Summerside website. This system helps homeowners save money, reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, and lower their carbon footprint by cutting CO2 emissions. Another proposed measure is "expanding curtailment activities," Collier said, which is different from Maritime Electric's current interruptible customer rates. Summerside is classified as an interruptible customer with Maritime Electric, meaning it pays lower electricity rates but can have its power supply cut during high-demand periods. "We will be exploring expanding into curtailment rates, which would be not necessarily cutting off power, but reducing power for certain customers," he said. Efficiency P.E.I. is also considering advanced energy management systems that would look at things like offsetting charging through smart technology to off-peak hours, Collier said. Affordability, workforce development Ellis said managing the electrical grid isn't just about shifting demand; it also involves making electricity more affordable and ensuring accessibility to energy efficiency programs. The province is working to reduce energy poverty by offering low-barrier entry initiatives like free heat pump programs, he said. Power struggle: Summerside mayor frustrated city isn't guaranteed to get the electricity it buys 2 days ago Duration 2:47 Mayor Dan Kutcher says people in Summerside are feeling the pain of Maritime Electric's failures after an array of power outages. He suggests the utility is holding the western P.E.I. city's residents hostage with its control over the province's electrical transmission system. Informing Islanders to help them better understand how P.E.I.'s energy system works is also crucial, he said. "Public education, I think, will lead to more confidence in these systems." Additionally, as heating systems shift from oil boilers to electricity-powered alternatives like heat pumps, Ellis said there will be a growing need for skilled workers like refrigeration handlers and electricians.
