Efficiency Canada’s new report provides a detailed picture of utility demand-side management activities across the country. It reveals that active plans constitute $5.8 billion in total committed investment and could deliver 69 petajoules of incremental energy savings. The report also provides jurisdictional scans of equity-oriented and demand flexibility program activities.
See also: DiscoverEE Webinar: The 2025 Energy Efficiency Programs Report
Retrofitting existing buildings is key to meeting Canada’s housing, affordability and climate goals. On-the-ground teams delivering these upgrades are the missing link that could help the new Build Canada Homes Investment Framework provide long-term stability to the housing market, according to Betsy Agar, Efficiency Canada’s director of buildings policy.
National updates and research
Addressing Energy Poverty in Canada: Policies, Programs, and the 2026 Outlook: As home energy costs continue to strain household budgets, Canadian governments and utilities are rolling out programs to improve affordability and reduce energy poverty. Energy efficiency experts joined Efficiency Canada for a webinar highlighting policies and programs that lower energy costs, improve efficiency, and support vulnerable households.
Progress report on 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: The federal government’s emissions report highlights its ambition of making “Canada a reliable and responsible energy superpower.” The country’s current policy mix will reduce emissions by 21 per cent in 2030 relative to 2005 levels, but this is short of its 40–45 per cent reduction target.
Virtual power plant is a model for cost savings and energy security: Canadian utilities and regulators are testing projects that can distribute electricity within the grid when demand surges. This concept of virtual power plants “enables rapid demand response,” according to Brendan Haley, Efficiency Canada’s senior director of policy strategy.
Neighbourhood Level Energy-Efficiency Planning: Neighbourhoods can enable coordinated action needed to accelerate building retrofits, according to a paper from Sustainable Buildings Canada. The paper, which cites Efficiency Canada reports on buildings, also highlights several barriers, including governance complexity, inadequate data and planning tools and insufficient funding.
Regional updates and research
A proposed change to the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act could allow less efficient equipment and appliances into the province. Efficiency Canada and The Atmospheric Fund urge the Government of Ontario to protect energy efficiency standards by reconsidering its plans.
Canada funding affordable energy projects in Alberta: The federal government is providing nearly $3 million in funding to enhance grid reliability and resiliency in Alberta. Projects include the deployment of thermal energy networks and the development of a regulatory framework for demand-side management.
P.E.I. publishes Minister’s Report on Climate Change: Provincial programs helped improve energy efficiency in 13,196 P.E.I. households, according to a new report. This is the third consecutive year that the province has reported overall emissions reductions.
B.C. heat pump firm secures US$50M to fuel North American expansion: More than 100 million households in North America rely on gas furnaces for primary heating. Building up heat-pump capacity is especially important in Canada, as much of the country’s supply chain has historically relied on the United States, said Efficiency Canada’s Betsy Agar.