Ontario’s largest electricity utilities — Alectra Utilities, Elexicon Energy, Hydro One, Hydro Ottawa and Toronto Hydro — are reminding everyone that scammers won’t be on the nice list this year.

Protect yourself by remembering the three Ps of fraud prevention: Pause, Prove, Protect.

• Pause – Don’t rush. Take a moment before acting on any suspicious request
• Prove – Ask questions and verify the source by calling your utility directly using the official number on your bill
• Protect – Keep your personal and financial information safe. Never share account details or click on unsolicited links

Fraudsters often use high-pressure tactics to create panic and force quick decisions. Common schemes include:

• Threatening phone calls demanding immediate payment
• Fraudulent texts or emails with fake refunds or account updates
• In-person visits pressuring customers for personal information
• Requests for payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards or cryptocurrency — something no legitimate utility would ever ask

Tips for residential customers:

• Double-check your bill before paying
• Ignore suspicious links in texts or emails claiming to offer refunds or account updates
• Remember that utilities never demand same-day payment or threaten disconnection

Tips for businesses:

• Train employees to spot common scams
• Never share account details unless you initiated the call
• Keep a verified contact list of utility providers

What to do if you’re targeted 

If you suspect you’ve been targeted or fallen victim to a scam, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, and notify your local utility provider immediately.

For more tips and information, visit:

• Alectra Utilities
• Elexicon Energy
• Hydro One
• Hydro Ottawa
• Toronto Hydro

The post Ontario’s Largest Electricity Providers Take Scammers Off The Nice List This Holiday Season appeared first on Muskoka411.

The accelerated pace of demand growth in this year’s forecast is primarily attributed to the industrial sector, which includes additional electric vehicle supply chain manufacturing; and energy-intensive data centres, a trend that is quickly emerging around the world to support the proliferation of artificial intelligence. An increasing population and focus on electrification are other factors continuing to escalate electricity demand across the province.

“The rising growth forecast is a positive reflection of Ontario’s reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity grid, which continues to attract new investment in our province,” said Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO, the IESO. “Through our robust procurement process, we have secured supply to meet Ontario’s needs through the end of this decade. With growing demand, our focus is on accelerating the pace of new electricity infrastructure development across the province so that we can support the province’s continued growth into the 2030s.”

By regularly forecasting future electricity needs, the IESO informs electricity investment decisions and sets the context for resource procurements. A procurement for new electricity generation and storage resources is currently being finalized, with targets and timelines that will reflect faster demand growth. All forms of electricity supply will compete, securing the best price for Ontarians.

“Ontario needs to generate more power, and our government has the plan to build out affordable, reliable and clean energy for our families and future generations,” said the Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “Above all, we must act with speed and urgency to ensure we think long-term and build for the future while avoiding short-sighted ideological policies that almost always lead to higher energy bills. Our vision is well underway as we lead the largest nuclear expansion on the continent on time and on budget. However, we must and will do more to decisively meet emerging supply gaps. In the days ahead, we will build upon our plan by significantly expanding energy generation, conservation and storage to keep the lights on and energy bills down for Ontario families.”

The demand forecast is the cornerstone of the IESO’s Annual Planning Outlook. The Outlook includes updated projected electricity demand, resource adequacy assessments, transmission considerations, and identifies the province’s energy and capacity needs. The next Annual Planning Outlook is scheduled for release in Q1 2025. The new demand forecast is being released early to support ongoing engagement with stakeholders and communities; additional detail can be found here: https://ieso.ca/-/media/Files/IESO/Document-Library/engage/apo/APO-20241016-presentation-demand-forecast.pdf.

The post Electricity Demand In Ontario To Grow By 75% By 2050 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Also effective November 1, 2023, the Ontario government’s Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) will increase to 19.3%. The OER provides a rebate on the electricity bill of residential, small business and farm customers. For a typical residential customer^[1] who uses 700 kWh of electricity per month, the OER will decrease bills by about $26 each month.

The TOU prices set by the OEB for November 1, 2023 are shown in Table 1 below. The table also shows the hours to which those prices apply.

