[homeles_ot-l] Fwd: Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) newsletter - "LIEN Currents"
Terrie
mocharebyl at gmail.com
Wed Dec 19 10:37:06 EST 2007
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Zeenat Bhanji <bhanjiz at lao.on.ca>
Date: Dec 19, 2007 10:32 AM
Subject: Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) newsletter - "LIEN Currents"
To:
* <<LIEN bulletin - Oct,Nov 2007.pdf>> *
[image: Paintbrush Picture] [image: Picture (Metafile)]******
The bi-monthly bulletin of the Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN)
*Volume 2, No.6, October/November 2007*
- *Ontario's poverty reduction strategy and help for low-income
consumers*
Following the announcement of the new Ontario Cabinet on October 30th,
LIEN wrote to request meetings with the new Energy Minister, Gerry Phillips,
and with Children and Youth Services Minister, Deb Matthews, who is also
chair of the Ontario Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction. At these
meetings, LIEN plans to review the initiatives that have been launched by
the Ontario government to date to assist low-income energy consumers, and
discuss the urgency to make more progress – especially on the establishment
of an energy rate affordability program.
Premier Dalton McGuinty has indicated that reducing poverty, with
measurable targets, is a key priority for the Ontario government over the
next four years of its mandate. LIEN believes this is a crucial opportunity
to include energy poverty reduction in the government's comprehensive
strategy.
- *LIEN's Divisional Court appeal of OEB decision scheduled for
February; no progress on Ministerial Directive*
LIEN received a reply in October to our May 9th written request for a
Ministerial Directive to the Ontario Energy Board to hold a generic hearing
on the impact of energy prices on low-income consumers. At such a generic
hearing, LIEN wants the OEB to consider and implement solutions that would
include a low-income energy rate assistance program. Ministry of Energy
staff indicated in the reply that it would be premature to discuss the
issuing of a directive in view of LIEN's appeal of the Ontario Energy
Board's decision that it does not have the jurisdiction to consider
low-income rate assistance. LIEN's Divisional Court appeal has been
scheduled to be heard at the end of February 2008.
- *Applications still being accepted for free energy
conservation/efficiency programs for low-income homeowners/tenants*
* * The Ontario Power Authority's low-income* Energy Efficiency
Assistance Program for Homes* was extended to December 31, 2007. Green
Communities Canada (a member of LIEN) is delivering this pilot program
which is free for low-income people who live in electrically-heated single,
semi-detached and row houses (as tenants or owners) and pay for their own
electricity. For more information, visit the GCC website at *
www.greencommunitiescanada.org* OR call 1-888-661-0000.
* The Low-Income Home Weatherization Retrofit Program* for gas-heated
homes that is sponsored by Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. was piloted** in
the Toronto and Peel Regions for a period ending December 31, 2007 and is
being delivered by****** Green$aver. The program, which provides a free home
energy assessment and weatherization upgrades at no cost to improve the
energy efficiency of homes, will be offered again in 2008 to over 300
Enbridge Gas qualifying low-income customers. For more information about the
service area for the 2008 phase of the program and for applications, visit
the Green$aver website at
*http://www.greensaver.org/audit_eeaph.html*<http://www.greensaver.org/audit_eeaph.html>or
call Agatha at 416-203-3106 ext. 230. Alternatively, you can also
contact
Pam Callow at Enbridge at 416-753-6286.**
- *Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto's high rise
residential buildings: energy efficiency retrofits and low-income tenants
*
The Toronto Atmospheric Fund hosted the Dan Leckie Forum on Energy
Efficiency Retrofits in Residential High Rise Buildings on November 28,
2007. The event, which was co-sponsored by the Greater Toronto Apartment
Association, brought together representatives from many sectors to develop
strategic advice on accelerating greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction
activity in high rise buildings in Toronto. LIEN did a presentation on
the impacts on low-income tenants, particularly financial, of energy
conservation and efficiency work that may be undertaken. In addition, LIEN
highlighted the need – if Smart sub-metering is introduced in
multi-residential buildings – for landlords' energy conservation
obligations to be those most effective in reducing energy consumption/costs
for tenants, and in helping Toronto achieve its GHG emission reduction
goals. A Forum Statement will be issued in the near future.
- *OEB consumer awareness sessions on energy retail contracts kick off
in Sault Ste. Marie *
LIEN arranged for the OEB's Chief Compliance Officer, Brian Hewson, to
present an information session at the northern region community legal
clinics' training in Sault Ste. Marie on October 18, 2007. The session
focused on consumer rights, responsibilities and choices with regards to
electricity retailers and natural gas marketers who sell energy contracts –
with special emphasis on seniors and low-income consumers. LIEN also
distributed evaluation forms to the attendees. LIEN has shared the feedback
with the OEB to enable them to tailor future sessions according to their
target audience.
LIEN is working with the OEB to identify organizations across Ontario
that may benefit from the information sessions. This is because LIEN has
received a number of reports from the community legal clinic system and
other organizations regarding low-income people who ill-advisedly signed
energy contracts that they cannot afford and that involve significant
financial penalties to cancel.
If your organization is interested in participating in an OEB consumer
awareness session, please contact LIEN.
*LIEN Currents** is issued bi-monthly by the Low-Income Energy Network for
members and others interested in solutions to energy poverty in Ontario. For
more information, contact Zee Bhanji at
**bhanjiz at lao.on.ca*<bhanjiz at lao.on.ca+>
* or 416-597-5855 ext. 5167 or t**oll-free at 1-866-245-4182 ext. 5167. You
can also visit our website at **www.lowincomeenergy.ca***
*LIEN would like to express its appreciation to the Ontario Trillium
Foundation for supporting this initiative*
[image: Picture (Metafile)]
--
Terrie ( mocharebyl at gmail.com )
"If you see an injustice being committed, you aren't an observer, you are a
participant." June Callwood
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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