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The Canadian Champion, Friday, June 28, 2002-13 Hydro security deposits shouldn't be required by hiis1çineses, cÀavç Milton (?hamher of Commerce By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion The deadline for Milton Hydro security deposits has been extended by a month, but the Milton Chamnber of Commerce feels the deposits shouldn't be necessary at ail. Asking long-lime customners for a security deposit goes against generally accepted business models, Chamber Executive Direcior Sandy Martin told The Champion. "Fromn a business standpoinî. the model is flawed in the cyes of the industries," she said. "Usually, you do security checks prior to accepting a person as a client. giving themn credit. After you have a Iong-term, success- fuI relaionship with these individuals. you don'î normally go back and ask for them to secure their own risk." In recent weeks, Milton Hydro bas contacted large electnicity consumers in town to inform them of a policy change thai requires them to put up security deposits. Deposits are equal Io the con- "lWe're going to work in a logical rnannger to get some clarity on the issues and hopetul corne to a more palatable solution." SANDY MMTM sumer's estmated costs for two and a hait months. With the incorporation of the local electricity dstnibutor last year, Milton Hydro didn't have mucb of a choice but to seek the deposits. president Don Thorne said. Without security deposits, the company has no way to recover its tosses should customers go olut of business. I's really a market structure issue and the way it's structured right nov., xe have no facility to deal with ibis risk as a corpora- tion," he said. Prior Io incorporation, the Town-owncd company had the abili- ty 10 recover lusses through taxation, but that option no longer exists. While recovery options outside of sccurity deposits are non-existent ai this time, Milton H-ydro miusi stilî forward payment for electricity used to the wholesale provider or generator. By extending the timeline for collecting the deposits, Mr. Thomne said it gives customers more time to look at their billing options and possibly reduce the size of deposit required. Rather than paying monthly, customers cao switch 10 weekly billing or have their payments taken direcily from their batik accounts. Either initiative would reduce the deposît amount. Both Milton Hydro and the Chamber are seeking clarification on the issue fromt the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), the regulating body. Should an altemnative method for loss recovery be approved, deposits will bc retumned. "We're going to work in a logical man- ner to get some clarity on the issues and hopefully come to a more palatable solution," commented Ms Martin. A meeting between the Chamber and the OEB was scheduled for yesterday, but no information was avaîlable at press time. ONTARIO GOVERNMENT NOTICE NOTICE 0F STUDY COMMENCEMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Mid-Peninsula Transportation Corridor EA Terms of Reference THE STUDY: The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained URS Cole, Sherman & Associafes Ltd. to prepare a Terms f Reference (ToR) f0 guide the future preparation of a Rouie Location/Concept Desigin Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Mid-Peninsula Transportation Corridor. n June, 2001 the Premier and the Minister of Transportation announced the completion of the Niagara Peninsula Transportation Needs Asseasment initiative. The key produci of the needs assesament is a multi-modal Transportation Development Strategy - a "road map" to guide transportation invesimeni. The Mid-Peninsula Transportation Corridor bas been identified as one cf the key elements in the Transportation Development Strategy. As a resuit, MTO has intated the envronmental asseasment (EA) process for the potentiaI new transportation corridor. The firsi step in the EA process is the preparat ion of an Environmental Assessment Terma of Reference. Other elements identified in the needs assesament study (i.e. road wîdening, transit improvements etc.) will be examined under separate initiatives. THE PROCESS: For an Indivdual EA, the Environmental Assessment Acf requires that a proponent prepare a Terms of Reference ToR) to define the scope of a proposed EA Study. The ToR requires approval by the Mînster of Environment and Energy (MOEE) and the subsequent Indvidual EA is then prepared in accordance wit h the approved ToR. The intention is to submit the ToR to MOEE for review in Mardi 2003. The final produet wîil be a ToR document which will provide a definitive scope for the subsequent Indvidual EA proect. PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRES: n preparing the ToR, the Projeet Team wiIl seek public input and comment via five rounds of Public Information Centres (PICs). The f irsi and second round of PICs will be held in mid-July and mid-August of 2002 f0 present the overali study process and the Draft Needs Assessment. The fhird round of PICs wilI be held in September 2002 to present the Final Needs Assessment, study ares conditions and the Draft FA framework and consultation plan. The fourth round of PICs will present components of the EA Terma of Reference and is anticipated to be hel i n November 2002. The fifth round of PICs are expected f0 be held in January 2003 to present the Final FA Terms of Reference. A round of Public Workshops will be held between the third and fourth Public Information Centres f0, consuit on outstanding issuea related f0 the Needa Asseasment and FA Rouie Planning. Notices will be pubished in local newspapers for each round of PICs advising of meeting imes and locations. Notices will be published the weeks prior f0 each of the above noted events. COMMENTS: Commenta and information regarding this projeci are being collected fo assiat the Ministry of Transportation in meeting the requirements of the Environmental Assesament Act. This material wiIl be mainfained on file for use during the project and may be incîuded in projeet documentation. Information collected wiIl be used in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Acf. With the exception of personal information, ail commenta will become part of the public record. For further information, or to be added f0 the mailing list, please contact the following Projeet Team representatives or visit our Website (at the address below): Wev are mnaking room for new elegant and glamorous collections*, neyer before seen i Canada. Available ~ exdlusively at A GImnpse of Radiance. *To arive n lthe FalI of 202. sîfaderý SeIectùv I mouf AuurdnfS r 2001 34 aesoeR.*. n *o akil I bo&eatof rUaR, 905842200 Mr. Bill Rhamey Senior Planner Ministry of Transportation Provincial and Environmental Planning Office Garden City Tower 4th F., 301 St. Paul St. St Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7R4 Tel: 905-704-2097 E-mail: bil.rhamey@mto.gov.on.ca Mr. Paul Hudspifh or Mr. Michael Bricks URS Cole, Sherman & Associates Ltd. 75 Commerce Valley Drive East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 7N9 Tel: 905-882-4401 Fax: 905-882-4399 E-mail: pauL-hudspifh@urscorp.com or mike..bricks@urscorp.com & ~ Ontario st our Web st tht:/w.ipnnuaiha.nc R~UT OPRO 1 A (il IMPS - P-ý ý-,- 1