The table below shows the prices for customers on the Tiered price plan as well as the kilowatt-hour thresholds. The seasonal change in the threshold for residential customers provides for an additional 400 kWh/month at the lower price in the Winter:

The post Ontario Energy Board Announces Changes To Electricity Prices For Households, Small Business And Farms appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Ontario government is launching a new Ultra-Low Overnight price plan as part of its plan to provide consumers with more ways to keep costs down, save money and take control of their energy bills. Starting May 1, 2023, customers of Toronto Hydro, London Hydro, Centre Wellington Hydro, Hearst Power, Renfrew Hydro, Wasaga Distribution, and Sioux Lookout Hydro can opt-in to this new optional electricity price plan, with all utilities required to offer it to customers within six months.

The post Ontario Launches New Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan appeared first on Muskoka411.

Patrick Falzon, power line safety specialist at ESA, said the number one tip to remember is to stop, look and live. In other words, it’s crucial for Ontarians to be aware of their proximity to power lines and ensure they’re staying a safe distance away. For downed power lines, people should always remain at least 10 metres, or the length of a school bus, away from the lines, he said. But even when the power lines are in normal working order, it’s important to stay back.

“When it comes to overhead power lines, no matter the task you’re completing, always keep yourself and your tools at least three metres away from them,” Falzon said. “Always remember that you don’t have to make direct contact with an overhead power line to receive a shock. Electricity can arc or jump if you get close enough to the actual equipment.”

In the summer and fall, property owners should survey their trees to see if any of them are growing too close to the power lines. If they are, it’s important to contact the utility provider or a utility arborist, depending on who owns the wires, to clear the potential hazard. Another risk to watch out for are low hanging power lines caused by sagging or broken tree branches, especially after storms and high winds.

The ESA has seen an increase in property owners bringing down power lines while attempting to remove a tree limb or the tree itself, Falzon said. Downed power lines can electrify the ground and other objects they touch. In fact, an Ontario resident died last year after approaching a car with downed power lines laying over it. 

A vehicle caught fire and the victim tried to put it out with an extinguisher, and even though he never touched the car, he was electrocuted by the ground around it. In the last 10 years, there have been 18 power line related fatalities from motor vehicle accidents, downed power lines, and tools or equipment coming in contact with the overhead power lines.

“If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident [involving power lines], the number one thing to remember here is always tell the occupants of the vehicle to stay in the vehicle and wait until 911 and the local utility come to make it safe,” Falzon said. “There is no hazard to the occupants of the vehicle if they remain in the vehicle.”

If an emergency such as a fire arises and the occupants need to get out of the car, it’s essential that they avoid touching the vehicle and the ground at same time. Falzon recommends jumping out and landing with both feet together on the ground. Once outside the car, shuffle heel to toe or hop with both feet together to a distance of 10 metres.

While car accidents involving power lines may not be something many Muskoka residents experience, lots of families have kids running around in the summer sun. With the curiosity of children in mind, Falzon said parents should be sure to teach their kids the basics of power line safety while also watching for hidden hazards. A few years ago, a boy in Ontario received serious shocks and burns after coming into contact with unseen wires while climbing a tree.

“Before the children climb the tree, look out for those hidden dangers, such as the power lines going through the tree,” Falzon said. “Unfortunately, the power lines have been there for years and then the trees grow and actually cause the wires to be hidden, so it’s just a con to remember, before doing any kind of exploring, to look out for those hazards.”

The ESA offers a wealth of information on their website for everything from home and storm safety to occupational safety for people working in electrical-related fields. No matter the circumstance, Falzon wants to remind Ontario residents that live wires won’t necessarily spark or show other signs of being live.

“It doesn’t have to be arcing away or jumping around like a snake,” Falzon said. “Basically a wire can actually sit on the ground and it appears to be de-energized when in fact it can be energized. They do call electricity the silent killer, so you don’t see and you don’t hear electricity.”

For more tips on power line safety, visit the ESA’s website.

The post Electrical Safety Authority Offers Power Line Safety Tips For Summer appeared first on Muskoka411.

With financial support from the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) Grid Innovation Fund, the project will simulate how distribution system operators of the future can integrate local energy resources to reduce costs to customers, improve the reliability and resilience of the distribution system, and lead to more sustainable outcomes in the communities they serve.

The project will integrate software platforms developed by Powerconsumer and NODES to model how electricity customers and local distribution companies can work together to plan and invest for more connected, more integrated, and more sustainable local energy systems.

