New appliances use so much less energy than old ones the province will soon pay Ontarians hundreds of dollars to upgrade in order to reduce pressure on the provincial energy grid.

This fall, cheques for $200 will start being sent out to people who upgrade their refrigerator, freezer or laundry machines to models that are energy-efficient, Energy Minister Stephen Lecce announced Wednesday.

“By expanding Ontario’s energy savings programs to include energy efficient appliances, families save money and Ontario saves power — the ultimate win-win,” he said in a statement.

To meet demand for electricity that is projected to skyrocket by 75 per cent by 2050, the province has started construction on the first new nuclear reactors in more than 30 years. But with long construction timelines — and

See Full Page