Enbridge is pausing a plan that would have issued charges for third-party utility locates, which had drawn opposition from multiple regional municipalities and a provincial association.
Red Rock has recently passed a resolution to support the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors opposition to Enbridge Gas charging $200 plus applicable tax to third-party contractors and other utilities for locate requests.
According to an letter from the association sent to regional municipalities, which also included Shuniah and Dryden, third-party contractors include municipalities and contractors working on Enbridge’s behalf.
“The need for municipalities and their contractors to request these locates when doing road construction and maintenance is due to utilizes being present in municipal right of ways, which municipalities across the province have allowed at no cost to the utility,” the letter stated.
With the implementation of fees, the municipal leaders are concerned on the charges will affect their budget and ratepayers.
Red Rock Mayor Darquise Robinson said the fee is another download onto municipalities.
“Now, if they are going to download, the municipality will have to hire somebody. That’s just an additional cost to all the ratepayers,” Robinson said.
Robinson said if the municipality were to plan and restructure residential developments, the downloaded additional cost will fall onto the taxpayer.
The road supervisors assocation said in its letter that “Enbridge stated that the Getting Ontario Connected Act passed into law in April 2022 has resulted in changes to the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act and has caused Enbridge to make significant investments in associated operational investments.”
When asked Enbridge Gas to confirm the changes, the company told Dougall Media in a statement that they have decided to pause this to put the implementation of the locate delivery charge on pause.
“We are using this time to continue our industry consultations and will provide additional information once we have confirmed our approach. Enbridge Gas remains committed to the safe and timely delivery of locates,” external communications and media relations manager Andrea Stass.