Committees

Power & Utility Sector

The Power & Utility Sector committee is responsible for representing the interests of the outside contractors in all matters including labour relations with the IBEW, regulatory affairs at the Ontario Energy Board, and manpower training and safety.

Contractor Licensing

Electrical contractor licensing has affected the line contractors where there is an overlap of their work jurisdictions. The original regulation did not take this into account and as a result left line contractors without an avenue to become licensed. To resolve the problem, ECAO requested ECRA of ESA to grant provisional licenses to line contractors in these circumstances and to develop a licensing program specific to line contractors prior to the expiry of the provisional licenses. The ECRA has complied with this request.

Collective Bargaining

Through the Provincial Joint Line Committee, the ECAO has negotiated new terms and conditions applicable to the Section 17 and the Linework Agreement for Work Outside the ICI Sector. Some items that are unique to this sector include special room, board and travel conditions; new funding for provision of fire retardant clothing; and a new tuition and board fund for apprentices attending trade school.

Inside/Outside Jurisdiction

The PJLC has made the commitment to resolve the ongoing jurisdiction issues between inside wiremen and powerline technicians. This commitment was formalized in 2007 negotiations with the adoption of a process for resolving current and future disputes which involves adjudication by the IBEW International Vice President.

Provincial Advisory Committee & Trades Training

Industry representatives continue to lobby the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities through the PAC to make the trade of Powerline Technician (434A) a compulsory trade. Compulsory certification will attract and retain more apprentices into the trade.

Throughout 2006 and into 2007 the Line workers have participated in such career events as Future Building 2006 and 2007 to promote the trade of line workers.  Enthusiastic students from grades seven through twelve participated in hands on demonstrations within the JEPP sponsored IBEW/ECAO exhibit booth this past March in Ottawa. 

Another means of manpower development has been for the PJLC to develop a marketing/partnership package aimed at groups such as LDCs including Hydro One and large ICI end users to name a few. It is planned that promotion of ECAO/IBEW Line Contractors in the form of a partnering proposal will encourage outsourcing of more work. By encouraging contracting out, contractors will be able to train more workers to staff the contractor and utility industry.

Power Line Technician Diploma Program - Cambrian College

Cambrian College in partnership with EUSA is delivering a college-administered course for a Power Line Technician Diploma Program. This program will have the capacity to train 24 students per semester. Fall and winter semesters have been successfully filled due to the good response to the program. Cambrian College reported that they have received five times the number of applicants than the program can accommodate.

EUSA is participating in this program by delivering the vestibule training for 1st and 2nd semester line training. ECAO is on the management board of the program.

The industry approved a $25,000.00 donation to Cambrian College to assist in the outfitting of the program for tooling and to encourage the co-op students to take their internship with contractors.

Regulatory Affairs

The ECAO has been active at the Ontario Energy Board and the Ministry of Energy ensuring that utilities abide by the various codes such as the affiliate relationships code (ARC). These codes are supposed to enforce fair competition but are frequently under attack or are skirted by many utilities.

ECAO has intervened at the OEB to attempt to block a major effort by the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA) to amend the licenses of many LDCs in such a way as to thwart the ARC. EDA has also attempted to lobby for regulatory amendments that would permit utilities to perform electrical and line work related to street lighting and traffic signals. ECAO has registered its objections with the Ministry of Energy.

Much of this recent action by utilities is the result of enforcement activities by the OEB against non-compliant utilities.

Utilities Tendering Guide