[homeles_ot-l] Fwd: LIEN media release on the OEB's low-income customer service rules

[Terrie]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Zeenat Bhanji (ACTO) <bhanjiz at lao.on.ca>
Date: 1 April 2011 17:02
Subject: LIEN media release on the OEB's low-income customer service rules
To:


 *For immediate release:*
                                    Friday, April 1, 2011





*OEB improvements to electricity customer service rules *

*will help keep lights on for low-income people*

*                                    *

* *

*(Toronto*) The Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) welcomes the long-awaited
release of the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) customer service rules that are
specifically designed to help financially-strapped low-income households
maintain their residential electricity service.



The rules released this week are part of the OEB’s Low-Income Energy
Assistance Program (LEAP) – a comprehensive plan consisting of: emergency
relief for consumers in short-term payment crisis; targeted energy
conservation and demand management programs to reduce energy consumption and
costs, and the new flexible rules on matters such as security deposit and
fee waivers, arrears payment plans and disconnection notice periods.



 “This is good news for low-income consumers who struggle to pay for rent,
food, transportation and their basic energy needs,” said Jennifer Lopinski,
LIEN steering committee member and the Emergency Home Energy program
administrator with A Place Called Home in the Municipality of Kawartha
Lakes. “When attempting to resolve their electricity arrears, low-income
consumers will have real options to reduce financial hardship. We’re also
pleased that the OEB is consulting on implementing similar conditions of
service rules for low-income natural gas customers.”



LIEN actively participated in the OEB’s proceeding which was initiated three
years ago to develop the new customer service rules, and continues to
advocate for the establishment of a permanent energy rate affordability
program for low-income consumers that would proactively prevent households
from falling into arrears.



The new low-income customer service rules will come into effect on October
1, 2011. For more details about the rules and eligibility, please see the
OEB backgrounder at:


http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/OEB/_Documents/Press+Releases/bckgrndr_lowincome.pdf





*-30-*

* *

*For further information:*

Zee Bhanji, LIEN Coordinator

416-597-5855 ext. 5167

www.lowincomeenergy.ca





-- 
Terrie ( mocharebyl at gmail.com )
“If you see an injustice being committed, you aren't an observer, you are a
participant.” June Callwood
Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and
renders the present inaccessible.  Maya Angelou
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.web.net/lists/private/homeles_ot-l/attachments/20110401/83fb289a/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: LIEN release_LEAP customer services rules_April 1	2011_FINAL.pdf
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 26373 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://list.web.net/lists/private/homeles_ot-l/attachments/20110401/83fb289a/attachment-0001.obj>