The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is commencing a hearing on its own motion to consider the methodology for determining the values of the cost of capital parameters and deemed capital structure to be used to set rates for electricity transmitters, electricity distributors, natural gas utilities, and Ontario Power Generation Inc. The methodology for determining the OEB’s prescribed interest rates and matters related to the OEB’s Cloud Computing Deferral Account will also be considered, including what type of interest rate, if any, should apply to this deferral account.
The outcome of the hearing will affect the rates that customers – including residential and business customers – pay for electricity and gas service.
The OEB annually publishes its approved cost of capital parameters on its website. The OEB last reviewed its cost of capital methodology in 2009 through its Report of the Board on the Cost of Capital for Ontario’s Regulated Utilities, December 11, 2009 (EB-2009-0084). An OEB staff report (Staff Report) regarding a review of the cost of capital policy was published on January 14, 2016 (EB-2009-0084). OEB staff concluded in the Staff Report that the methodology adopted in late 2009 had worked as intended.
When the OEB reviews a cost-based rates application, many costs and inputs are included in that review. The cost of capital is only one of those costs. In any given year, about 10-20% of Ontario’s utilities apply for such a cost-based review.
This application will be heard using the performance standard in the Generic Hearings Protocol.
View the complete record for EB-2024-0063 through the OEB Advanced Regulatory Document Search (RDS).
Application Hearing
Notice
Procedural Orders
- Procedural Order No.1 (March 28, 2024)
Correspondence
- OEA Letter – Expert Evidence(April 29, 2024)
- IGUA Letter – Expert Evidence(April 29, 2024)
- OEB Letter - Issues Day and Issues List (April 22, 2024)
- OEB Staff Letter - Issues List (April 22, 2024)
- OEB Staff Letter - Expert Evidence (March 28, 2024)
Participate
There are three ways to participate in the OEB hearing process: as an Intervenor, submitting a Letter of Comment or to Follow a Proceeding.
This table illustrates the different levels of participation. Find out more about participating in an OEB hearing, including becoming an intervenor.
| Participation Activities | Intervenor | Letter of Comment | Follow a Proceeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receive OEB-issued documents by email |  |  | |
| Submit a Letter of Comment | | | |
| Listen to live broadcast of the oral hearing | | | |
| Participate in oral hearing | | | |
| Present Evidence | | | |
| Respond to questions about evidence | | | |
| Ask other parties to the proceeding questions | | | |
| Provide argument | | | |
Submit a letter of comment
You can submit a letter of comment that will be considered by the panel deciding the application. Unless the notice states otherwise, your letter of comment will be accepted until the record of the proceeding is closed (which usually occurs with the filing of the applicant’s final reply argument). However, you are encouraged to submit your letter as early in the process as you can. Depending on timing of receipt of letters of comment, the applicant will typically provide a respond to the issues raised in those letters. Your letter will be provided directly to the panel of Commissioners who will be deciding whether the application is approved. The panel will consider your comments in reaching their decision. The panel will only be able to consider comments which relate to issues which are within the authority of the OEB and relevant to the issues being considered by the panel.
More about commenting and privacy
All letters of comment sent to the OEB are placed on the public record. This means the letters will be placed on our website. Before the letter of comment is placed on the public record, personal contact information contained in the address, phone number, and email address fields of this form is removed. The individual's name and the content of the letter will become part of the public record.
If you would like a response from the applicant, please send a copy of your letter directly to the applicant, including your personal contact information. The OEB removes your personal contact information from your letter for privacy reasons before it is posted to our website.