INNOVATIVE was commissioned by the Ontario Energy Association (OEA) to be the Official Pollster at the OEA’s ENERGYCONFERENCE17. The following results belong to the OEA.
INNOVATIVE’s monthly telephone tracking poll shows that energy is not just a challenge for Liberals. (Click here for methodology and details).
Electricity is declining as a top of mind issue and fewer believe the government has a bad plan.
- Electricity peaked as a top-of-mind issue for Ontarians in Feb ’17 (26%)- now just 9% feel it is the most important issue in Ontario.
- While a plurality think that the Ontario government’s electricity plan is a bad one (24% vs. 10% “good plan”), sentiment has improved signifcantly year-over-year (2016: 42% “bad plan” vs. 6% “good plan”).
Still problems for Liberals with high levels of dissatisfaction and most people believing their bills are still increasing.
- A majority (58%) of Ontarians are now dissatisfied with their provincial electricity system, the highest levels of dissatisfaction since 2011.
- Despite the government’s 25% hydro-rate cut in July 2017, more than 6-in-10 (62%) Ontarians think the cost of their electricity bills is increasing.
Despite their anger at the Liberals, Ontarians still look to government for leadership.
- More than 4-in-10 (43%) Ontarians think the government should lead the way on electricity and natural gas.
- On electricity, a majority of Core/Soft Liberals (62%) and Time-for-a-change Liberals (59%) look to the government first for leadership.
Ontarians willing to pay more for cap and trade and prefer the revenue be used for abatement rather than tax relief.
- Even with an added yearly household cost of $250, a plurality of Ontarians support (47%) the government’s cap-and-trade program.
- On the specifics of the Fair Hydro Plan, there greatest support is for bill relief (74%), a 25% bill reduction (74%) and indexing rate increases to inflation (64%).
PCs lead on reducing prices, reliability and using energy to create jobs, but NDP and Liberals ahead on environment.
- OPCs now lead Ontario Liberals on “planning for reliable energy for the future” (OPC: 27%; OLP: 20%), hold lead on “keeping natural gas and electricity rates down” (OPC: 30%; OLP: 16%) and gained the lead on harnessing energy to create economic growth (OPC: 29%; OLP: 23%). The NDP (24%) have taken the lead from the OLP (22%) on “reducing the impact on the environment”.
As a part of our ongoing monthly tracking, INNOVATIVE maintains regional, voter and issue analyses. For those interested, we offer private briefings, with additional data and depth, specially tailored to the issues that matter to you. To learn more about our INNOVATIVE Insider Briefings, click here.
About this study:
Innovative Research Group Inc. (INNOVATIVE) polled 608 Ontario residents through a mixed landline and cell live caller survey from September 11th to the 18th, 2017. The margin of error for July’s data is +/- 4.0 %, 19 times out of 20. The sample has been weighted (n=600) by age, gender and region using the latest available data, 2011 Census, to reflect actual demographic composition of the population. This survey is compared with previous studies since April 2000.
For the full report fill out the form below.
