Keeping the Lights On: Why Ottawa Needs More Community Energy
- John Kirkwood
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 4
As reported by CTV News yesterday, another power outage hit Ottawa’s west end this week, leaving thousands of homes in the dark overnight. These outages are happening more often, and every time they do, they remind us how fragile our grid really is. Imagine how much worse this outage would have been in the middle of a deep winter freeze when families rely on electricity for warmth, cooking, and connection. We can’t afford to keep waiting for a better solution. What if we had a better way to keep the power on?
At OREC, we believe the answer lies in local energy solutions—and we’re working to bring them to Ottawa. Two key pieces of the puzzle are community-scale battery storage and community solar. Together, they can keep homes and businesses powered during blackouts, lower energy costs, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Here’s how it works:
Community Solar projects generate clean electricity close to where it’s used, reducing strain on the grid and lowering costs for residents
A community-scale battery stores extra energy—whether from solar panels or the grid during off-peak hours—and releases it when it’s needed most, like during an outage or peak demand periods.
This isn’t just a theoretical idea. OREC has put forward a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) proposal for Ottawa, which has already received support from the Ministry of Energy and Electrification, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). However, despite Hydro Ottawa’s public support for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), we have yet to convince them to enable us to implement this practical solution that would help keep the lights on for residents.
At the same time, we’re also pushing for policy changes that would enable community solar in Ontario. Other provinces and countries are already using these solutions to build a more resilient, affordable energy system—so why not here?
This latest blackout is just one more reason why Ottawa needs to invest in local energy resilience. By joining OREC, you can help push for smarter, community-driven energy solutions. Add your voice and be part of the movement for a cleaner, more reliable power system.
👉 Become a member and take action:
We need this in Manotick for sure.