Mention hydro bills at any Tim Hortons in Ontario and you’re sure to set off a chorus of grumbling. Electricity rates in the province have skyrocketed in recent years. Today, they’re among the highest in Canada.

According to WISE researcher Anindya Sen, that’s due in part to the province’s High-5 program. Introduced in 2011, it provides incentives for large industries to reduce electricity consumption during the highest demand hours of the year.

Trimming peak consumption avoids the need to…