Turning on the lights is simple: Flick a switch.
Getting the electricity to your home so that those lights come on is not so simple.
The truth is, it takes a lot to generate, transmit and distribute electricity. And as our population continues to grow and industry demands for electricity continue to skyrocket and modern living continues to rely on electricity for clean, carbon-free energy, it’s going to take even more.
Enova has identified Grid Resiliency as one of our key priorities for the next five years and within that we are looking at decarbonization and the move to electrification. Locally and worldwide, our energy needs are increasing in ways we hadn’t envisioned even five years ago. Through population growth and decarbonization and energy-intensive business needs like AI data centres, *Ontario’s demand for electricity is forecast to grow by 75 per cent by 2050, which is the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the provincial electricity grid.
Meeting that demand requires a cross-sector partnership including government and regulators and businesses and electricity distributors, and Enova is ready and engaged to play our part.
While we work on our plans, energy conservation and efficiency remain the most cost-effective tools available to help keep electricity demand down.
Energy conservation isn’t new; electric utilities have been touting the need for conservation since electricity in Ontario started flowing from Niagara Falls in the early 1900s.
We have made some great strides in saving energy, from LED light bulbs to battery storage to renewable resources, and this work can’t stop.
Here’s how you can help:
On March 22, 2025, we encourage you to turn your lights off for Earth Hour between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and take the time to consider what it takes to get electricity to your home, from generation to transmission to the meter, and think of what you can do to help conserve.
You can also use the electricity-free hour to:
- Play a board game or card game by candlelight.
- Host a dinner party with foods that don’t require cooking, such as cold or room temperature finger foods.
- Unplug your mobile devices and have a conversation. You can find some great conversation starters here.
How you can save energy all year round
While Earth Hour is a great time to reflect on our energy use, sustainable impact takes effort all year round.
Our friends at Save on Energy have programs available to help residents and businesses save energy and money. From demand response to retrofit incentives, there are a variety of programs for you to choose from. Learn more at saveonenergy.ca.
You can also visit our website for simple, easy-to-apply tips you can use every day to save energy. Visit enovapower.com/efficiencyathome
Thank you for doing your part and celebrating the Biggest Hour for Earth!
*Source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-affordable-energy-future-pressing-case-more-power
