Category: News Alerts

Click here for Oshawa Power’s 2018 OEB Scorecard

Ahead of their Annual General Meeting scheduled for June 13, 2019 Oshawa Power has released their 2018 results for key performance indicators. Oshawa Power strives to continuously excel at meeting their customers’ needs efficiently and accurately. Below is a high level summary of some customer service, public safety and financial health metrics.

New Residential/Small Business Services Connected on Time – In 2018, Oshawa Power connected 99.78% of low-voltage residential and small business customers (those utilizing connections under 750 volts) to its system within the five-day timeline prescribed by the OEB. The industry target is 90%.

Scheduled Appointments Met On Time – Oshawa Power schedules appointments to complete work requested by its customers. OPUCN met 100% of these appointments on time, which significantly exceeds the industry target of 90%.

Telephone Calls Answered On Time – Customer Service representative answered telephone calls within 30 seconds 90.1% of the time. This result exceeds the OEB-mandated 65% target for timely response. OPUCN offers customers 24/7 service through various online forms and interactive voice response tools. This allows us to address the most common customer inquiries and service needs cost-effectively without compromising quality or service excellence.

Billing Accuracy – For 2018 Oshawa Power achieved a bill accuracy measure of 99.93%. This compares favorably to the prescribed OEB target of 98%.

Customer Satisfaction Survey Results – In 2018, Oshawa Power engaged Simul Corporation to conduct a customer satisfaction survey. The findings from the annual survey results are utilized to make enhancements in processes, services and communications strategies throughout the organization. 95% of OPUCN’s customers rated their experience with Oshawa Power as fairly satisfied to very satisfied.

Public Awareness of Electrical Safety – Public Awareness of Electrical Safety, measures the level of awareness of key electrical safety precautions among the public within the electricity distributor’s service territory, and the degree of effectiveness for distributors’ activities on preventing electrical accidents. The OEB requested that all LDCs carry out a survey using the Electrical Safety Authority’s (ESA) approved methodology and pre-formed set of questions, so that a final LDC Awareness Score (bound between 0-100%) can be calculated. The survey resulted in Oshawa Power’s public awareness index score of 85%. In 2018, Oshawa Power has further engaged the public in health and safety awareness by: producing a Hazard Hamlet demonstration during a customer care event; displaying health and safety posters geared towards the six awareness areas of the Electrical Safety survey; and, incorporating a new health and safety webpage on our website.

Serious Electrical Incident Index – Oshawa Power reported no fatalities or other serious incidents due to contact with its infrastructure in 2018, thereby achieving a score of 0.000 for the Serious Electrical Incident Index per 1,000 km of line. Oshawa Power takes public safety in the vicinity of its distribution equipment very seriously, and regularly carries out activities to take prompt corrective action where potential public safety issues are identified.

Average Number of Hours that Power to a Customer is Interrupted – Oshawa Power’s reported Average Number of Hours that Power to a Customer is Interrupted (i.e., duration excluding loss of supply) is 1.34 hours per customer.

Average Number of Times that Power to a Customer is Interrupted – Oshawa Power’s reported Average Number of Times that Power to a Customer is Interrupted (i.e., frequency excluding loss of supply) for 2018 is 1.29. times per customer.

Conservation and Demand Management – Under the 2015 to 2020 Conservation First Framework, Oshawa Power was assigned an energy savings target of 73 GWh. The achievement of this energy efficiency target is governed via an Energy Conservation Agreement (ECA). The IESO periodically issues updates to the ECA and Oshawa Power regularly commits to the updated terms. Oshawa Power’s net cumulative total energy savings for the CFF as of December 31, 2018 is 59.14 GWh, or 81% of the multi-year target. At the half-way point in the framework, Oshawa Power is well-positioned to achieve or exceed our 2020 conservation targets.

Liquidity: Current Ratio (Current Assets/Current Liabilities) – The current ratio is an indicator of a company’s ability to repay its short term debts and financial obligations. Companies with a ratio of greater than 1 are often referred to as being “liquid”. Generally, the higher the number, the more “liquid” and the larger the margin of safety to cover the company’s short-term debts and financial obligations. Oshawa Power’s current ratio for 2018 is 1.07. Oshawa Power monitors and manages its liquidity risk to ensure access to sufficient funds to meet operational and investing requirements.

Leverage: Total Debt (includes short-term and long-term debt) to Equity Ratio – The OEB uses a deemed capital structure of 60% debt, 40% equity for electricity distributors when establishing rates. This deemed capital mix is equal to a debt to equity ratio of 1.5 (60/40). A debt to equity ratio of more than 1.5 indicates that a distributor is more highly levered than the deemed capital structure. A high debt to equity ratio may indicate that an electricity distributor may have difficulty generating sufficient cash flows to make its debt payments. A debt to equity ratio of less than 1.5 indicates that the distributor is less levered than the deemed capital structure. Oshawa Power’s debt to equity ratio for 2018 was 1.21. Oshawa Power continues to be below the OEB’s deemed capital structure, as the trend from 2013 to 2018 illustrates a debt to equity ratio of less than 1.5.

