The province says a number of large institutions will see a drop in their electricity bills.
Sudbury MPP and the Minister of Energy Glenn Thibeault highlighted the expansion of the industrial conservation initiative during a media event on Thursday.
"So on a day when it is very, very hot in our province, we will have high peaks and so you need to be able to adjust your energy consumption on those days and you will be able to qualify for those programs to make significant savings,” Thibeault said.
The province said the initiative was expanded to include all electricity consumers with average monthly peak demand greater than 1 megawatt and electricity consumers with an average monthly peak demand greater than 500 kilowatts (kW) and less than 1 MW in the manufacturing and greenhouse sectors.
The move came into effect on July 1.
“With the recent expansions to the industrial conservation initiative, eligible organizations that reduce their peak hour consumption will see their electricity bills lowered," said Thibeault.
"These savings will help ensure local organizations can continue to offer the high quality public services Sudbury families rely on.”
Thibeault said local electricity users like Laurentian University Cambrian College, Collège Boréal and Health Sciences North will see their electricity costs cut their bills by up to one third, with careful use during peak hours.
“Given the financial pressures faced by all colleges but especially smaller ones and those in the North, the industrial conservation initiative provides welcome relief," said Daniel Giroux, Collège Boréal president.
Laurentian University expects to save around $700,000.
“It's going to allow us to invest in retrofitting in energy conservation on the campus,” said Pierre Zundel, Laurentian University interim president.
Opposition parties allege this is another hydro plan that just doesn't add up.
"To announce that if you cut back your use in peak time means our hydro bill will fall, but when you think about the large commercial operations peak time is when they operate, so it's more of an announcement than actual help for anybody," said Vic Fedeli // Ontario PC Finance Critic.
"What they are hoping is the voter’s memory is going to be short," added Jamie West, Sudbury NDP candidate.
"They are forgetting the previous three years just focusing on the last year. I like to to call it bribing you with your own money, that isn't the government's money that is taxpayers’ money."
Thibeault said the program, which originally started with helping much bigger industries, has saved smaller and medium-sized companies hundreds of thousands of dollars as well
