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ARTICLE · 22 MARCH 2017

Ontario's Fair Hydro Plan And Proposed Changes To The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

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On March 9, 2017, the Ministry of Energy (the "Ministry") posted proposed changes to the Ontario Electricity Support Program (the "OESP") and associated O.Reg. 314/15.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
John Vellone
John Vellone
Jessica-Ann Buchta
Jessica-Ann Buchta
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Overview

On March 9, 2017, the Ministry of Energy (the "Ministry") posted proposed changes to the Ontario Electricity Support Program (the "OESP") and associated O.Reg. 314/15.

The changes are intended to support the implementation of the Fair Hydro Plan.

The OESP is an income-tested, application based program that lowers electricity costs for the most vulnerable consumers, providing a credit directly on bills. There are two scales: one with basic credits, and an enhanced credit for Indigenous people or those who use electric heat or certain electrically intensive medical devices.

The Ministry has proposed increasing the OESP by 50%, meaning that single, low-income consumers who receive the lowest credit amount would get an increase from $30 to $45 per month ($540 per year, an increase of $180). For single customers receiving the lowest credit for the enhanced scale, the amount would increase from $45 to $68 ($816 per year, an increase of $276).

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