Proposal to amend O.Reg. 509/18 under the Electricity Act, 1998 ("Efficiency Regulation")
Regulation Number(s):
509/18
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Electricity Act, 1998
Summary of Proposal:
The proposed changes would update efficiency requirements for commercial gas furnaces, residential air conditioners and heat pumps, roadway luminaires and highway luminaires. The proposed changes would update scope definitions for six products currently regulated by Ontario and by DOE but not by NRCan, to introduce full rolling incorporation with DOE. These products already have rolling incorporation with DOE standards for test method and efficiency requirements. The proposed changes would update requirements for two products to more closely align with NRCan and/or DOE. The proposed changes would clarify scope for three products. The proposed changes would update test methods for two products. Make changes to the regulation of a housekeeping nature. These changes could clarify the scope and/or requirements for some products, or update references to include the most relevant or most recent editions of test standards for products with no changes to the existing efficiency requirements.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
This proposed amendment would not introduce new compliance or administrative costs (e.g. new testing) since the products affected are already regulated in Ontario. However, it would avoid duplicate testing costs for residential heat pumps and air conditioners, which would have to be tested separately to meet NRCan's and Ontario's requirements if Ontario requirements are not updated to harmonize with NRCan. The ministry estimates these avoided costs to average approximately $7.2 million per year over the next ten years.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
22-ENDM014
Posting Date:
August 10, 2022
Comments Due Date:
September 24, 2022
Proposal Status:
On November 25, 2022, an amendment to O.Reg. 509/18, made under the Electricity Act, 1998 was filed to update test methods, scope and/or efficiency requirements for 18 products to harmonize with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or other industry standards.