Profitability: Regulatory Return on Equity – Deemed (included in rates) Oshawa Power’s current distribution rates were approved by the OEB and include an expected regulatory return on equity (ROE) of 9.19%, which is based on the OEB’s deemed capital structure of 60% debt and 40% equity as noted earlier. The OEB allows a distributor to earn within +/- 3% of the expected return on equity. When a distributor performs outside of this range, the actual performance may trigger a regulatory review of the distributor’s revenues and costs structure by the OEB. The regulated return for the year 2018 decreases to 9.00%.

Profitability: Regulatory Return on Equity – Achieved Oshawa Power’s ROE for 2018 was 7.47%, compared with a regulatory ROE of 9.00% for the same period. For 2018, OPUCN earned a lower return than the approved rate, however; results are within the expected ROE set out by the OEB.

NOTE TO READERS: THE ABOVE RESULTS ARE PRELIMINARY AND VERIFIED INTERNALLY BY OSHAWA POWER STAFF AND HAVE NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO AN AUDIT PROCESS. OFFICIAL RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE OEB WEBSITE IN SEPTEMBER.

Oshawa Power 2018 Results

Did you know during the holidays in the winter and summer months, electricity is charged at off-peak pricing? Oshawa Power bills our customers based off of Ontario Energy Board Time-of-use (TOU) pricing for the electricity commodity portion of their bill.

Take advantage of holiday savings and do tasks like laundry on a holiday, weekends, or later in the evening. To check your bill balance or make a payment, use our website to experience seamless service through our online billing system.

Visit here to to sign up for e-billing.

Want to save some more?

Visit the Ontario Energy Board Time-of-use holiday schedule.

On November 27, 2018 Oshawa Power hosted its first Contractor Safety Day. The workshop hosted guest speakers from the Ministry of Labour (MOL), Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) and CHS Health & Safety Solutions Inc. Our speakers focussed on powerline safety, public and worker safety, and accident prevention. An alarming fact is that the province of Ontario suffered 5 electrical-related fatalities in 2017¹, all of which were preventable.

“Our message today is that we are here to support contractors who are conducting work in our service territory. We will assist them in their efforts to ensure the safest work environment possible when working around or near electrical infrastructure. Through education and communication we can maintain Oshawa’s stellar safety record. Prevention is key,” said Sarah Del Gatto, Health and Safety Manager, Oshawa Power.

The event was well attended by local contractors, safety professionals, and service providers. Oshawa Power in partnership with industry speakers and attendees took the first step in establishing industry relationships that strengthen our region’s resolve in achieving zero workplace incidents.  . Electrical safety is everyone’s responsibility.

“It was encouraging to see the level of interest and engagement among all attendees who are striving to improve safety through enhanced cooperation and communication. Safety is a culture that needs to be fostered and supported through industry leadership; Oshawa Power is here to do that for anyone working in our region. Our goal is to protect workers and the general public. Safety is paramount,” commented Matt Strecker, Vice President, Engineering and Operations.

Contractors who are performing any type of work around or near the electrical distribution system in Oshawa can call Oshawa Power for a safety consultation free of charge. Oshawa Power will help identify potential hazards, provide recommendations regarding safe work practices, and if necessary, provide a quote for any work that the utility may be required to do, in order to achieve safe working conditions, if the cost or scope required  exceeds  basic allowances outlined in the Conditions of Service.

Contractors also have access to a new website feature called Contractor’s Corner. Contractor’s Corner can be found on Oshawa Power’s homepage and provides easy access to service application forms, service upgrade forms, guidelines, requirements and any additional information relevant to contractors.

Attendees who participated in Contractor Safety Day include:

• ABB
• Black and Macdonald
• Brass Inc.
• Burman Energy
• CFI Electric Ltd
• Chin Fatt Ltd
• Cliff Bruton Safety Consulting Inc
• Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)
• Enbridge Gas
• Guillevin
• Hayatt Electric Contracting
• Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA)
• Lamplighter Electric
• Lit Electrical Contractors Inc.
• Ministry of Labour (MOL)
• Monteiro Electric
• Ontario One Call
• Professional Personnel & Skilled Trades
• Superior Solutions Contracting
• Tharanee Electrical Services
• Townsend Electric
• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
• Westmore Poleline & Electric Inc.

 

 

¹ Source: ESA and Coroner Records

September 10, 2018 – Oshawa residents will find out as early this week whether they’ll face a possible strike later September by mail carriers and plant workers at Canada Post.

A strike mandate vote was completed by Canada Post employees Sunday September 9, 2018.  If they voted in favour Canada Post can face either a strike or lockout by September 26, 2018.

Oshawa Power would like to encourage our customers who are not already set up with online access to their electricity accounts to call us at 905-723-4623 or emailing us here to set up access. Customers are still required to pay their bills by the due date.

As an alternative to just having online access, customers can also set up their electricity accounts on eBilling so their monthly bill will be emailed to them directly and alert them when a billed has been generated. Click here to learn more http://www.oshawapower.ca/ebilling/.

eBilling allows immediate access to your account information, energy consumption tracking, download copies of your bill including the amount due and due date, helping you avoid any late penalty charges.

Bill payments can be made by pre-authorized payment, telephone or electronic payment services offered through your financial institution, or by the drop box located on the outside north corner of our office building located at 100 Simcoe Street, South, Oshawa.

Oshawa Power is monitoring this situation closely and will work to reduce any inconvenience for our customers.