Key Details of the Announcement
1. Refinancing the Global Adjustment (GA)
The proposed plan will refinance the costs associated with the Global Adjustment (GA), providing immediate relief to consumers by “smoothing out” the payment of energy contracts over a longer time period. The Ontario government predicts that this refinancing will achieve an average of 17% savings for the individual ratepayer (25% when including the previously announced 8% HST rebate). The government intends to introduce legislation that would, if passed enable the Independent Electricity Operator (IESO) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to refinance the GA over a longer period of time, ultimately lowering the current cost paid by consumers. Under current forecasts, the immediate reduction in the GA would be approximately $2.5 billion per year on average over the first 10 years, with annual interest costs not exceeding $1.4 billion.
2. Helping Vulnerable Consumers
The Fair Hydro Plan includes initiatives to help Ontario’s most vulnerable consumers. The province plans to pass legislation to enable these new measures. Together these new initiatives will cost the government up to $2.5 billion over the next three years to be funded through provincial revenue. These initiatives include:
Broadening Rural or Remote Electricity Rate Protection (RRRP)
Currently, the RRRP provides a rate subsidy to rural/remote customers who are faced with higher distribution costs compared to urban areas. The new program will increase the number of qualifying customers from approximately 350,000 customers to 800,000 customers.
Enhancing the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
The proposed OESP enhancement would see monthly credits increased by 50%, expanded to cover more low-income Ontarians and increase uptake to as close 100%.
First Nations On-Reserve Delivery Credit
The on-reserve credit will remove the monthly service charge for customers saving approximately 21,500 on-reserve First Nations a monthly amount of $85.
Establishing a New Affordability Fund
The proposed affordability fund will provide Local Distribution Companies (LDC’s) an additional tool to help customers in need. The province will work with Hydro One, in consultation with other LDC’s to establish a Trust to serve as the administrator of the Affordability Fund.
3. Enhancing Competitiveness for Small Manufacturers and Industrials
Due to our ongoing advocacy work, the OCC is pleased to see that the Fair Hydro plan will expand the Industrial Conservation Initiative (ICI) extending eligibility to small manufactures and industrials with an average peak demand of over 500 kilowatts.
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