The Ministry of Energy’s responsibility is ensuring that Ontario’s electricity system functions with reliability and productivity, and promoting innovation in the energy sector. In April 2002, it was renamed the Ministry of Energy, with the newly created Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation taking over responsibility for its science and technology portfolio. It was integrated as the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure between 2007 and 2010, before it was split back into the Ministry of Energy on August 18, 2010.
The Minister of Energy is the Honourable Glenn Thibeault.
Several agencies and crown corporations are under the Ministry:
Hydro One 1999-present; created from the breakup of Ontario HydroIndependent Electricity System Operator (IESO) 1998-present; created from the breakup of Ontario HydroOntario Power Authority 2004-2015; now merged with IESO; created from the breakup of Ontario HydroOntario Energy Board 1999-present; created from the breakup of Ontario HydroOntario Power Generation (OPG) 1999-present; created from the breakup of Ontario HydroFrom 1974 to 1999 Ontario Hydro reported to the Minister, but the public utility was broken up into various agencies and crown corporations. Prior to 1974 Ontario Hydro reported to Commissioners appointed by the Premier and a few were Ministers without Portfolio.
The Commission was headed by a Chairman:
SirAdam Beck 1906-1925 -referred to as Minister of PowerJohn Robert Cooke 1931-1934Robert H. Saunders 1948-1953George E Gathercole 1962-1974Darcy McKeough, 1973-1975Dennis Timbrell, 1975–1977James Taylor, 1977-1978Reuben Baetz, 1978 (January–August)James Auld, 1978–1979Bob Welch, 1979–1983Philip Andrewes, 1983–1985George Ashe, 1985 (February–May)Mike Harris, (May–June)Vince Kerrio, 1985–1987Bob Wong, 1987–1989Lyn McLeod, 1989–1990Jenny Carter, 1990–1991Will Ferguson, 1991–1992Brian Charlton, 1992–1993Bud Wildman, 1993–1995 (also Environment)Brenda Elliott, 1995–1996 (also Environment)Norm Sterling, 1996–1997 (also Environment)Jim Wilson, 1997–2002 (also Science and Technology)Chris Stockwell 2002 (also Environment)John Baird, 2002–2003Dwight Duncan, 2003–2005Donna Cansfield, 2005–2006Dwight Duncan, 2006–2007 (2nd time)Gerry Phillips 2007–2008George Smitherman, 2008–2009 (also Infrastructure)Gerry Phillips, 2009–2010 (also Infrastructure)Brad Duguid, 2010–2011Chris Bentley, 2011–2013Bob Chiarelli, 2013–2016Glenn Thibeault, 2016-present