Energy Supply

OSPE’s Progress on this Issue at a glance:

2006

• On February 13, 2006, OSPE made a submission to the Ontario Power Authority on its recently released Supply Mix Advice and Recommendations Report.

2005

• On October 20, 2005, OSPE wrote to the Minister of the Environment, calling for the Ministry to move quickly in providing the appropriate reforms in the form of a streamlined environment assessment and planning approval process to ensure that new sources of energy – which have passes minimum hurdles – are able to move forward expeditiously.
• On September 12, 2005, OSPE submitted recommendations on Ontario’s long-term energy planning to the Ontario Power Authority. It emphasized the broad range of expertise available in the engineering community, and recommended that demand planning be done in the context of a global economic model to fully define the supply requirements and risks.
• On April 25, 2005, OSPE wrote to the Minister of Labour to intervene and resolve the dispute between Hydro One and its professional engineers represented by the Society of Energy Professionals.
• In January 2005, the Ontario Government appointed Jan Carr, P.Eng., as the first chief executive of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). The announcement came on the heels of OSPE’s recent submission to the province's Ministry of Energy on Bill 100 – The Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, that recommended professional engineers be mandatory participants on advisory committees suggested in the proposed legislation.

2004

• On August 24, 2004, OSPE presented recommendations on Bill 100, the Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. The submission focused on the need for stability in the electricity sector, true value pricing and a renewed focus on conservation. OSPE also recommended that professional engineers be mandatory participants on advisory committees suggested in the proposed legislation; that emission or conservation targets be specifically noted in the regulations; that acceptable renewable energy sources be listed; and that life-cycle costing/full cost accounting should be included in system planning.
• In June 2004, the Ontario Government announced plans to introduce new legislation that would restructure Ontario’s electricity system. The statement came after the Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, MPP, announced plans to develop new supply, boost conservation and introduce price stability for consumers. The new legislation would provide for the creation of a new Ontario Power Authority to ensure an adequate, long-term supply of electricity, as well as a Conservation Bureau to promote demand-side management.
• In February 2004, OSPE made a Pre-Budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, urging the government to actively promote conservation and invest in generation. The submission strongly endorsed the creation of an “Office of Energy Efficiency” and a central electricity system planning and implementation authority, as suggested in the government’s Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force Final Report.
• On January 19, 2004, OSPE wrote to the Ministry of Energy to support many of the main themes of the report issued by his Ministry’s Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force including a central electricity system planning and implementation authority; the need to price electricity at rates that are stable and reflect its try cost; and the need to utilize a wide basket of technologies in the generating mix, including renewable energy sources, to meet the supply shortage; and to pursue the coal replacement initiative but ensure the creation of alternate/replacement supply.

2003

• In November 2003, OSPE wrote to the Minister of Energy, the entire Liberal Caucus, and to Premier McGuinty, urging the examination of the electricity rate cap.
• On May 30, 2003, OSPE wrote to the Minister of Industry supporting the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor for Darlington that would establish Canada as a world leader in alternative energy sources and reduce reliance on carbon-based fuels.

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