Electricity group wants big changes in Ontario

The Electricity Distributors Association of Ontario (EDA) has released a report, "Electricity is the Answer," which offers ten recommendations for re-tooling the sector that will lead to economic development, investment and jobs. The report also proposes changes to regulation that can lead to cost savings, innovation and better system reliability.

Stating that the current structure and regulation of the province's electricity sector stifles much-needed innovation and investment, the chair of EDA, Jim Keech, says "Our sector has to get ready for new technologies like electric vehicles and ever-increasing consumer demand."

The report calls on the provincial government to:

• Review the relationship between the government, the electricity industry and its regulatory agencies; the report proposes that an arms-length relationship is best suited to promote efficiency and more effective decision-making.
• Remove regulatory restrictions that prevent local electricity utilities from providing other services like municipal water and sewer which can lead to cost savings.
• Consider an evolutionary approach as the preferred model, as major restructuring of transmission and distribution is not warranted at this time.
• Consider merging the Independent Electricity System Operator and the Ontario Power Authority or rationalizing their responsibilities.
• Streamline the regulation of electricity delivery to remove barriers to investment in system repair and upgrades
• Allow local utilities more flexibility to design and deliver conservation programs that  meet their customers' needs.

"Everything about electricity is changing, the way we make it, move it, measure it and use it," Keech adds. "The government needs to seize this opportunity and start managing the electricity sector as an opportunity, not a problem. We need input from all electricity industry players to create a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity system for the future."

The Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) is the voice of Ontario's local electricity distributors, the publicly and privately owned companies that deliver electricity to over 4.7 million Ontario homes, businesses and public institutions.