April 2019
Member Spotlight
In 2019, SECC will be recognizing a member each month, providing an organizational profile and highlighting the member's accomplishments and output in the smart energy space.
About Alectra Utilities
Alectra is changing the face of energy in Ontario and shaping the future as we know it. Alectra provides safe, reliable and innovative energy solutions to homes and businesses across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area in Ontario, Canada.
Alectra serves over one million customers through its electrical distribution service, but it is more than just a local distribution company. Alectra has grown to become an energy ally, satisfying the growing need of consumers to have more choices when it comes to service providers. With innovative pilot projects, an expansive corporate social responsibility portfolio and a strong competitive market division – Alectra is equipped to help consumers discover the possibilities of energy conservation and new technologies.
Alectra Utilities is the culmination of five progressive, low-cost and innovative electricity distributors that came together for a common goal – to be a single trusted ally in the rapidly changing world of energy. With a respected history in electrical distribution, Alectra is steeped in pioneering firsts, groundbreaking achievements and memorable milestones that will help guide the industry in the future.
In 2018, Alectra delivered over 15 million kilowatt-hours of electricity over a 1,900 square-kilometer service territory. This territory includes over 120,000 distribution transformers and 14 transformer stations owned and operated by Alectra.
Green Energy and Technology Centre
As the energy industry is experiencing a generational change towards more decentralized, decarbonized and digitized solutions – low-cost renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) and storage, combined with digital intelligence and communication are reshaping the landscape. Customers are changing too as they increasingly want more personalized, affordable and controllable energy choices, all while having seamless digital experiences.
Alectra is preparing for the future, where it will transform into an integrated, innovative energy solutions provider that plans, designs and implements on and off-grid services with a focus on green energy. The Green Energy and Technology (GRE&T) Centre is Alectra's latest step to be at the forefront of exciting industry changes.
The Alectra GRE&T Centre makes energy innovations come to life by identifying, evaluating, developing and deploying emerging green and customer-friendly energy solutions across Alectra's service territory. As a hub for green technology solutions, the Alectra GRE&T Centre will catalyze the commercialization and mass consumer adoption of green technology, serving as a bridge between the Research and Development phase and the full commercialization of these technology solutions.
Innovative Pilot Projects
POWER.HOUSE
Alectra began testing the POWER.HOUSE virtual power plant concept to see if customers would benefit from bill reduction, increased resiliency to outages and the ability to generate their own renewable power. POWER.HOUSE uses an aggregate fleet of residential solar and battery storage systems located at customers’ homes. The systems are autonomously controlled through intelligent software to simulate a single, larger power generating facility. Alectra completed a feasibility study and is working to scale up the project, with a goal of installing up to 30,000 new units by 2031. Under the right conditions, the POWER.HOUSE project could result in deferred energy infrastructure investments of at least two years, while offering customers lower electricity bills and a credit on their bills when they generate their own energy and send the surplus electricity back to the grid.
Advanced Power Pricing
In late 2017, Alectra received approval from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to test new pricing models designed to give residential customers more choice in selecting a pricing plan that would better suit their lifestyles. The OEB is the provincial regulator with authority and responsibility for setting electricity prices. The new Advantage Power Pricing (APP) offers customers three rate plan options.
The Dynamic Plan includes a low price of 4.9 cents/kWh of electricity for off-peak periods and a variable price during the on-peak period (weekdays, 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.), while equipping them with the tools required to better manage their energy use. The Enhanced Plan offers 12 off-peak hours a day in the same schedule as the existing time-of-use model, but with a greater differential between on- and off-peak rates.
The Overnight Plan offers a super off-peak rate of 2 cents/kWh in addition to six off-peak hours. Since the start of the trial period in September, over 6,500 customers were registered in the Enhanced Plan, 2,000 in the Dynamic Plan and 200 in the Overnight Plan. Alectra will factor the data collected during the trial (which ended in March 2019) into future customer service, regulatory and energy services strategies.
Enabling Change in the EV Sector
Alectra and the City of Markham unveiled Alectra Drive for the Workplace, a two-year pilot program at the Markham Civic Centre that will assess the impact on Ontario’s electricity grid of daytime electric vehicle (EV) charging at workplaces. This first-of-its-kind initiative involves 16 Level 2 EV charging stations (10 outdoor and six indoor) for program participants only, plus one Level 2 charging station for general public use. By making EV charging stations more accessible for host businesses, the program will help reduce range anxiety for participating drivers.
Conservation Highlights
Alectra has various programs specifically designed for residential, local business and enterprise customers. From the start of the Conservation First Framework to date, Alectra has put more than 10.5 million energy efficient products into the hands of residential customers, whether through the Coupon program or the Heating and Cooling program. These upgrades have saved over 313,000,000 kWh.
Enterprise programs have helped about 9,100 buildings operate more efficiently with retrofitting for lighting, chilling and more. These retrofits have saved over 642,000,000 kWh.
The Small Business Lighting and Business Refrigeration Incentive Programs have helped more than 8,200 local businesses operate more efficiently by retrofitting lighting and refrigeration equipment. These retrofits have saved over 24,000,000 kWh.
The Low-Income Home Assistance Program and Residential New Construction Program have helped homeowners and builders retrofit and build more than 7,200 homes. These homes have saved more than 10,500,000 kWh.
