HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Agenda - 2025-08-11 SSpecial Council Meeting
Agenda
Monday, August 11, 2025,4:00 p.m.
Council Chambers - Hybrid
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
People interested in participating in this meeting can register online using the delegation registration
form at www.kitchener.ca/delegation or via email at delegation kitchener.ca. Please refer to the
delegation section on the agenda below for registration in-person and electronic participation
deadlines. Written comments received will be circulated prior to the meeting and will form part of the
public record.
The meeting live -stream and archived videos are available at www.kitchener.ca/watchnow
*Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. If you require
assistance to take part in a city meeting or event, please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994.*
Pages
1. Commencement
This meeting will begin immediately following Finance and Corporate Services
Committee at approximately 4:00 p.m.
The meeting will begin with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Mayor.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
Members of Council and members of the City's local boards/committees are
required to file a written statement when they have a conflict of interest. If a
conflict is declared, please visit www.kitchener.ca/conflict to submit your written
form.
3. Delegations
Pursuant to Council's Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address
the Committee for a maximum of five (5) minutes. All Delegations where
possible are encouraged to register prior to the start of the meeting. For
Delegates who are attending in-person, registration is permitted up to the start
of the meeting. Delegates who are interested in attending virtually must register
by 2:00 p.m. on August 11, 2025, in order to participate electronically.
4. Staff Reports
4.1 Home Renovations Savings Program, INS- 20 m 4
2025-350
5. Heritage Kitchener Report — August 4, 2025
5.1 Heritage Permit Application HPA-2022-V-017 - 57 Jubilee Drive
"That pursuant to Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage
Permit Application HPA-2022-V-017 be approved, as outlined in
Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-333, to
permit a rear addition on the property municipally addressed as 57
Jubilee Drive in accordance with the supplementary information
submitted with the application and subject to the following
condition:
1. That the final building permit be reviewed and approved
by the City's Heritage Planner prior to the issuance of a
building permit in accordance with the final approved site
plan."
6. Mayoral Business and Updates - Mayor B. Vrbanovic
7. In -camera Meeting Authorization
Note: Any member of Council may question the appropriateness of a listed in -
camera item. This may be done during the special Council meeting or at the
beginning of the in -camera session.
Council is asked to enact the following resolution to authorize an in -camera
meeting:
"That an in -camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following
the special council meeting this date to consider a confidential information
about competitive position/contracts/negotiations and a matter of solicitor -
client privilege as authorized by Sections 239 (f) and (k) of the Municipal
Act, 2001, respectively."
7.1 Sponsorship Opportunity (Confidential 20 m
information about competitive
position/contracts/negotiations - Section 239
(2) (k))
Staff will provide information and seek direction on this matter.
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7.2 City -owned Facilities - Rental 45 m
Programming (Solicitor -client privilege -
Section 239 (2) (f))
Staff will provide information and seek direction on this matter.
8. By-laws
8.1 Three Readings
8.1.a To confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council for August 11,
2025.
(By-law 2025-085)
9. Adjournment
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Staff Repoit
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Infrastructure Services Department www. kitchen er.ca
REPORT TO: Special Council
DATE OF MEETING: August 11, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Greg St. Louis, Director Kitchener Utilities Gas & Water, 519-783-
8792
PREPARED BY: Greg St. Louis, Director Kitchener Utilities Gas & Water, 519-783-
8792
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Ward(s)
DATE OF REPORT: August 6, 2025
REPORT NO.: INS -2025-350
SUBJECT: Home Renovations Savings Program
RECOMMENDATION:
That staff be directed to participate with the Province of Ontario, Enbridge Gas Inc.
