Reverse OEB Decision on ENBRIDGE – Bill 165
WHEREAS Residents are struggling with energy bill increases and need relief;
AND WHEREAS Natural gas is no longer the cheapest way to heat homes because alternatives such as heat pumps are available;
AND WHEREAS Natural gas is methane gas, which is a fossil fuel that causes approximately one-third of Ontario's GHG emissions, and must be phased out because it is inconsistent with all climate targets, while heat pumps result in the lowest GHG emissions and are consistent with a zero-carbon future, and other alternatives such as solar, and wood also lower GHG emissions;
AND WHEREAS The Ontario Energy Board (“OEB”) decided to end a subsidy for methane gas pipelines to be built in new construction developments, effective 2025, finding that this would lower energy bills for existing gas customers and improve affordability for new homebuyers, and also cut an additional $1.25 billion in pipeline costs, but this decision is at risk of being overturned by the provincial government;
AND WHEREAS The OEB decision will help lower energy bills and encourage heating systems that are consistent with climate targets and plans;
AND WHEREAS The construction of new methane gas pipelines, which have 60-year lifetimes, should not be subsidized because they are inconsistent with the municipal climate targets and will result in higher carbon emissions, higher energy bills, higher future decarbonization retrofit costs to get off fossil fuel heating, and a continued financial drain as dollars leave the province to pay for fossil fuels extracted in other jurisdictions.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Peterborough expresses its support for the December 21, 2023 decision of the Ontario Energy Board and asks the Ontario Government to withdraw further carriage of Bill 165 in the legislature.
AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be circulated to the President of AMO, Colin Best, Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of Energy, Todd Smith, The Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy and all regional municipalities requesting support of the proposed changes.