Item - 2021.EX22.5

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council request Toronto Hydro to report to the City Manager by the end of the third quarter of 2021 on current work and an action plan, including opportunities for acceleration, investments, reporting and collaboration with City divisions and agencies to achieve outcomes in the following areas:

a. electric vehicle-charging infrastructure;

b. modernization of outdoor lighting, including street lighting;

c. implementation and facilitation of renewable energy and energy storage; and

d. attracting revenue through non-rate sources of capital funding, such as grants, funding and financing from governments and agencies, and revenues generated through unregulated affiliates.

2. City Council direct the City Manager to report to City Council by the end of the fourth quarter of 2021 with respect to the report from Toronto Hydro referred to in Part 1 above.

This report responds to City Council direction from October 27, 2020 that the City Manager, in consultation with the Environment and Energy Division (EED) and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF), develop recommendations for Toronto Hydro to achieve greater outcomes for energy efficiency, demand management and renewable energy.

The City of Toronto's climate goals are outlined in its TransformTO Climate Action Strategy adopted unanimously by Council in 2017.  In 2019, Council declared a Climate Emergency and updated its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Accelerating climate action is essential for the health and prosperity of Toronto and requires all City divisions, agencies and corporations to advance this work.  Toronto Hydro, as the City's wholly-owned electrical distribution company, is uniquely placed to enable TransformTO goals, given the significant GHG reductions that can be realized through electrification.

This report recommends that Toronto Hydro report back by the end of Q3 2021 with an action plan on several key opportunities. Toronto Hydro, TAF and EED have been engaged in preparing this report.  Additional input provided by Hydro in a communication dated March 4, 2021 has been referenced in the body of this report and included as Attachment 1.