and the Independent Electric System Operator, in the Home Renovations Savings
Program through a "One -Window" approach; and
That the General Manager of Infrastructure Services be authorized to execute a
service agreement on behalf of Kitchener Utilities with Enbridge Gas Inc. to deliver
the Home Renovations Saving Program to Kitchener Utilities customers through a
"one -window" approach; said agreement to be to the satisfaction of the City
Solicitor; and
That staff be directed to incorporate the necessary program funding for the Home
Renovations Savings Program rebates into future Kitchener Utilities budgets.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to provide overview of the Provincial Home Renovation
Saving Program (HRSP) for Ontario residents
The key finding of this report is that staff recommend that Kitchener Utilities partner with
the Province, IESO and Enbridge Gas on the delivery of the HRSP
The financial implications are an increase in anticipated funding requirements to support
the HRSP through Kitchener Utilities' Demand Side Management budget, which will be
brought forward through future budget processes which, at full implementation,
represents a 5.2% increase to gas delivery rates (not including supply) based on
anticipated program utilization
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
Page 4 of 7
• This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path
to a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment
while transitioning to a low -carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to
make climate -positive choices.
BACKGROUND:
In January 2025, the Province of Ontario launched the Home Renovation Savings
Program (HRSP) for Ontario residents. This 12 year $10.913 energy efficiency program is
the largest in Canadian history and is administered by the Independent Energy Systems
Operator (I ESO) for electricity users, and Enbridge Gas Inc. for gas users in Enbridge Gas
Inc. service area. The program provides rebates of up to 30% of the cost of an upgrade to
a maximum of $5,000 per customer. Eligible renovations and improvements include new
windows, doors, insulation, air sealing, smart thermostats, heat pumps, as well as rooftop
solar panels and battery storage systems.
Each gas utility in the province has developed their own conservation program in the past,
based on customer requirements and budget consideration as conservation programs are
funded through natural gas rates. Kitchener Utilities' annual Demand Side Management
(DSM) conservation program typically provides rebates for smart thermostat upgrades,
high -efficiency water heaters, and energy audits conducted by REEP Green Solutions and
rebates for commercial and industrial customers.
The Province of Ontario has requested that all local gas utilities, including Kitchener
Utilities, Utilities Kingston, and EPCOR, engage with the IESO and Enbridge Gas Inc. to
facilitate their participation in the HRSP and match the rebates offered within the program.
REPORT:
As outlined in the integrated energy strategy, Energy for Generations, the Province of
Ontario is committed to offering a "one -window" approach to delivering energy efficiency
rebates. This model is designed to simplify access to both electricity and natural gas
conservation programs, streamlining the rebate process for Ontario residents seeking
home energy upgrades. As such, the HRSP is intended to offer unified access to all
residential energy efficiency rebate options.
The Province has requested that all local gas utilities including Kitchener Utilities, Utilities
Kingston, and EPCOR participate in the HRSP. Under this model, the Province and the
IESO lead all marketing and communication for the program, and Enbridge Gas Inc. will
be responsible for the program administration. Kitchener Utilities will utilize the marketing
and communication materials issued by the Province to help ensure Kitchener Utilities
customers are aware of the program. Kitchener Utilities' role would be a program partner,
funder, and promote the program to KU customers. Kitchener Utilities customers would be
eligible for this program, later in 2025 as soon as a service agreement with Enbridge Gas
Inc. is completed as well as any updates to the Enbridge Gas Inc. processes to accept
Kitchener Utilities Customer.
When the Province announced the HRSP, Kitchener Utilities customers began contacting
staff with concerns about their ineligibility for the HRSP rebates. Staff have been engaged
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with the Province of Ontario and the IESO to determine a plan to have Kitchener Utilities
customers eligible for conservation rebates. There are three options that staff considered:
1) Status quo and maintain the current level of rebates and program funding and wait
until the Kitchener Utilities Clean Energy Transition Project is completed;
2) Expansion of the existing conservation program, providing new rebates for doors,
windows and insulation but at funding levels below the HRSP and caping the
maximizing customer rebate to $1,000. This would double the existing budget but
most likely at a reduced uptake of the program;
3) Partner with the Province of Ontario in the HRSP and provide the same level of
rebates to KU customers as Enbridge customers are eligible for.
