On behalf of 800 electrical…

On behalf of 800 electrical contractors and 17,000 certified electricians in Ontario, we would like to applaud your government for its initiative to partner with the private sector to install electric charging stations throughout the province and to provide incentives to increase public uptake for electric vehicles (EVs).
We believe this initiative is an important step in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a cleaner transportation sector in Ontario.
As an employer/employee corporation, the Joint Electrical Promotion Plan (JEPP) focuses on ensuring we provide the best trained professionals in the electrical sector. Our goal is to ensure our members deliver the highest standard of service that not only puts safety first but ensures quality work to avoid costly mistakes. Our philosophy is get it right the first time.
Also of significance to this submission, is our focus on the most up-to-date training that addresses the needs of not just today but looking to the future to ensure the province has the best trained workforce in the world, considering the latest advances in technology and the need for environmentally responsible solutions.
To secure and maintain public confidence in this initiative, the government must avoid a setback such as was the case when thousands of Ontario’s smart meters were removed due to safety concerns. That is why we believe it is imperative that charging stations are installed by properly trained and licensed electricians. There is a significant risk of public harm, both to workers who install the charging stations and to the public who will be using them if they are improperly installed.
With this in mind, we recommend the government consider imposing minimum mandatory training and certification standards for electricians who will be installing these charging stations.
One of our industry partners, the National Electric Trade Council (NETCO) has helped develop and bring to Canada the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program™ (EVITP™). EVITP™ is a voluntary, non-profit collaboration of electrical industry organizations. It provides a structured platform to facilitate training and certification for licensed electricians installing Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) across residential, commercial/public and fleet markets. In Canada, NETCO maintains a state-of-the-art curriculum recently updated to align with the 2015 Canadian Electrical Code.
In June 2013, NETCO and EVITP™ announced the launch of Canadian EVITP™ Certification for qualified electricians with inaugural EVITP™ Instructor Training pilot courses conducted in British Columbia and Ontario. B.C.'s Electrical Joint Training Committee, a NETCO industry partner, is now accredited as the EVITP™ Canada Training Centre and delivers Instructor training for all qualified candidates. This is an open curriculum: in other words, if a representative from a college, government or utility becomes accredited as an instructor, their organization gains access to the full EVITP™ curriculum. A growing number of electrical industry stakeholders in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta are delivering EVITP™ training leading to certification. This has captured the interest of other provinces/territories.

The bottom line is the industry has already taken the initiative and incurred costs to address the need for properly trained installers. It’s now up to government to take advantage of the industry’s lead and ensure only qualified professionals are used to install these charging stations, making sure it is done right the first time.
We thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback and would hope we have future opportunities to discuss in more detail how we can support and help bolster public confidence in such an important initiative.

Sincerely,

Jeff Koller, JEPP TreasurerJohn Grimshaw, JEPP Secretary
Executive Director, Electrical Contractors Association Executive Secretary/Treasurer IBEW-CCO
Of Ontario

[Original Comment ID: 196570]