TORONTO — Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) has issued a statement saying it welcomes the Auditor General’s 2020 Annual Report, which included criticisms of the ESA along with praise, and said it will “review the recommendations carefully to ensure appropriate actions are taken.”
Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk stated in her report, released Dec. 7, that while electrical safety has increased in the province over the last 10 years, “the ESA has been unsuccessful in preventing illegal electrical installations, a problem that is widespread in Ontario.
“This is partially due to the fact that only ESA-licensed contractors are legally allowed to perform electrical installations with two main exceptions: homeowners can put in installations in their own homes, and an owner or an employee can put in installations within an industrial facility or on a farm.”
The ESA could operate more efficiently in carrying out its mandate to improve public electrical safety and could focus more of its resources on inspecting more complex electrical installations, Lysyk stated. The report says the self-funded, provincially mandated authority conducts many unnecessary inspections that do not improve public safety.
The audit found the inspections are done to generate revenue for the ESA to fund its workforce and operations, stated a release. The ESA also collects additional fees by offering inspections, safety training and other services outside of its legislative mandate. In 2019-20, the authority’s revenue was $113 million.
The report also says the ESA is supposed to set its fees so that they encourage compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. However, homeowners are charged more for an ESA inspection when they do the work themselves. This could discourage homeowners from notifying the ESA about their installations, stated the report.
David Collie, president and CEO of the ESA, responded, “Public safety is our top priority and the ESA looks forward to using the auditor general’s recommendations to further our journey toward a modern and results-based regulator while reducing the burden for businesses in Ontario.
“This work will align well with our new five-year corporate strategy, launched this year to accelerate our progress. We are proud that the auditor general noted electrical safety in the province has improved over the last 10 years.”
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