Today, Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines issued the following update on Ontario Energy Board (OEB) modernization:
"I am pleased to announce that the government intends to propose Mr. Richard Dicerni as the new Chair of the OEB Board of Directors.
This appointment, if approved, will become effective when amendments to the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 under the Fixing the Hydro Mess Act, 2019 are proclaimed into force. These amendments will establish a new governance structure for the OEB. The government intends for this to take place in Spring 2020.
In the interim, Mr. Dicerni will take on a Special Advisor role at the OEB. Mr. Dicerni will support the organization transitioning to the new governance structure, focusing on recruitment and organizational governance.
Mr. Dicerni was previously the Head of the Alberta Public Service, and is a seasoned public sector leader. A Member of the Order of Canada, he has served on the board of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., led Ontario Power Generation, and provided leadership as a Deputy Minister for the Ontario and Canadian governments. Mr. Dicerni also served as Chair of the OEB Modernization Review Panel, which recommended the organization's new governance structure following extensive stakeholder engagement and thorough review of best practices from other jurisdictions.
Strong leadership is critical to ensuring we have a modern, viable and sustainable energy sector. This is an important step towards ensuring the OEB continues to serve Ontarians effectively and efficiently while protecting consumers. Modernizing the OEB is part of our government's plan to build Ontario up by strengthening trust and transparency in the energy sector."