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UTILITIES
Sector Overview
This sector comprises establishments engaged in operating electric, gas, and water utilities. These
companies generate, transmit, control and distribute electric power; distribute natural gas; treat
and distribute water; operate sewer systems and sewage treatment facilities; and provide related
services. This profile of the sector integrates information about the green economy “slice” of the
utilities sector.
The utility sector is complex and changing rapidly as companies pursue new clean technologies
and smart grid applications, optimise their energy mix in response to modern climate change and
sustainability pressures. The business activity is primarily focused in the following clusters:
• Power utilities cluster — engaged in generation, transmission and delivery of electric power
• Energy efficiency cluster — engaged in energy planning and management with the purpose of
making new and existing buildings more energy efficient
• Renewable energy cluster — engaged in activities aimed at developing, introducing, and installing
technologies that control renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass
Toronto’s infrastructure is aging, including the electrical assets that power the city. Much of this
infrastructure was installed in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, and requires updating and renewal. The
Community Energy Storage project offers many benefits; in the short term to the grid, and even
more in the long term. xxviii Green roof installations have increased significantly in Toronto due to a
by-law that requires green roofs on new developments. Toronto was the first North American
municipality to require green roofs in new construction. An additional 113,300 square meters
(1.2 million square feet), is planned for installation. This quantity of square footage will result in
over 115 FTE jobs in one year in the manufacturing, design and construction of green roofs. xxix
Local Labour Market Update 2013 • Toronto’s Opportunities and Priorities
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