The OEB is an independent…

The OEB is an independent agency that acts to promote sustainable and reliable energy resources while ensuring consumers get value from their energy services. The Government of Ontario has decided that they do not care for the independent nature of the OEB and have enacted a proposal to skirt around the OEB decision to the benefit of Enbridge and the detriment of existing hard-working gas consumers. Enbridge does not require support from the Ontario tax payer as they had gross profits of $16.507B in 2023.
Pricing of new gas infrastructure should reflect accurately, the externalities of urban sprawl and the risk of stranding consumers with heating and appliance infrastructure that will inflict high operational costs as the cost of carbon continues to increase in line with meeting our Paris Climate Agreement commitments.
Most importantly, we are in a climate emergency. All over the province of Ontario, the signs of climate breakdown are everywhere. The climate change objectives of Canada, nominally the Province, and many Ontario municipalities necessitates urgent action to reduce carbon pollution, not to expand it. In Ottawa in 2023, we experienced heat waves, tornados, wildfire smoke, flash flooding and the first year on record during which the Rideau Canal could not open. Ottawa faced damages to health, businesses, and insured and uninsured costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars. This proposal has nothing to do with creating more affordability. More affordability would entail addressing operational costs of heating, cooling and appliances within all homes via income based incentives to install heat pumps and energy efficiency measures. Making homes more affordable with the dual benefit of addressing carbon pollution. In question in this proposal, is should the Government of Ontario be able to override the independence of the OEB in the name of faulty affordability claims? The answer is clearly no.