TORONTO, March 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ontarians will soon head to the polls to vote on a new government that will need to make important decisions on our future energy needs. The Ontario Energy Association (OEA) has developed the Energy Platform to educate all of the political parties on those energy needs and to provide specific recommendations on how to optimize energy policy for Ontario energy consumers.

The Energy Platform has been designed with the objective to secure an energy system that is low cost, clean, and reliable. The Energy Platform recommendations focus on three key areas:

1) Reforming the governance of energy planning;
2) Optimizing use of existing infrastructure; and
3) Lead regulatory evolution.

The first recommendation provides political parties with a process to instill public confidence and achieve low cost outcomes for consumers through a competitive and transparent governance framework for energy planning.

The second recommendation focuses on optimizing existing infrastructure investments such as, pipelines, transmission lines, distribution infrastructure, power plants, refineries and storage facilities, to help Ontario achieve low cost, reliable and clean outcomes for consumers.

The third recommendation describes the changes that will be required in Ontario to adapt our energy system to changing technology and the changing needs of today’s energy consumer.

The Energy Platform serves as a non-partisan, educational resource to help leaders make well-informed decisions that can ensure a strong energy future for Ontario. The OEA will continue to meet with all political parties over the upcoming months to provide deeper insight into the benefits the Energy Platform can bring to Ontario energy consumers.

“Open, transparent planning processes, a focus on optimizing existing infrastructure, and regulatory evolution to reflect our changing needs will be integral to Ontario’s affordable, reliable and clean energy future. These recommendations should guide the energy policy decisions of any government.”
– Cynthia Hansen, Board Chair, Ontario Energy Association

About the OEA
The Ontario Energy Association (OEA) is the credible and trusted voice of the energy sector. We earn our reputation by being an integral and influential part of energy policy development and decision making in Ontario. We represent Ontario’s energy leaders that span the full diversity of the energy industry.

For more information: 
Vince Brescia, President & CEO
Ontario Energy Association
416.961.8874
[email protected]

Leanne Ryan, Marketing & Communications Associate
Ontario Energy Association
647.463.5244
[email protected]