Regulator Surveying Customers to Determine If Stronger Consumer Protections Needed

The Ontario Energy Board is conducting a survey of Ontarians to determine whether customers signing retail energy contracts need stronger consumer protection.

The Chair and CEO of the OEB, Rosemarie Leclair, says the Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010, which governs low-volume energy retailing in Ontario, is now three years old. "So the government has asked us to review the legislation and see how well these consumers are being protected."

"Some consumers like those choices," says Karim Karsan, Vice President of Consumer Services at the Board. "But others feel they have not received the benefits they were expecting. About half the complaints the Board gets involve energy retailers."

Among other things, the online survey asks customers what they think about rules governing:

• Salesperson Identification

• Price Comparison Forms

• Disclosure Statements

• Information Contained in Contracts

• Rescission Period

• Contract Verification

• Contract Amendments

• Renewal, including automatic renewals

• Cancellation, including early termination fees