OPSBA continues to be very involved in energy interventions at the Ontario Energy Board on behalf of member Boards. These interventions have been highly successful. OPSBA, with support from Shibley Righton LLP, first launched its intervention initiative in October 2002. The following year OPSBA took a leading role in initiating collaboration among the other three Board Associations, the Council of Directors of Education (CODE), the Council of Senior Business Officials (COSBO) and the Ontario Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) and has been successful in developing a new governance model for energy intervention. Effective January 2004, all seven parties agreed to move this initiative to the Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC) to expand the representation to all schools in Ontario. The cost of intervention is now funded through OESC and continues to be shared by all 72 School Districts.
Our continued involvement in energy intervention will seek to:
The initiatives of OPSBA/OESC have achieved remarkable results in reducing energy costs. Over the last three years we have been directly and indirectly, through our joint positions, instrumental in achieving energy savings of $18 million for Boards. OESC is vigilant in seeking further opportunities for effective intervention in energy conservation initiatives. OESC will continue to explore the cost structures and the proposed pricing in preparation for effective representation of the interests of member Boards in the electricity rate proceedings.
