Ontario plans new rules to prepare local utilities for rising power demand
Proposed changes would require long-term utility plans, encourage joint purchasing and add protections against winter disconnections for some apartment and condo residents.
Summary
Ontario is proposing changes to help its 58 local electricity utilities plan for rising demand, upgrade infrastructure and improve consumer protections. The government says the province may need to add grid capacity equivalent to one City of Toronto every six years. The Electricity Distributors Association forecasts up to $120 billion in distribution investments over the next two decades.
Proposed changes include:
- Requiring utilities to prepare 10-year plans covering infrastructure condition, financing and workforce needs.
- Enabling joint purchasing, including Buy Ontario and Buy Canada procurement, and greater use of shared services.
- Strengthening governance and skills-based practices for boards of municipally owned utilities and their holding companies.
- Banning winter disconnections and improving transparency for residents in condos, apartments and other multi-unit buildings served by unit sub-meter providers.
The government says it intends to direct the Ontario Energy Board on expectations for a modern distribution system. The proposed measures are subject to legislative approval.
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Source: Ontario Newsroom