Regulation - LGIC
Proposed amendments to O. Reg. 16/08 made under the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 (OEBA).
Regulation Number(s):
O. Reg. 16/08
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998
Summary of Proposal:
Unit sub-meter providers (USMPs) are privately-owned companies that provide metering services to multi-unit residential buildings so that individual unit residents can be billed for electricity based on their individual consumption levels.
USMPs are licensed by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and must conduct their business in compliance with the OEB's Unit Sub-Metering Code.
The OEB recovers the majority of its regulatory expenses and expenditures from entities that it regulates. The OEB is authorized under section 26 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 (OEBA) to assess certain entities or classes of entities with respect to all expenses incurred and expenditures made by the OEB in the exercise of its powers and duties. The entities that can be assessed under this section are prescribed in O. Reg. 16/08 (Assessment of Expenses and Expenditures). Energy sector participants including gas and electricity utilities, electricity retailers and gas marketers are currently assessed OEB costs, but USMPs are not. The OEB incurs costs in regulating USMPs, including resources for licensing USMPs and handling consumer inquiries and complaints with respect to USMPs. Accordingly, ENERGY proposes to add USMPs as entities that are liable to pay OEB cost assessments under section 26 of the OEBA.
The proposed regulatory amendment is part of a broader plan with respect to the regulation of USMPs. In the 2017 Long Term Energy Plan, the government commits to enhance consumer protection by giving the OEB increased regulatory authority over USMPs. Accordingly, ENERGY intends to provide the OEB with authority to regulate what USMPs may charge for unit sub-metering by proclaiming into force certain new or amending provisions in section 78 of the OEBA, including s. 78(2.3), s. 78(3), s. 78(6) and s. 78(9).
USMPs are licensed by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and must conduct their business in compliance with the OEB's Unit Sub-Metering Code.
The OEB recovers the majority of its regulatory expenses and expenditures from entities that it regulates. The OEB is authorized under section 26 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 (OEBA) to assess certain entities or classes of entities with respect to all expenses incurred and expenditures made by the OEB in the exercise of its powers and duties. The entities that can be assessed under this section are prescribed in O. Reg. 16/08 (Assessment of Expenses and Expenditures). Energy sector participants including gas and electricity utilities, electricity retailers and gas marketers are currently assessed OEB costs, but USMPs are not. The OEB incurs costs in regulating USMPs, including resources for licensing USMPs and handling consumer inquiries and complaints with respect to USMPs. Accordingly, ENERGY proposes to add USMPs as entities that are liable to pay OEB cost assessments under section 26 of the OEBA.
The proposed regulatory amendment is part of a broader plan with respect to the regulation of USMPs. In the 2017 Long Term Energy Plan, the government commits to enhance consumer protection by giving the OEB increased regulatory authority over USMPs. Accordingly, ENERGY intends to provide the OEB with authority to regulate what USMPs may charge for unit sub-metering by proclaiming into force certain new or amending provisions in section 78 of the OEBA, including s. 78(2.3), s. 78(3), s. 78(6) and s. 78(9).
Further Information:
Link to O. Reg. 16/08
Proposal Number:
17-ENE010
Posting Date:
October 27, 2017
Comments Due Date:
November 24, 2017
Contact Address:
77 Grenville Street, 6th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 2C1
Toronto, ON
M7A 2C1