Ontario has failed to prioritize and make a long-term commitment to energy conservation, according to a 91亚色 report released Monday.
The report, , part of the Sustainable Energy Initiative Studies in Ontario Electricity Policy Paper Series, is published in the context of the February speech from the throne鈥檚 
acknowledgement that 鈥渃onservation is the cheapest source of energy鈥.
Mark Winfield
鈥淭he paper provides a detailed road map for turning the province鈥檚 renewed focus on energy conservation into reality," says Professor Mark Winfield of the Faculty of Environmental Studies and co-chair of the Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI). 鈥淏y acting on its new commitment, Ontario has the potential to strengthen the sustainability of Ontario鈥檚 electricity system and to enhance the energy productivity of Ontario鈥檚 economy.鈥
Other major barriers to a successful energy conservation strategy highlighted in the report聽include聽overly rigid roles for electricity 
distribution companies in offering conservation programs and聽legislation that grants authority, but do not mandate conservation. In addition, the report states there is聽a lack of attention and support to build a culture of conservation.
Rebecca Mallinson
Rebecca Mallinson, author of the paper and a FES graduate student, outlines 20 recommendations.聽One of聽them is that the province鈥檚 long-term energy policy objectives, the pursuit of all cost-effective opportunities for conservation, be set through legislation rather than ministerial directives.
鈥淚 hope my recommendations will help policymakers to renew Ontario's commitment to electricity conservation. It only makes sense that our energy policies make conservation a priority because conservation is the best-choice electricity option," says Mallinson.