Accomplishments to Date
2019
- OSEA successfully held a series of successful events that were well attended over the year including;
- An Ontario Energy Sector Leadership Forum: held at Willms & Shier LLP's offices in Toronto with leading associations and experts in the energy and political arenas; key speakers included Power Advisory LLC and Sussex Strategy Group.
- A Climate Change Resilience, Mitigation and Adaptation Symposium: held at the Ontario Ministry of Investment and Trade with leading experts from the Intact Centre, the Institute of Catastrophic Loss Prevention (ICLR) and the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority (TRCA);
- A Green Exports to South East Asia Workshop: held at the Ontario Ministry of Investment and Trade with representation from the Ministry of Trade and Investment, The Export Development Corporation (EDC), The Business Development Corporation (BDC), Magnet Business Portal, and political representation from Indonesia, Thailand, Viet-Nam and the Philippines;
- Sustainable Energy Technologies Workshop: The official launch to GEDO TM 19, eld at Ryerson University with expert speakers from the City of Toronto's Green Industries Department, along with experts from Enbridge, ENWAVE, Canadian Green Buildings Canada, and Groundheat International;
- The Green Energy Doors OpenTM 19 Sustainable Technology Showcase across Ontario-The 9th Annual GEDO TM event to showcase District Cooling, Geo-Exchange, Wind, Solar, Biomass and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) as well as E-Vehicle technology. (Please go to Events for GEDO TM 19 to see more).
- OSEA participated with a Trade Show Booth at the IESO First Nations Energy Symposium on November 4-5, 2019 at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. OSEA expects to build on this annual event to identify project and partnership opportunities to further sustainable energy deployment and capacity building in Ontario's First Nations communities.
In addition, OSEA has been active as usual at the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) with the following interventions on key issues to both residents and businesses in Ontario. More details on each of these will be forthcoming shortly:
- IESO 2019 Expenditure and Revenue Requirement Submission – EB-2019-0002
- Post - 2020 Natural Gas Demand Side Management Framework - EB-2019-0003
- Request re Rate Design for Electricity – Commercial and Industrial Consumer – EB-2015-0043
- Utility Remuneration and Responding to Distributed Energy Resources– EB-2018-0287 & EB-2018-0288
- Distributed Energy Resources Connections Review - EB-2019-0207
- Hydro One Motion To Review - EB-2019-0122
- Enbridge 2021 DSM Plan – EB-2019-0271
Ontario Energy Board 2019 intervenor results:
IESO 2019 Expenditure and Revenue Requirement Submission – EB-2019-0002
Purpose: The IESO sought Board approval of IESO’s proposed 2019 expenditures, revenue requirement and fees. IESO proposed a net revenue requirement of $190.8 million (same as 2018 and 2017).
Status: Completed. The parties attended a settlement conference and submitted a settlement proposal on most of the issues to the Board. The Board accepted the settlement proposal. The Board issued a decision on the remaining issues after written submissions.
OSEA involvement: OSEA submitted written interrogatories relating to IESO’s engagement with small generators, IESO’s renewable distributed generation demonstration projects, IESO’s research on barriers to energy storage, and IESO’s development of pilot projects that evaluate the use of electricity to create hydrogen.
Post - 2020 Natural Gas Demand Side Management Framework - EB-2019-0003
Purpose: The Board initiated a consultation process to develop a post-2020 Demand Side Management (“DSM”) Framework for natural gas distributors.
Status: Completed. Parties attended a stakeholder meeting and submitted comments to the Board. The Board stated that it will undertake a comprehensive review of the current 2015-2020 DSM framework for the purposes of establishing a new framework for the future. The OEB expects to continue its policy consultation on a new DSM framework into 2020.
OSEA involvement: OSEA submitted comments to the Board about:
o advocating for the introduction of Performance-Based Conservation in the next generation DSM framework,
o supporting that DSM province wide programs and geographically targeted DSM programs should be considered in infrastructure planning to inform system planning and provide expertise for DSM implementation, and
o advocating that natural gas plus DSM should be considered in energy infrastructure planning at the regional and local levels.
Request re Rate Design for Electricity – Commercial and Industrial Consumer – EB-2015-0043
Purpose: The Board commenced a consultation on the Board’s Staff Report that provided staff’s recommendations for new rate designs for electricity commercial and industrial rate classes.
Status: Completed. Parties attended a stakeholder meeting and submitted comments to the Board.
OSEA involvement: OSEA submitted comments to the Board about aligning the interests of customers and distributors, supporting the Board’s stated objectives for the design of new rate structures, and advocating that the Board integrate this consultation with its other related consultations on Utility Renumeration, Responding to DERs, and Alternative Approaches to Allocating the Global Adjustment.
Utility Remuneration and Responding to Distributed Energy Resources– EB-2018-0287 & EB-2018-0288
Purpose: The Board commenced a consultation on utility remuneration and distributed energy resources and associated changes to the Board regulatory framework.
