buy levitrabuy viagra onlineThe Low-Income Energy Network

The Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) is pleased to present a two-part webinar series on the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), which has been rolling out in stages this year. LEAP was established as a result of the OEB’s consultation on low-income energy consumer issues in which LIEN actively participated.

LEAP has three components:
- Emergency financial assistance (rolled out in January 1, 2011)
- More flexible customer service rules for low-income consumers (came into force on October 1, 2011)
- Targeted energy conservation programs offered by gas and electric utilities (staggered rollout)

The webinar presentations will be given by staff at the Ontario Energy Board, Ontario Power Authority, Enbridge Gas, Union Gas and LIEN.

Space is limited so please register today!

Webinar 1: Thursday, November 10, from noon – 1pm
- LIEN’s energy poverty strategy
- LEAP emergency financial assistance, new customer service rules, compliance & enforcement issues
Presenters: Zee Bhanji/Mary Todorow, Lenore Dougan, Donna Kinapen
Facilitator: Barb De Ruyter

* Registration for webinar 1: buy generic viagrabuy levitra onlinehttps://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=7d4x80h9tkxc

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Webinar 2: Tuesday, November 15, from noon – 1pm
- LIEN’s energy poverty strategy
- OPA low-income conservation programs
- Gas utilities’ low-income conservation programs
Presenters: Zee Bhanji/Mary Todorow, Nicole Hynum, Erika Lontoc, Tracey Brooks
Facilitator: Barb De Ruyter

* Registration for webinar 2: buy levitrabuy levitra onlinehttps://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=est16qmg68f2

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July 26, 2011

OPEN LETTER

The Honourable Dalton McGuinty,
Premier of Ontario
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1

Dear Premier,

RE: OEB decision to deny approval for Toronto Hydro energy conservation programs

I am writing on behalf of the Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) to share our serious concerns about the pullback on funding for energy efficiency and conservation programs in Ontario.

Low-income energy conservation programs play a vital role in assisting vulnerable consumers to lower their energy bills, maintain healthier and more affordable housing, and therefore reduce the risk of homelessness. These programs enable low-income consumers to participate in the “Culture of Conservation” to reduce energy use and related greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.

Recent decisions by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) have forced both electricity and natural gas distributors to restrict cost-effective conservation programs they offer to consumers. This is a great setback for consumers and the environment. It was also surprising since, in a Directive issued on July 5, 2010, the Minister of Energy urged the OEB (and the Ontario Power Authority) to take on an expanded policy-making role in conservation and consider increasing current conservation budgets for natural gas and electric utilities.

Ontario Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller also criticized the OEB for putting up barriers to increased energy conservation in his Annual Energy Conservation Progress Report – 2010 (Volume One), Managing a Complex Energy System, released last month. Miller says that the OEB has established rules that could hinder the Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) programs offered by the province’s electricity utilities. “The OEB has given utilities all of the responsibility but none of the freedom to modify or improve programs if necessary.”

Energy conservation is cheaper and more environmentally sound than building new power generation facilities. LIEN encourages the Premier and all Parties, as part of their election platforms, to commit to strong and robust low-income energy conservation programs in which vulnerable Ontarians can participate. Furthermore, we urge your government to issue a strong, clear Directive to the OEB, instructing them to approve all cost-effective energy conservation and efficiency programs that are proposed by local distribution companies. If legislative changes are necessary to ensure compliance with this Directive, we also urge you to make them.

We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Per: Low-Income Energy Network

Original signed by

Zee Bhanji
LIEN Coordinator

cc: Rosemarie Leclair, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Energy Board
Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy
Mike Schreiner, Leader, Green Party of Ontario
Andrea Horwath, Leader, Ontario New Democratic Party
Tim Hudak, Leader, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
LIEN member organizations

“Working in Harmony on Ontario’s Low-Income Energy Future”

Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Harbourfront Community Centre, Dance Studio, 627 Queens Quay West

CONFERENCE MATERIALS
Conference kit
buy generic levitrabuy cheap viagraAgenda for LIEN 2011 conference

buy cialis onlinegeneric cialisLIEN_energy poverty manual_

generic cialis2009 Ont stats on appliances by income quintile 
2009 Ontario stats on heating equipment 
List of participants 
Speaker biographies
Breakout session questions 
Evaluation form 

Presentations
The OEB’s LEAP program – Takis Plagiannakos 
Low-Income Energy Conservation and Efficiency: An Update from the OPA – Andrew Pride 
The impact of suite metering on low-income consumers – Mary Todorow 
Customer service code amendments for low-income consumers – Jennifer Lopinski 
Enbridge Gas low-income programs – Bill Chihata 

Union Gas low-income programs – Tracey Brooks