Regulation - Minister
Proposed Amendments to the Electrical Safety Code regulation (O. Reg. 164/99) under the Electricity Act, 1998
Regulation Number(s):
164/99
Instrument Type:
Regulation - Minister
Bill or Act:
Electricity Act, 1998
Summary of Decision:
The Minister of Consumer Services approved the regulatory amendment to adopt the 2012 Ontario Electrical Safety Code, which comes into effect on May 1, 2012.
Further Information:
Electrical Safety Code regulation
Proposal Number:
11-MCS006
Posting Date:
June 17, 2011
Summary of Proposal:
The Electrical Safety Code regulation (O. Reg. 164/99) under the Electricity Act, 1998 provides for the adoption of the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) together with Ontario specific amendments to the CEC as the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). The CEC is amended every three years, which requires the OESC to also be updated. If approved, the Electrical Safety Code regulation would be amended to adopt the updated OESC.
Ontario adopts the CEC as one part of the OESC. All Canadian provinces adopt the CEC as the basis for their provincial electrical safety codes, which may include province-specific deviations.
The other part of the OESC is the Ontario-specific amendments to the CEC, which consist of a series of Ontario-specific technical and administrative rules. The OESC sets the minimum safety standards for safe electrical installations and products/equipment in Ontario. Regular updates to the CEC and the OESC are necessary to ensure they reflect changes in technologies and respond to reports of electrical incidents.
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is a delegated administrative authority responsible for administering Part VIII of the Electricity Act, 1998, and its regulations on behalf of the government. It is responsible for administering the OESC and for day-to-day operations such as safety inspections of electrical installations.
The ESA is consulting on the Ontario-specific technical and administrative rules on June 9 - July 29, 2011.
The ESA is also consulting on amendments to the basic exemptions under the OESC to exempt certain types of electrical work from the current requirements to obtain an application of inspection (also known as a permit). Consultation on these amendments will be from June 29 - August 25, 2011. A consultation paper is available for review and comment.
To review the OESC amendments please refer to ESA's website:
http://www.esasafe.com/Corporate/se_006_d.php?s=17
If required, the ESA may introduce additional proposals and consultation would be conducted to obtain feedback from interested parties. Any subsequent consultations on the OESC will be posted on ESA's website, and this posting will be updated.
Ontario adopts the CEC as one part of the OESC. All Canadian provinces adopt the CEC as the basis for their provincial electrical safety codes, which may include province-specific deviations.
The other part of the OESC is the Ontario-specific amendments to the CEC, which consist of a series of Ontario-specific technical and administrative rules. The OESC sets the minimum safety standards for safe electrical installations and products/equipment in Ontario. Regular updates to the CEC and the OESC are necessary to ensure they reflect changes in technologies and respond to reports of electrical incidents.
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is a delegated administrative authority responsible for administering Part VIII of the Electricity Act, 1998, and its regulations on behalf of the government. It is responsible for administering the OESC and for day-to-day operations such as safety inspections of electrical installations.
The ESA is consulting on the Ontario-specific technical and administrative rules on June 9 - July 29, 2011.
The ESA is also consulting on amendments to the basic exemptions under the OESC to exempt certain types of electrical work from the current requirements to obtain an application of inspection (also known as a permit). Consultation on these amendments will be from June 29 - August 25, 2011. A consultation paper is available for review and comment.
To review the OESC amendments please refer to ESA's website:
http://www.esasafe.com/Corporate/se_006_d.php?s=17
If required, the ESA may introduce additional proposals and consultation would be conducted to obtain feedback from interested parties. Any subsequent consultations on the OESC will be posted on ESA's website, and this posting will be updated.
Contact Address:
Ministry of Consumer Services
Policy Branch
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Attention: Mary Beth Fazzari, Senior Policy Advisor
Policy Branch
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Attention: Mary Beth Fazzari, Senior Policy Advisor
Effective Date:
May 1, 2012
Decision:
Approved