Late in the day on November 10, 2021, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) released their Decision and Order on Hydro One’s Seasonal Rates Elimination implementation.

OEB’s 2015 decision stands: to eliminate the Hydro One Networks Inc. seasonal distribution rate class (approximately 148,000 customers) and move those customers into one of three Hydro One residential rate classes, according to their density.

Despite acknowledging that, “a significant number of seasonal customers moving to the R2 class were expected to experience bill increases greater than 10%” the OEB considers its decision “reasonable”, having determined that the distribution rates currently charged to seasonal customers do not appropriately reflect the cost to serve them.

This current (November 2021) OEB Decision and Order relates to implementation and mitigation of rate impacts for customers who would see bill impacts of 10% or greater per year.

The phase-in of bill impacts will take place over a period of 10 years, beginning January 1, 2023, in order to limit the total bill increase to 10% per year for affected seasonal customers, including those with low average monthly consumption. (However some seasonal customers at the extreme end of the low consumption range – e.g., monthly consumption of zero kWh – would see a bill increase slightly higher than 10%, but not exceeding 13%, during the 10-year implementation period.)

There will be no retroactive adjustments to any previous hydro bills.

The OEB’s report stated that it received around 850 letters of comment on this proceeding. FOCA notes this is an extraordinary number for this type of proceeding, and we thank every one of you who responded to our calls to action on this file!

In addition to the letters sent directly to the OEB, you helped FOCA’s Power Line campaign if you were one of the 1,959 Ontarians who wrote or called their MPP to comment on the elimination of the seasonal rate class, explaining how it impacts your family.

Thank you.

We believe this was a contributing factor in the OEB’s decision to phase-in the bill impacts by no more than 10% per year.

Sincerely,

Terry Rees, FOCA Executive Director

info@foca.on.ca

https://foca.on.ca/electricity-pricing

Lake Temagami Water Levels (October 26 – November 1, 2021)

The next Municipal Election is scheduled to be held in October, 2022. Now is the time that planning for this election occurs. One topic on which Council is interested in hearing from you is how Members of Council are elected.

Presently, Council is comprised of seven (7) Members: the Mayor and six (6) Councillors, with one of these being appointed as the Deputy Mayor. All Members are elected “at large”, meaning that all those who cast their ballots have the option for Mayor and up to six (6) Councillors that they can vote for.

The alternative is to establish Wards which would be used to elect Members. Using our Official Plan Neighbourhoods as a guide, there could be three Wards – each electing two Members of Council. Regardless of the decision made, the Mayor would still be elected “at large”.

If selected, the Wards would be:
Lake Temagami           Approximately 700 Properties
Temagami Urban         Approximately 600 Properties
Marten River et al       Approximately 500 Properties

The Marten River et al would be comprised of the Matabichuan, Marten River, and Backcountry neighbourhoods as defined by the Official Plan.

While moving to a Ward system is intended to ensure there is representation from all areas of the Municipality, there is no requirement for Candidates for Councillor positions to live in the Ward they are hoping to be elected in. Once Elected, while a Ward Councillor may have more connection to certain areas of the Municipality, Council would operate in a similar fashion with each Member having one vote regardless of the geographic nature of the topic.

COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL ELIGIBLE ELECTORS
18 years-of-age or older, a Canadian citizen, and either a resident of the municipality or a property owner or tenant (or the spouse or same-sex partner of an owner or tenant) in the municipality during a specified time just before the election.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XFLC2SC

Sincerely,

The Municipality of Temagami
705-569-3421

Temagami Municipal Council – Regular Meeting Update (October 21, 2021)

Lake Temagami Water Levels (October 14 – 20, 2021)