The office was new, and Premier Robert Ghiz announced two new programs, but P.E.I.'s office of energy efficiency is so far only offering programs established by the previous government.

'Well, the office is the new part. But these programs, [there was] a little bit of tweaking involved.'— Premier Robert Ghiz

Located in a mall in the north of Charlottetown, the office is meant to provide easy access to information for Islanders about how to spend less on energy through conservation. Included in the launch Tuesday was an announcement by the premier of two new ways to do this.

The office of energy efficiency will inform Islanders about energy conservation at a cost of about $200,000 a year.
(CBC)

"I am proud to say that, starting immediately, this government will deliver two new programs helping ordinary Islanders deal with energy use and with the energy costs that follow them," said Ghiz.

But the two programs — grants for low-income Islanders for improving thermal efficiency of homes, and loans for renewable energy equipment — are old in everything but name. They were launched more than two years ago by the former Progressive Conservative government, something Ghiz acknowledged when pressed.

"Well, the office is the new part," he said. "But these programs, [there was] a little bit of tweaking involved."

The government will spend $200,000 a year on the new office, and Ghiz said it would be money well spent on improving access to important information.

"People don't know where to go. They don't know what they can do. And we wanted to make it easier for Islanders to be able to find out how they can conserve energy," said Ghiz.

Ghiz said the office will be staffed by three people who will be able to help Islanders apply for both federal and provincial programs.