Quotes

“Newmarket-Tay Power is looking forward to working with our partners to understand the evolution of a distributed energy grid. We believe that Local Distribution Companies will play an integral role in establishing viable local energy markets. This project will be a first step in understanding what that future may look like.” – Ysni Semsedini, President and CEO, Newmarket-Tay Power Distribution

“Jurisdictions around the world are looking at how to integrate distributed energy resources to create stronger, more sustainable electricity systems. Elexicon Energy is looking forward to working with our partners to identify exactly how local distribution companies and these energy resources can support this evolution and unlock the value these technologies can potentially provide to all stakeholders.” – Falguni Shah, Vice President Technology and Innovation, Elexicon Energy

“This project is about creating value from collaboration, working together to understand how local energy markets can help electricity distributors leverage local resources to meet customers’ needs.” – Adam White, Founder and CEO, Powerconsumer Inc.

“By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, the availability of big data, and the collaboration of everyone involved, this project will provide insights on how a local energy market will reduce costs and increase benefits for customers and utilities in the future.” – Trevor Su, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Powerconsumer Inc.

The post Elexicon Energy Partners With Powerconsumers On A Software Simulation Program To Help Customers appeared first on Muskoka411.

Typical residential customer bills to be held stable

The Government is also decreasing the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) from 21.2% to 18.9% effective May 1, 2021. The Government’s intention is that, for residential and small business customers, the reduction in the electricity price will be offset by the change in the OER. The OER is a total pre-tax credit that appears at the bottom of electricity bills. As a result of lower RPP prices and the reduced OER, typical residential customer bills will be held stable. The typical residential RPP customer uses 700 kWh of electricity per month.

New RPP prices starting May 1, 2021

The new RPP TOU prices set by the OEB for May 1, 2021 are shown in the table below. The table also shows the hours during which those prices apply:

The table below shows the new RPP Tier prices and summer Tier threshold that apply to residential customers paying Tiered prices:

Power is personal

Residential and small business customers can choose their price plan, either TOU or Tiered pricing.  Customers are not required to select a price plan but if they wish to switch, they must notify their utility by completing and submitting an election form. Customers can contact their utility or visit their utility’s website for the election form.

Programs to support electricity customers

There are several programs in place to support electricity customers at this time, including:

• Support for residential, small business and registered charitable organization customers who have overdue amounts on their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is available through the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program and the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business, both funded by the Government of Ontario.
• A number of programs are available to help low-income consumers. Find out more at oeb.ca/billhelp.

The OEB has also prohibited electricity distributors from issuing disconnection notices to residential customers for the duration of the provincewide stay-at-home measures. The earliest date a distributor may issue a disconnection notice is May 20.

Additional Information and Resources

• Read our Backgrounder
• Learn more about the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Programs at oeb.ca/ceap
• Find out about low-income bill payment support programs at oeb.ca/billhelp
• For information about choosing an electricity price plan, visit oeb.ca/choice
• Learn more about the Government of Ontario’s electricity support programs at ontario.ca/yourelectricitybill
• See our bill insert

The post New Electricity Prices Set For Households And Small Businesses appeared first on Muskoka411.

“We know staying at home means using more electricity during the day when electricity prices are higher, that’s why we are once again extending the off-peak electricity rate to provide households, small businesses and farms with stable and predictable electricity bills when they need it most,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “We thank Ontarians for continuing to follow regional Stay-at-Home orders to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The off-peak rate came into effect January 1, 2021, providing families, farms and small businesses with immediate electricity rate relief. The off-peak rate will now be extended until the end of day February 22, 2021, for a total of 53 days of emergency rate relief. During this period, the off-peak price will continue to be automatically applied to electricity bills of all residential, small business, and farm customers who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility.

“We extend our thanks to the Ontario Energy Board and local distribution companies across the province for implementing this extended emergency rate relief and supporting Ontarians as they continue to work and learn from home,” said Bill Walker, Associate Minister of Energy.

The post Ontario Extends Off-Peak Electricity Rates appeared first on Muskoka411.

The elimination of the seasonal class has been a contentious issue since the OEB first made the decision to transition Hydro One customers to rates based on location density in 2015. Hydro One submitted a proposal to retain the seasonal class in July 2019, but the OEB maintained their decision to do away with it in September 2020. In the coming weeks, Hydro One customers will receive letters with details on being moved to one of the three residential rate classes as well as the projected bill impacts. The OEB will hold a hearing, expected to happen later this year, to review Hydro One’s Oct. 2020 report on the elimination of the seasonal class and their proposed implementation plan. The plan includes rate mitigation measures for customers who are expected to see a total bill increase of more than 10 per cent.