Status: In progress. Parties participated in a Stakeholder session in Fall 2019. The Board invited comments from participants.
OSEA involvement: OSEA participated in the stakeholder session. OSEA’s position is to advocate for sector transformation to a more sustainable energy economy through the use of DERs. OSEA encourages utilities and other market participants to embrace innovation in their operations and the products they offer to consumers, including innovation relating to energy efficiency, storage, smart grid technology and other technologies that promote sustainability and renewable energy generation.
o OSEA did not submit written comments, as OSEA had already commented in the related DER Connections Review proceeding.
Distributed Energy Resources Connections Review - EB-2019-0207
Purpose: The OEB commenced a related DER consultation on its technical requirements in regard to the connection of DERs by electricity distributors.
Status: In progress. The Board invited parties to comment on the issues for review and proposed solutions, and invited participation in a working group.
OSEA involvement: OSEA commented on the OEB’s rationale for the proceeding, and commented that a clear enunciation of a preference for DERs with fundamental principles will expand the opportunities for DERs and enable local decision makers (utilities, municipalities, customers, service providers) to have the flexibility they require to maximize the value of DERs.
o OSEA also attended the first meeting of the working group.
Hydro One Motion To Review - EB-2019-0122
Purpose: Hydro One commenced a Motion to Review the Board’s decision in the previous Hydro One 2018 -2022 Distribution Rates proceeding.
Status: In progress. Parties have made submissions and are waiting on a Board decision.
OSEA involvement: OSEA is monitoring this proceeding because OSEA intervened in the Hydro One 2018 -2022 Distribution Rates proceeding. The issues raised by Hydro One in this Motion to Review did not require comment by OSEA.
Enbridge 2021 DSM Plan – EB-2019-0271
Purpose: Enbridge applied for approval of its 2021 DSM Plan, since the Board did not conclude the Board’s DSM Framework proceeding in time. Enbridge requested that the Board approve its DSM Plan without a hearing. Environmental Defence responded and requested a hearing on the basis that Enbridge’s DSM Plan was not compliant with various government policies and directives.
Status: The Board has not initiated a proceeding yet.
OSEA involvement: OSEA submitted a letter in support of Environmental Defence’s request for a hearing, and sought intervenor status and cost eligibility.
2018
- OSEA continued to intervene to the Ontario Energy Board on behalf of its members and others seeking fair energy rates, greater access to the grid for green development and for introduction of DERs.
- Green Energy Doors Open-was hosted across Ontario with approximately 3,000 visitors to its sites showcasing green energy projects, energy efficiency results and EV technology.
2017
- OSEA continues to work with Willms & Shier LLP to intervene to the Ontario Energy Board on behalf of Green Energy developers and consumers seeking fair prices and access to the grid.
- Green Energy Doors Open - OSEA successfully brought approximately 10,000 visitors to Ontario, BC and Alberta, in partnership with BC's Sustainable Energy Association and Distributed Energy Alberta as its strategic partners.
2016
- On-going Advocacy to the Ontario Energy Board via OSEA and Willms & Shier LLP.
- OSEA's Board announces new Mission Statement and Goals for its membership.
- Powering for Prosperity - Successfully held the 8th Annual Gala Event with 250 Guests attending, and Awards for best Sustainable Project, Company etc.
- Engaged actively in the provinces Long-term Energy Plan consultation process and submitted our recommendations through submissions pre consultation as well as during the public consultation process. (View submissions)
- Received the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award from the Biomass North Development Centre
2015
- Launched the Combined Energy Options Ontario initiative.
2014
- Championed the idea of a 20/20 Roadmap for Ontario
2012/13
- Engaged in the public consultation process around the provinces 2013 Long-term Energy Plan
2012
- Launched Green Energy Doors Open, allowing members of the public to meet the people and organizations leading the way to making Ontario a sustainable energy province
2011
- Launched the annual award ceremony Powering for Prosperity to celebrate the successes of our sector.
- Created the Community Power Services Group (now separate aka Ontario Sustainability Services Inc.) to assist local community energy initiatives
- Tide’s Canada Top 10 award recipient.
2009-Present
- Counter negative media rhetoric around Green Energy and Economy Act and FIT, defend the rights of communities to participate in the development of sustainable energy projects with ad campaigns, webinars, and policy work
2008-Present
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Hosted five successful international sustainable exhibitions and conferences (World Wind 2008, Community Power 2009–11, All Energy 2014)
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Co-founded the Green Energy Act Alliance & developed the policy document which led to the Green Energy Act and Feed-in tariff (FIT) program
2007
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Launched the Community Power Fund to assist local Community Power generation initiatives with soft cost grants
2004
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Campaigned and developed the policy document which led to Ontario’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program
2002
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Organization for formed to advance a sustainable energy system in Ontario with community participation
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Facilitate dialogues between members and non-members on how to advance a sustainable energy system in Ontario