By having a local champion for energy conservation, communities gain multiple benefits. For specific details, visit the MECO section home page and review the Top Ten Advantage of Appointing a MECO.

We will not hire MECOs for each Ontario community; this is beyond the scope of our jurisdiction and is not consistent with the MECO concept. This initiative isn’t about creating a “top-down” bureaucracy; it’s about encouraging and empowering a grassroots “bottom-up” source of local leadership for promoting energy conservation. While the Power Authority is well-positioned to support a “community of practice” among appointed MECOs, we are not establishing a formal hierarchy or mandatory reporting relationship. This is about a voluntary, community-level role that serves both municipal and provincial energy conservation goals.

The OPA have not specified that the appointment be made from an elected official, a municipal government or municipally-owned LDC. In some communities, a well-motivated appointee from a service club, might be optimal; in others, there may be a need to have an individual with some level of technical expertise to be effective. Each community must determine what works best in its own case. But there is a clear advantage to having a local energy conservation champion and providing that champion with the level of authority necessary to be effective.

Ideally, the MECO role should cover city infrastructure but should also advance energy conservation in the broader community as well. Optimally, a MECO should promote the cause of conservation in both domains locally as well; however, it is up to each community to determine what works best.

Ideally, we want to see MECOs become effective champions for energy conservation within their communities in partnership with their LDCs – this means advocating for conservation within municipal structures and beyond. We hope they will work co-operatively with us and with other MECOs and with relevant associations across the province to create a network of local energy conservation problem solvers who can provide mutual support that enhances their impact in their own environs. And finally, we believe it is in the best interest of their communities that MECOs help us to promote participation in programs offered by the OPA and from other provincial/federal sources, so that their benefits accrue fully to their municipalities, local businesses, and residents. In essence, we want MECOs to help us create the “culture of conservation” that Ontario must achieve to realize the long-term goals for its electricity system.

To officially serve as a community’s Municipal Energy Conservation Officer, a person would need to be designated as a MECO by the local government, i.e., the mayor and council should appoint the MECO to his/her role. Since the exact process may differ from community to community, if you are interested in pursuing this role, you should investigate the appointment process for your own local government. Please note that municipal officials interested in being updated about the MECO initiative do not require official designation to participate in the community of practice. Just send an e-mail to us at: info@powerauthority.on.ca and ask to be included in our list of contacts.

We commend you for recognizing the importance of energy conservation in Ontario. It’s hard to advise on how to seek the MECO role because each community is different; some may have individuals within their governments or municipally-owned electricity distribution companies (LDCs) in this role but holding a different title.

You should therefore perhaps start by researching community websites (the municipal government and LDC, your local chamber of commerce, etc.) to see if the role is filled. If not, your next step is to send a letter of interest in serving as your municipality’s MECO to the mayor, chief administrative officer, council, and others with decision-making powers. Specify your qualifications, what you would uniquely contribute, and how your community would benefit. State that you are seeking an official endorsement as the municipality’s volunteer MECO so that you have the authority to act.

If you become your community’s designated MECO, please send us your contact details at: info@powerauthority.on.ca and specify “MECO” in your subject line, so that we can offer our support. Best of luck and please continue to champion energy conservation whether you are formally named as a MECO or not.

A list of officially designated MECOs is available from this website. You’ll find a link at the bottom of the landing page for the initiative. Any individual who received an official designation as his/her community’s MECO should notify the Power Authority by e-mail at: info@powerauthority.on.ca.

As the range of qualifications and experience of individuals who now hold a MECO-like position is broad, it’s hard to precisely draft a MECO job profile. Some are professional engineers; some have backgrounds in environmental studies, and other relevant disciplines. Their reporting structure, responsibilities, and the balance between internal/external activities vary significantly. Because the OPA will not be hiring MECOs, our focus has been on encouraging appointments and empowering MECOs by connecting them with others throughout Ontario by offering other forms of support, rather than on drafting a formal job description.

However, we recognize that some communities might value our help to better define the MECO role towards making local appointments, and so we would be pleased to share some ideas through this website. If this is of interest to your community, please contact us at: info@powerauthority.on.ca and specify “MECO” in your subject line.

The Ontario Power Authority has a vested interest in nurturing the appointment of local energy champions in municipalities across the province to complement energy saving efforts being undertaken by LDCs. Accordingly, we will: serve as the centralized and authoritative resource that cultivates local efforts; sharing expertise, supporting problem-solving; promoting awareness of support program availability; celebrating energy saving achievements, and helping to overcome barriers to energy conservation. Ideally, we want to see MECOs in every Ontario community who have become fully empowered at the local level, so that our role focuses primarily on fostering their continued leadership and effectiveness.

Ultimately, each municipality must determine what works best in its own circumstances – and more than one has opted to have more than one official designate.. From our perspective, having a single MECO ensures there is a clearly recognized champion who holds responsibility for promoting energy conservation locally. However, our primary interest is in fostering effective energy efficiency and energy conservation measures in Ontario’s communities, within municipalities and through productive relationships between municipalities and their LDCs. We believe the MECO initiative can contribute to this goal.