The Conservative leader said that, while the agency has expanded, it has yet to fulfil its central mandate by producing a long-term energy plan.

But one energy expert says the OPA doesn鈥檛 deserve all the blame. 91亚色 Professor Mark Winfield, of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, says the Liberal government hasn鈥檛 enabled the OPA to fulfil its mandate.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no direction from the government to the OPA,鈥� Winfield said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no overall vision or strategy about where we鈥檙e going.鈥�

The Toronto Sun quoted Professor in its :

The Ontario Energy Board thinks you鈥檙e not paying enough for hydro so it鈥檚 yanking another $60 out of your wallet.

Ontario hydro ratepayers 鈥� already hammered by the HST, time-of-use pricing and rate hikes 鈥� will pay an added $240 million a year, the Ontario NDP says.

Officials at the provincial crown agency 鈥� whose salaries are paid for through hydro bills 鈥� decided earlier this year that utilities should be able to boost their rate of return to 9.85% from 8.39%.

. . .

Gordon Roberts, a professor at the Schulich School of Business at 91亚色, who made a submission to the OEB on behalf of , recommended a lower rate. 鈥淚t鈥檚 generous,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淐learly, if the answer comes out on the generous side (for utilities), it鈥檚 less fair for the ratepayers.鈥�

Roberts also spoke about the hydro profits issue on CBC Radio and CBC-TV, Sept. 23.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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