Province plans pilot projects to help stabilize Island's electrical grid, MLAs told
A request for proposals is expected to go out next week, official tells committee
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.
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.
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.
"We want to acknowledge that and help create an environment that can train that workforce of the future."