PART V REGULATION OF ELECTRICITY
Rural or remote consumers
79 (1) The Board, in approving just and reasonable rates for a distributor who delivers electricity to rural or remote consumers, shall provide rate protection for those consumers or prescribed classes of those consumers by reducing the rates that would otherwise apply in accordance with the prescribed rules. 1998, c. 15, Sched. B, s. 79 (1). Special case (2) In setting rates under subsection (1), the Board shall ensure that the class of rural or remote consumers receiving assistance under section 108 of the Power Corporation Act on the day before this section comes into force shall receive rate protection while they continue to, (a)  occupy the same rural residential premises, as defined in section 108 of the Power Corporation Act, as they were occupying on that day; and (b)  live in a part of Ontario designated by regulation as a rural or remote area. 1998, c. 15, Sched. B, s. 79 (2). Compensation (3) A distributor is entitled to be compensated for lost revenue resulting from the rate reduction provided under subsection (1). 1998, c. 15, Sched. B, s. 79 (3). Liability (4) All consumers are required, in accordance with the regulations, to contribute towards the amount of any compensation required under subsection (3) that is not otherwise provided under subsection (4.1). 2017, c. 16, Sched. 2, s. 1 (1). Payments for certain classes (4.1) Compensation required under subsection (3) may be provided with respect to one or more prescribed classes of consumers who receive rate protection under this section, in a manner provided for in the regulations. 2017, c. 16, Sched. 2, s. 1 (1). Money appropriated by the Legislature (4.2) The compensation provided for in subsection (4.1) shall be paid for out of the money appropriated for those purposes by the Legislature. 2017, c. 16, Sched. 2, s. 1 (1). Information, etc. (4.3) If provided for in the regulations, the Board, the IESO and distributors, or any of them, shall provide such information and reports to the Ministry of Energy and to one another as are necessary to facilitate the implementation, administration, funding and delivery of the rate protection or of anything else provided for in this section. 2017, c. 16, Sched. 2, s. 1 (1). Limitation (4.4) The compensation to be provided to a distributor and the rate protection to be provided to a consumer under this section are subject to the limitation period provided for in the regulations, if any. 2021, c. 34, Sched. 9, s. 11 (1). Regulations (5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations, (a)  prescribing the consumers or classes of consumers eligible for rate protection under this section in addition to those described under subsection (2); (b)  designating areas in Ontario as rural or remote areas; (c)  prescribing rules for the calculation of the amount of the rate reduction; (d)  prescribing maximum amounts of the total annual value of rate protection that may be provided under this section; (e)  prescribing rules respecting the amounts that must be collected to compensate distributors, taking into account any compensation provided under subsection (4.1), including rules, (i)  respecting the calculation of those amounts, (ii)  respecting the calculation of any off-set to the liability of consumers under subsection (3) having regard to those amounts, (iii)  establishing the time and manner of collection, (iv)  requiring the amounts to be paid in instalments and requiring the payment of interest or penalties on late payments, (v)  prescribing methods of ensuring that the amounts required cannot be bypassed, and (vi)  respecting the distribution of those amounts to consumers; (e.1)  prescribing classes of consumers for the purposes of subsection (4.1), and governing how and when the compensation is to be provided with respect to the rate protection provided to them, including, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, requiring the IESO to receive payments or amounts from the Minister of Energy and to make payments to licensed distributors or to prescribed persons and prescribing how and when payments are to be made; (f)  respecting the use of money collected in excess of the amount required to compensate distributors; (g)  prescribing the powers and duties of the Board in relation to the calculation of amounts to be collected and the time and manner of collection and distribution; (g.1)  providing for and governing the limitation period for the purposes of subsection (4.4); (h)  respecting any other matter that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary in relation to the rate protection. 1998, c. 15, Sched. B, s. 79 (5); 2017, c. 16, Sched. 2, s. 1 (2); 2021, c. 34, Sched. 9, s. 11 (2). General or particular (6) A regulation under this section may be general or particular in application and may prescribe different rules for different persons or classes of persons. 1998, c. 15, Sched. B, s. 79 (6). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2017, c. 16, Sched. 2, s. 1 (1, 2) - 01/06/2017 2021, c. 34, Sched. 9, s. 11 (1, 2) - 01/01/2022