This separation adds complexity, as the company must monitor regulations from Toronto while remaining aware of federal initiatives that could indirectly impact their operations. Izabelle offers a vivid example from their experience. When Ontario introduced new rules in January 2017 under the Energy Consumer Protection Act (ECPA) banning door-to-door sales for residential energy contracts, the impact was immediate and significant. “It stopped everybody from being able to do any kind of door-to-door and it added more red tape in the name of consumer protection,” she explains. Despite the new restrictions, consumer demand didn’t disappear—calls from potential clients continued to flood in. However, the process of securing a contract became a bureaucratic maze. “Let’s say John Smith wanted an agreement for his home,” Izabelle begins, illustrating the painstaking process.“He would have to go through a 15-minute or longer scripted session where he has to say ‘yes’ to everything, and it all has to be recorded.” Any deviation from the script, even something as simple as a certain question or comment, could force the entire process to start over from the beginning. “If John Smith asks a certain question that leads the conversation in a different direction, you must cancel the call and start again. They don’t want any influence.”This level of regulation, while intended to protect consumers, has made it increasingly difficult for companies to operate efficiently. A FUTURE FUELED BY GROWTH AND INNOVATION As Canadian Energy Protection looks ahead, the company is poised for significant expansion and technological advancement. “We have a very aggressive acquisition campaign that we started about 90 days ago,” Mark shares, indicating that this push is just beginning. He anticipates the company could be “ten times the size that it is today in volume” within the next 12 to 18 months. This rapid expansion is driven by an influx of new contracts fueled by the low energy prices that have made their offerings more attractive than ever.“We’re going to continue this push while prices are low,” he emphasizes, recognizing the 67 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 10 CANADIAN ENERGY PROTECTION
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