“We’re very concerned about the rate impacts of this,” said Spencer Gill, vice president of customer services for Hydro One. “Our proposal does take that into consideration, and so we want customers to have their say on that as well.”

To voice their opinion on the implementation plan, customers can file a letter of comment, or they can register as an intervenor to be actively involved in the hearing. Those interested in participating as an intervenor must apply to the OEB by March 15, and details on getting involved will also be included in the letters to customers. Customers can contact the OEB’s public information officers about the proceeding via phone, but inquiries and comments made by customers on such calls will not be part of the record for the hearing. 

“It would be good if customers read the notice and decided to participate,” Gill said. “Many customers will see increases, but there will be a number of cottagers as well that will see decreases, so I think it’s important that they understand how this decision will impact them.”

The OEB has not yet decided whether the changes will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022 or on a later date.

“The implementation date will depend on the extent and complexity of the issues that may arise during the course of the current proceeding,” said OEB spokesperson Mary Ellen Beninger. “The OEB panel hearing the case will decide when and how the remaining steps in eliminating the seasonal rate class will be implemented.”

The OEB also has yet to decide the form of hearing, which could be oral or written. The board is asking customers who think an oral hearing is necessary to explain why by writing to them by March 15. 

If an oral hearing is selected, it may be held virtually due to COVID, Beninger said, but the panel will decide closer to the time of the hearing. During the proceedings, the OEB will also hear questions and arguments from intervenors, but the focus will be next steps in eliminating the seasonal class as the OEB will not reconsider their decision.

“The OEB has found that the distribution rates currently charged to seasonal customers do not appropriately reflect the cost to serve them,” Beninger said. “More information is available on the OEB’s website on the Seasonal Rates webpage. That webpage describes the history and current status of this proceeding and explains how the OEB determines the costs to serve customers.”

To file a letter of comment, or to review the reports and other information related to the hearing, visit the OEB’s website.

OEB Maintains Decision To Eliminate Seasonal Rate Class

The post Hydro One And OEB Invite Seasonal Customers To Voice Their Opinion On Implementation Of New Rates appeared first on Muskoka411.

The OEB released their decision and order regarding the issue on Sept. 17 after reviewing Hydro One’s proposal to retain seasonal rates. Groups including the Vulnerable Energy Consumers Coalition (VECC), the Consumers Council of Canada (CCC) and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Association (FOCA) opposed the change due to the rate impact on seasonal customers, particularly because seasonal residents do not qualify for subsidies through Rural or Remote Rate Protection (RRRP) or Distribution Rate Protection (DRP). In their decision, the OEB stated that they do not and cannot factor provincial programs such as the DRP into rate design because the OEB does not determine how and when the programs may change or which customers are eligible to receive them.

“The submissions of the parties generally focused more on the bill impacts that would flow from the elimination of the seasonal class… The fact that there are impacts associated with the elimination of the seasonal class does not render the decision to eliminate the class in order to more accurately reflect those customers’ relative use of distribution assets incorrect,” said the OEB in their decision.

The OEB also said rate mitigation could play an important role in implementing the decision. In the past, the OEB stated that they wish to mitigate any large impacts to seasonal customers and expect Hydro One’s plan to “propose a phase-in period for those customers expected to experience a total bill impact of greater than 10% as a result of migrating to another class.” 

Imran Merali, Hydro One’s vice president of customer service, said in a statement that the company is disappointed with the OEB’s decision to eliminate the seasonal rate class for their customers.

“We advocated for a different solution that would have protected our seasonal customers and reduced the rate impact,” Merali said. “We want our customers to rest assured that their rate class won’t immediately change. The next step is to submit an updated report on implementing the elimination of the seasonal class to the Ontario Energy Board by October 15, 2020. We will continue to advocate for our customers throughout this process.”

To learn more about the issue, read our original coverage below. For more background on Hydro One’s efforts to retain the seasonal class, click here.

https://muskoka411.com/cottagers-await-answers-after-hydro-one-warns-of-possible-price-hike-for-seasonal-customers/

The post OEB Maintains Decision To Eliminate Seasonal Rate Class appeared first on Muskoka411.