OTTAWA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Canadian Prime Minister Dalton McGuinty said Ontario power consumers should prepare for price shocks next May to encourage a "culture of conservation."
"We all need to find ways to reduce our consumption. Working together, we can ensure Ontario has an electricity supply that is reliable today and sustainable tomorrow," the Globe and Mail quoted McGuinty as saying.
The Globe and Mail also reported that Energy Minister Dwight Duncan was developing an energy strategy to boost electricity prices to encourage conservation.
The strategy is to set electricity prices higher in hours of peak demand and lower in off-peak hours. The switch will involve the installation of "smart meters" in 4 million Ontario homes to record when electricity is consumed.
Those who adjust to using off-peak hours will be rewarded with lower energy bills than those who continue to use power in peak periods.
