The Electrical Safety…

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is pleased to provide a brief comment on the Environmental Registry of Ontario posting 019-9235 regarding the 2025-2036 Electricity Energy Efficiency Framework.
The ESA plays a pivotal role in the sector, at the nexus of consumer protection and electrical safety with a clear vision of an Ontario where people can live, work and play safe from electrical harm.

The ESA is a proactive and modern regulator, effective at building industry partnerships, and supporting an energy and technology transition done safely. With a clear mandate on electrical safety and a commitment to ongoing education, awareness and training, ESA is in communities inspecting installations for code compliance that enable our clean energy future in a safe manner. As many have noted, including the Minister of Energy, we have an electrical grid in Ontario that is the envy of jurisdictions across North America – one that’s clean, affordable, reliable, and safe. And through the continued diligence of the ESA, we deliver on that promise of safety.

The ESA regulates and promotes electrical safety in Ontario. In fact, we’re working towards an Ontario where people can live, work and play safe from electrical harm. To do this we:
• Anticipate, identify and target the leading causes of electrical-related harm.
• Verify compliance with Part VIII of the Electricity Act and its associated regulations.
• Promote awareness, education and training to make the public aware of potential electrical harms.
• Work with Licensed Electrical Contractors, utilities, manufacturers, safety partners and other stakeholders to improve electrical safety in Ontario.

The Ontario government has given ESA a mandate to improve public electrical safety. We administer Part VIII of the Electricity Act and oversee these five related regulations:
1. Ontario Electrical Safety Code (Regulation 164/99) — sets out how to do electrical work.
2. Licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians (Regulation 570/05) — sets requirements for businesses and certain people who can do electrical work.
3. Electrical Distribution Safety (Regulation 22/04) — provides objective-based electrical safety oversight and sets out the accountabilities of companies licensed to distribute electricity.
4. Electrical Product Safety (Regulation 438/07) — governs pre-market approval of electrical products before their sale, distribution and advertisement. We also respond to unsafe industrial and commercial electrical products already on the market. Health Canada responds to unsafe consumer electrical products.
5. Administrative Penalties (Regulation 12/23) — sets out what and how ESA can issue administrative penalties for non-compliant action(s).

Regarding this specific proposal, the ESA is supportive of a renewed framework for energy efficiency in Ontario. To ensure complying with safety regulations, including the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, we recommend that the program adopt a model, found in other programs, where a Certificate of Acceptance from the ESA is required prior to closing out the project or installation Further we recommend including specific language in the program requirements that addresses the role of Licenced Electrical Contractors (LEC) to perform electrical installations.

The Ministry of Transportation’s ChargeON program is a good example of this standard.

Within the Program Guide, found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ev-chargeon-program under “Installation” the program specifies requirements such as: “Commitment to performing work in accordance with local and provincial codes (e.g., building, electrical, accessibility, zoning, parking, environmental)” and “Installed by a licensed electrical contractor in compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.” To close the project, there is a requirement for an “Electrical Safety Authority certificate of final inspection” among other requirements. These program requirements help ensure that installations are completed safely and in accordance with the laws and regulations.

For any new technologies, ESA will stay connected with policy makers and deliver partners, along with the Ministry to have proactive education and outreach about code requirements and continue to stay connected on trends in data and defects, plus impacts of the broader sector and supply chain.

The ESA would be pleased to work closely with the Ministry and with their delivery partners, including the IESO, to identify program terms for the upcoming Energy Efficiency framework that highlight the applicable codes and licensing requirements, and ultimately add value and confidence that installations were safely installed across the province .