Ontario Energy Association Welcomes Expert Panel Report

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 13, 2012) - The Ontario Energy Association (OEA) commends the Ontario Distribution Sector Review Panel for putting Ontario customers first with a series of recommendations in their report, Renewing Ontario's Electricity Distribution Sector: Putting the Consumer First.

"The OEA would like to thank the expert panel for its hard work," said Elise Herzig, President and CEO of the Ontario Energy Association. "As noted in the report and the OEA submission to the panel, now is the ideal time for the Ontario government to move decisively to eliminate costly inefficiencies in the LDC sector to the benefit of ratepayers, and unlock the value of each company for its shareholder. Rationalization of LDCs would bring economic benefit to all Ontarians - especially important given the province's fiscal challenges and the broader economic landscape."

The OEA represents a number of local distribution companies who provide power to approximately 3 million customers across Ontario.

"We look forward to working with the Government of Ontario, the opposition parties and the federal government to put the customer first," said Herzig.

About the Ontario Energy Association:

The OEA is Ontario's energy voice and has more than 150 corporate members that represent the full diversity of the energy industry in Ontario - power producers, firms that transport, transmit and deliver natural gas and electricity, marketers and retailers, manufacturers, contractors, service providers, and energy consultants.