1. Abstract
Smart grid (SG) is modern electricity infrastructure that has the capacity to facilitate
mitigation and adaptation to climate change through technological, institutional, and behavioral
interventions. However, despite the capacity to respond to climate change, development and
deployment of SG technology also has the potential to facilitate increased GHG emissions or
result in the development of a maladaptive grid. By formally integrating climate change
considerations into SG deployment regimes, electricity stakeholders can mitigate the risk of
contributing to GHG emissions or implementing a maladaptive grid as well as ensure that SG
deployment facilitates a comprehensive and efficient response to climate change.
The purpose of this research was to explore the SG deployment regime in Ontario
between 2004 and 2013 within the context of climate change. Specifically, this thesis aimed to
evaluate evidence of climate change integration within Ontario’s SG deployment regime and
identify gaps in climate change integration. Ultimately, the objective was to identify areas of SG
deployment where climate change integration could be strengthened to assist stakeholders in
implementing a SG that results in a positive and comprehensive response to climate change.
Through a content analysis of publically available documents published by electricity
stakeholders, it was found that several SG initiatives inadvertently demonstrated climate change
integration or an inadvertent response to climate change. There was no evidence that electricity
stakeholders explicitly considered climate change in SG deployment activities. In particular, gaps
were identified in components of climate change integration related to climate change impact
assessments, project evaluations, long-term planning, and consumer education and public
awareness. Overall, it is recommended that electricity stakeholders take measures to explicitly
consider climate change in future SG deployment activities. As Ontario is a global leader in SG
deployment, climate change integration in Ontario’s electricity sector could set a precedent and
inspire other jurisdictions pursuing SG technology to do the same, both across Canada and
globally.