This document summarizes a webinar about low-income energy assistance programs in Ontario. It discusses the Low-Income Energy Network's (LIEN) strategy to address energy poverty, including advocating for policies and programs to help low-income energy consumers. It also outlines Ontario Energy Board rules for low-income customer service, the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) for emergency financial assistance, and the OEB's role in enforcing compliance with new customer service rules.
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LEAP Emergency Financial Assistance, Customer Service, Compliance and Enforcement
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43. Repayment Time Periods The time periods to repay the amount due under low-income arrears agreements have been extended Amount in Arrears Repayment Time Period If < 2x avg. monthly bill is owing 8 months If 2 - 5x avg. monthly bill is owing 12 months If > 5x avg. monthly bill is owing 16 months
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47. Have more questions? OEB Customer Relations Centre Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. 1-877-632-2727 (toll free within Ontario) [email_address] OR contact me directly Lenore Dougan Policy Advisor, Regulatory Policy 1-888-632-6273 x 141 [email_address]
55. Top 10 Consumer Issues Raised (April to June 2011) Marketer / Retailer Utility No Copy of Contract 1 Billing Cancellation Charges 2 Smart Meters / Time of Use (TOU) Prices Contract Renewal 3 Meters General Contract Issues 4 Utility Service Quality Reaffirmation 5 Rate Issues Cancellation Request Not Processed 6 Disconnection / Reconnection Disputed Signature 7 OEB Bill Insert Misrepresentation of Price 8 Security Deposits Misrepresentation of Identity 9 Current Electricity Rates Signed by Unauthorized Person 10 Disconnection Notice
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Hinweis der Redaktion
LIEN is widely recognized as the primary go-to organization with expertise on low-income energy issues. LIEN was formed in 2004 and is a network of anti-poverty, affordable housing, environmental and social justice groups. We have over 80 member organizations . 9 steering committee member organizations (diversified; representation from communities across the province): A Place Called Home (APCH) Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul Salvation Army Centre of Hope Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area Our aim is to ensure that low-income consumers have optimal access to energy conservation and assistance programs and to build local community capacity to reduce energy poverty. We seek to address and raise awareness of energy poverty through: outreach to community groups; outreach to the public, e.g. through the media; participating in OEB hearings and legislative processes; LIEN is a recognized as intervenor at the OEB, participating in hearings and proceedings regarding the electricity and gas sectors on behalf of low-income consumers. working with policy-makers and local utilities to develop workable solutions.
Over next 20 years, Ontario’s conservation targets and initiatives are projected to save about $27 billion in ratepayer costs on the basis of a $12 billion investment. Residential sector is to contribute 30 per cent of the conservation targets. June 18, 2007 – Ontario’s GHG emission targets, part of climate change plan The targets for the next steps in the McGuinty government's climate change plan are: A reduction of greenhouse gases to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014, or 61 megatonnes. A reduction of greenhouse gases to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, or 99 megatonnes. A reduction of greenhouse gases to 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. Ontario Liberal’s comprehensive poverty reduction strategy – to reduce children living in poverty by 25 per cent over five years (2008-2013)
The Debt Retirement Charge (DRC) is intended to help pay down the legacy debt of the former Ontario Hydro. Although the debt was acquired in the past, the facilities that were financed by the debt are still in use and continue to supply electricity to customers today. For this reason, today's customers contribute to paying down the debt through the DRC. November 18, 2010 : Minister of Energy announces Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (OCEB), which will provide a 10% benefit to consumers t o ease the impact of rising electricity costs. This rebate took effect with electricity consumed January 1, 2011 and will end on December 31, 2015. Many electricity distributors will pay consumers a lump sum on their first bill with the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit to cover the rebate credit calculated back to January 1, 2011. At this point, the province has stated that this rebate will apply to eligible residential, seasonal, farm and small business that consume less than 50 kW. The government has not provided details regarding a further breakdown of each eligible group or if there are any restrictions. For more information, go to the Ministry of Energy’s website Northern Ontario Energy Credit This is a new refundable tax credit for low- to middle-income families and individuals living in northern Ontario, effective for 2010 and later years. The maximum annual credit for a single person is $130, and for a family (including single parents), $200. These credits are reduced when a single person's income exceeds $35,000 and a family's income exceeds $45,000, and are completely eliminated when a single person's income exceeds $48,000 and a family's income exceeds $65,000.