The HRSP conservation rebates are aligned with a broader, corporate -wide commitment
to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by reducing natural gas consumption. It
aligns with the council approved Transform Waterloo Region report (2021), which sets a
long-term goal of an 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050. Further, Kitchener Utilities
is advancing efforts through the Clean Energy Transition Strategy, to develop an
integrated business approach that ensures Kitchener Utilities' financial sustainability while
delivering valuable services to Kitchener residents. Exploring customer incentives in DSM
and exploring innovative technologies for heating buildings and water systems to reduce
the dependency on natural gas is included in the scope of this project.
If Kitchener Utilities participates in the HRSP, rebates will be available to all households
within the province and not just Enbridge Gas service areas. This alignment will help our
local contractors and installers clearly communicate this offer to all residents in the
Region, as it's a province wide program. This should reduce contractor and customer
confusion and assist with increasing program awareness and uptake. In addition, the
HRSP will have an immediate improvement on making customers' homes more energy
efficient thereby reducing the amount of natural gas consumed, reducing GHG emissions
which aligns with the KU Clean Energy Transition project and will benefit the community.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to
a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while
transitioning to a low -carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make
climate -positive choices.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The HRSP is a 12 -year provincial project and will require continuous funding over its
duration. The program is well beyond any conservation and incentive program that
Kitchener Utilities has ever implemented. To support budget projections, staff are relying
on estimates for customer uptake and rebate amount. At present, staff are initially
estimating 1000 customers per year with an average rebate amount of $1,800. However,
the maximum rebate allowed per the program is $5,000 per customer, if many incentives
are combined.
Page 6of7
The Province will be promoting and marketing the program, and Enbridge will be delivering
the program for both natural gas and electricity customers in Ontario. The one -window
models will minimize the need for Kitchener Utilities to hire additional staff to run the
program, however, Kitchener Utilities staff will need to verify and approve the final
amounts released to customers, coordinate with Enbridge on reporting, and market the
program to Kitchener Utilities customers. Enbridge Gas will be compensated for
administering the conservation program on behalf of our customers. Staff are currently in
discussions with Enbridge Gas Inc. to determine a fair and reasonable amount.
The existing DSM funding is $300,000 annually. Due to a capital carry-over from 2024, the
current available balance is $430,000, which will be utilized to fund the HRSP in 2025. The
proposed funding is to increase the DSM capital budget over a three-year period to reach
an annual funding of $1.8M. This requires an additional $500,000 in 2026, increasing to
$1 M in 2027, and finally increasing to $1.5M in 2028.
The Province plans to conduct a formal review of the program after the initial three-year
implementation period for an option for program adjustments. For Kitchener Utilities, the
program will need to be reviewed annually to adjust both budget and staffing requirements
based on provincial changes to the program or customer uptake levels. In addition, the
Gas Capital Reserve may need to be utilized to absorb any cost overruns in the DSM
budget, if the HRSP is utilized by more customers than estimated or the amount of the
rebate is more than estimated. The following chart reflects the estimated funding required:
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The Province of Ontario will be providing marketing materials to the program participants as
well as promoting the HRSP on behalf of gas and electric utilities.
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of
the council / committee meeting.
APPROVED BY: Denise McGoldrick, GM Infrastructure Services
Page 7 of 7
2026
2027 2028
Additional program funding
$500,000
$1,000,000 $1,500,000
M 1 Rate I mpact/m3
$0.0019
$0.0038 0.0057
Increase over 2025 M1 rate
1.7%
3.5% 5.2%
Annual impact to average
residential customer
$3.80
$7.60 $11.40
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The Province of Ontario will be providing marketing materials to the program participants as
well as promoting the HRSP on behalf of gas and electric utilities.
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of
the council / committee meeting.
APPROVED BY: Denise McGoldrick, GM Infrastructure Services
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