Bill 95, Protecting Vulnerable Energy Consumers Act, 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader's aid to Bill 95 and does not form part of the law.  Bill 95 has been enacted as Chapter 1 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2017.

Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998

The Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 is amended to give the Ontario Energy Board the power to make rules and licence conditions respecting the periods during which gas or electricity may not be disconnected from low-volume consumers.

Bill 95 2017

An Act to amend the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 (1)  Subclause 44 (1) (b.1) (i) of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 is repealed and the following substituted:

           (i)  stopping the distribution of gas to a property, including the manner in which and the time within which the distribution stops or is to stop, and, with respect to a low-volume consumer as defined in section 47, periods during which the distribution may not be stopped,

(2)  Section 44 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Conflict with Public Utilities Act

(4.1)  In the event of a conflict between a rule of the Board made under subclause (1) (b.1) (i) and anything in section 59 of the Public Utilities Act, the rule of the Board prevails.

2 (1)  Sub-subclause 70 (2) (d) (ii.1) (A) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

                 (A)  the disconnection of the supply of electricity to a consumer, including the manner in which and the time within which the disconnection takes place or is to take place, and with respect to a low-volume consumer, periods during which the disconnection may not take place,

(2)  Section 70 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Conflict with Electricity Act, 1998

(8)  In the event of a conflict between a licence condition referred to in sub-subclause (2) (d) (ii.1) (A) and anything in section 31 of the Electricity Act, 1998, the licence condition prevails.

Commencement

3 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4 The short title of this Act is the Protecting Vulnerable Energy Consumers Act, 2017.