Rising energy costs have an impact on all Ontarians, but low-income households are hit hardest. “ Energy poverty” is the disproportionate burden of electricity, natural gas and other utility costs on low-income households which reduce the funds available for food, clothing, medicine and other basic necessities. Inability to pay utilities is second only to inability to pay rent as a reason for homelessness.
According to Roger’s report for LIEN on a ratepayer-funded Ontario Home Energy Affordability Program: The percentage of income burden that triggers significant payment-troubles ( e.g. , service disconnections) appears to be in the range of 10% to 12% of annual income.
Multi-pronged approach to promoting energy conservation and ensuring access to energy for low-income consumers Targeted low-income energy conservation and efficiency programs, at no-cost to recipients AND Extensive consumer education about energy conservation, and specific low-income consumer protection measures While we know that energy efficiency programs alone cannot solve the problem of affordability, they can make a significant contribution to reducing the energy burden. The greatest benefits will be achieved through the introduction of measures that achieve deep energy savings (such as the installation of energy efficient appliances, proper attic and wall insulation, and an efficient heating system). The base of the pyramid also includes conditions of service that will not penalize low-income energy consumers who are already struggling to pay for gas/electricity bills, i.e. security deposit exemptions, no late payment fees, fair arrears repayment programs. A permanent low-income rate assistance program Moving up to the middle, LIEN has also been advocating for a low-income rate assistance program which would ensure ongoing affordability of energy bills and serve to prevent energy crises rather than just react to them after they have occurred. Adequate emergency energy assistance to help households in short-term crisis Considering the reality of circumstances facing many people living with low-income (such as insecure work, fluctuating income, and short-term financial emergencies) it is important to note that even with a rate affordability program and an energy conservation and efficiency program, there will still be a need for a permanent, adequately funded, and accessible emergency energy fund.
We need to continue to build broad support for the implementation of measures that will reduce energy poverty in the province. LIEN has also realized the importance of building the capacity of other organizations to carry out some of LIEN’s work. As such, our focus over the past year has involved building the capacity of our network members (and others) to become &quot;experts&quot; or &quot;resource people&quot; on low-income energy issues in their communities. This is why we developed the energy poverty manual. It was developed with the assistance of the LIEN steering committee. We also elicited input and feedback from many social service agencies throughout the province through the LIEN annual conference, workshops and webinars. The manual includes numerous resources, such as: a backgrounder on energy poverty that outlines the problem a summary of existing low-income energy programs in the province examples of how to work locally to end energy poverty in your community tips for dealing with your local media conservation tips statistics The manual will be made available on the LIEN website. Please feel free to tailor, adapt, and customise it as you see fit.
LEAP is similar to the Winter Warmth program which many of you may already be familiar with or have experience delivering
Perform intake functions where there is no Intake Agency
Have a pre-tax household income at or below the Statistics Canada Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) + 15% - Family size and community size are taken into consideration;
The money is given to applicants as a grant. They are not required to pay it back.
Emergency Energy Fund is a provincial gov’t program that provides funding for utility arrears , security deposits , and reconnection costs The max grant per household is the amount required by the utility to maintain or reconnect service Community Start-Up & Maintenance Benefit is for applicants who are eligible for Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program Municipally administered. For utility arrears. Contact your local Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program office These funds are also helpful where the maximum LEAP grant is not sufficient to cover the customer’s arrears
Applicants who are not current utility customers, or who do not meet the income criteria, are not eligible for LEAP. If the applicant is not eligible, they should be informed and provided with information on other sources
Telephone interviews are permitted in cases related to mobility or transportation issues, or when the geographic distance between the customer and the agency office is too great and would cause hardship to the customer Age, illness, disability, injury are other factors
Due to privacy concerns, utilities require that a signed Consent to Disclosure of Personal Information form be faxed before they can discuss customer and account information with caseworkers
Applicants must be able to maintain their energy costs after the grant has been made If the recommendation is to deny the application, it is important to document the reasons why the application is being denied. There is a section on the LEAP Application Form to record this information
New customer service rules for low-income consumers came into effect on October 1, 2011
Outstanding service charges related to: - Collection Disconnection Non-payment Load Control Devices Are to be waived when you enter into a low-income customer arrears agreement No further late payment charges may be imposed by your utility after entering into a low-income arrears agreement. However, your utility does not need to waive late payment charges owning at the start of the agreement
You must be allowed to access the payment plans any time of the year. You may join such plans even if you currently have arrears, provided you also agree to enter into an arrears agreement
But if the second request comes within 12 months, then your utility can decide to offer you the standard arrears agreement available to all residential customers