All three political parties are calling for increased transparency from the Independent Electricity System Operator regarding nine energy companies that filed $260 million worth of ineligible expenses from 2006–'15.

Following question period, Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid said he wants the IESO to release as much information as possible, after reports and audits showed energy companies incorrectly billed ratepayers for business expenses such as raccoon traps, car washes, parkas and toolboxes.

While Brampton gas plant Goreway was identified as the lead culprit in a November Ontario Energy Board report, the nine companies found at fault in an IESO audit remain confidential. Goreway was fined a record $10 million for its ineligible claims.

Duguid said that there may be commercial sensitivity or confidentiality agreements preventing the release of the information, but he supported as much transparency as possible.

"My dispensation is always that everything that can and should be made public ought to be made public," he said following question period. Duguid was filling in for Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault, who was absent due to a family emergency.

He also defended the system, saying the IESO realized the companies were gaming the system, recouped a majority of the funds and introduced new controls to the system.

Lisa MacLeod went a step further, calling on the IESO to recoup every dollar of ineligible expenses by the end of the year.

"The government needs to come clean. They need to pay back that money. They need to pay back the $80 million" difference between what the IESO recouped and what the auditor says are total ineligible expenses.

"We would like to see that money recovered by December 31."

She and energy critic Todd Smith posed with a snorkelling mask following Question Period to mock the kinds of expenses that were being claimed under the GCG program, and questioned the confidentiality of the audits.

"We want to know who is responsible," said Smith.

The NDP's John Vanthof said the overcharging amounts to an indictment of energy privatization in the province.

Including Goreway, nine companies reached IESO settlements, through which $168 million of $260 million in ineligible expenses was recovered, according to the auditor general's report.

The IESO disputes the $260-million figure, calling it an overestimate on the part of Bonnie Lysyk.

"We think the $260-million number the auditor is using is extreme, and we told her so," IESO vice-president Terry Young told QP Briefing. Young said the IESO believes the number to be $200 million, and that through settlements they recouped 85 per cent of the ineligible funds rather than 66 per cent.

Young told QP Briefing it was not possible to recoup any additional funds because settlements had already been agreed to, and cannot be reopened. He added that given that the IESO recovered 85 per cent of the ineligible claims — based on the $200-million estimate, rather than the auditor general's $260 million — and the estimated costs and risk of prolonged litigation, the $168 million in settlements represented a good deal.

Young added the IESO was unable to release the names of the nine companies that filed ineligible expenses.

"The rules don't allow us to release the information," he explained, adding that confidentiality is part of the audit process. Instead, he said, the number of ineligible expenses was presented in aggregate.

Young also said the IESO has put in place a number of controls to limit any future gaming of the system, including price controls on what can be claimed. Unlike the time period when companies submitted ineligible claims, the invoices must now be itemized.

The PCs also expressed concern about representatives from offending companies being included in the market renewal panel that will help shape the future of the industry. On Dec. 1, days before the auditor general report, Goreway executive Rob Coulbeck resigned from the panel. Since then, Paul Dottori of Rayonier Advanced Materials has also been removed as co-chair of the panel, according to Thibeault's office. Consumer advocate Francesca Dobbyn of the Bruce-Grey United Way has been added to the panel.

Political parties call for greater IESO transparency on energy overcharging scandal

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