There is no requirement to post this notice on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, but we wanted to hear your thoughts. Thank you for your feedback.
This consultation was open from:
November 16, 2020
to December 31, 2020
Decision summary
On January 29, 2021, O. Reg. 509/18, made under the Electricity Act, 1998 was amended to add five new products, to revise efficiency standards for televisions to harmonize with Natural Resources Canada, and to delay new standards for liquid-filled distribution transformers by two years.
Decision details
Proposal
The Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines (the “Ministry”) posted a proposal to amend O. Reg. 509/18, Energy and Water Efficiency – Appliances and Products (the “Regulation”), made under the Electricity Act, 1998 on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (“ERO”) and the Regulatory Registry for a 45-day public review period between November 16, 2020 and December 31, 2020. The proposal was to add five new products to the Regulation, harmonized with United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) standards and to harmonize standards for televisions with Natural Resources Canada (“NRCan”) standards. More specifically, the proposal was intended to:
- Add five new products (commercial air compressors, commercial oil furnaces, commercial pre-rinse spray valves, portable air conditioners, and uninterruptible power supplies) to the Regulation, and harmonize with DOE standards (commercial pre-rinse spray valves would also harmonize with NRCan standards); and
- Harmonize standards for televisions with NRCan standards.
Regulation Changes
A regulatory amendment came into effect on January 29, 2021, which sets or updates test methods, scope and/or efficiency requirements for six products and makes changes to the regulation of a housekeeping nature. The amendment also changes the date on which manufacturers of liquid-filled distribution transformers need to meet U.S. Department of Energy standards, from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2023. This change was made in response to a request received from a stakeholder during the public review period for this amendment and was not part of the original proposal. New requirements for televisions, and postponement of the compliance date for transformers, take effect on the filing date of the regulation (January 29, 2021), while requirements for other products take effect on different dates depending on the product: July 1, 2021 for commercial pre-rinse spray valves and January 10, 2025 for all others.
Effects of consultation
General
The Ministry received three comments on the proposal, two through the ERO and one by email. Respondents included the Consumer Technology Association and two individuals. Comments are available for public viewing through the contact person listed in this notice. All comments received were given full consideration by the Ministry.
Televisions
Comments from the Consumer Technology Association were supportive of proposed changes for televisions. These comments stated that the changes would reduce red tape, facilitate inter-provincial and international commerce, and enable innovation. In particular, the comments stated that the changes would remove regulatory barriers in Ontario to the sale of televisions featuring microLED displays, a new technology that is coming to market in the near future.
Commercial Air Compressors
An individual submitted a comment to express some concerns with proposed changes for commercial air compressors and suggested the Ministry could have introduced broader and stronger efficiency requirements for this product. The Ministry appreciates this perspective but is committed to harmonizing efficiency standards with other jurisdictions, and the approach for this product will harmonize with DOE standards for scope, test method and minimum efficiency requirements. However, the Ministry will also continue to work with other jurisdictions to identify further opportunities to update efficiency standards, including adding stronger standards where appropriate.
Efficiency Regulation
The third comment related to the regulation of efficiency standards generally and did not mention the proposed amendments specifically.
Liquid-Filled Distribution Transformers
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC), an electrical products industry association, contacted the Ministry to raise concerns about the January 1, 2021 implementation of new Ontario requirements for liquid-filled distribution transformers. EFC asked that these new requirements not take effect at this time, to give manufacturers and purchasers of these products additional time to prepare and to give other regulators in Canada more time to consider harmonizing with DOE and Ontario. Following review and analysis of this suggestion, the Ministry accepted this request and agreed to postpone the date on which these changes will take effect from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2023.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
77 Grenville St.
5th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2C1
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Andrew Howse
77 Grenville St.
5th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2C1
Canada
Original proposal
Why consultation isn't required
The Electricity Act, 1998 is not prescribed under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 . The Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines (ENDM) has determined that publishing this proposal on the Environmental Registry of Ontario would be in the best public interest.
Proposal details
Description
The proposed amendments, if approved, would set or update test methods, scope and/or efficiency requirements for six products in the manner outlined below:
Environmental Impact
The proposed changes would introduce minimum efficiency requirements for five new products to Ontario’s regulation, thereby reducing energy use, water use, and GHG emissions in the province. They would also remove a requirement for on-mode energy consumption of televisions, harmonizing requirements for televisions with NRCan, British Columbia and Quebec. The energy/environmental impact of this change is expected to be minimal as almost all televisions offered for sale in Ontario are already compliant with these requirements.
- Set method, scope and efficiency requirements for five new products, using rolling incorporation, to harmonize with the corresponding requirements under the DOE regulation.
- Commercial oil-fired furnaces: Set and harmonize scope, test method and efficiency requirements with DOE requirements for this product that will come into force on January 1, 2023. Ontario’s proposed compliance date would be January 10, 2025.
- Commercial air compressors: Set and harmonize scope, test method and efficiency requirements with DOE requirements for this product that will come into force on January 10, 2025. Ontario’s proposed compliance date would be January 10, 2025.
- Commercial pre-rinse spray valves: Set and harmonize scope, test method and efficiency requirements with DOE and NRCan requirements for this product that are already in effect. Ontario’s proposed compliance date would be July 1, 2021.
- Portable air conditioners: Set and harmonize scope, test method and efficiency requirements with DOE requirements for this product that will come into force on January 10, 2025. Ontario’s proposed compliance date would be January 10, 2025.
- Uninterruptible power supplies: Set and harmonize scope, test method and efficiency requirements with DOE requirements for this product that will come into force on July 1, 2022. Ontario’s proposed compliance date would be January 10, 2025.
- Update requirements for one existing product, televisions, to fully harmonize with NRCan:
- Harmonize efficiency requirements for televisions by keeping stand-by requirements and removing on-mode requirements.
- Make changes to the regulation of a housekeeping nature. These changes could clarify the scope and/or requirements for some products, or update references to include the most relevant or most recent editions of test standards for products with no changes to the existing efficiency requirements
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from November 16, 2020
to December 31, 2020
Connect with us
Contact
Andrew Howse
77 Grenville St.
5th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2C1
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
2By email
1By mail
0