Consultation on the Deferral Account – Impacts Arising from the COVID-19 Emergency

Case number
EB-2020-0133
Launched
Sector
Electricity
Natural Gas
Other
Status
Archived
Details

The OEB has commenced a consultation on a deferral account (the Account), established in relation to the impacts arising from the COVID-19 emergency, approved for all rate-regulated utilities in the electricity and natural gas sectors and Ontario Power Generation Inc. (collectively, the Utilities). 

On authorization of the Account through the issuance of an Accounting Order on March 25, 2020, the OEB acknowledged that Utilities may incur incremental costs as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, the severity and duration of which is uncertain at this time. The objective of the consultation is to assist the OEB in the development of new accounting guidance related to the Account and filing requirements, where appropriate, for the review and disposition of the Account, giving due regard to bill impacts on customers.

Further detailed accounting guidance, including policy direction, will be required to be issued by the OEB on key issues in order for Utilities to be able to assess the need for, and if necessary, properly make applications for review and disposition of the Account balance in due course such as:

  • Rules on the operations of the three sub-accounts
  • The nature of the costs/revenue to be recorded 
  • Timing of recovery (including the nature of any near term relief, if needed)
  • How materiality will be assessed
  • Whether any additional revenues or offsetting cost savings need to be considered
  • Rate impacts and rate mitigation consideration

View all documents for this consultation

 

Related information:

Updates
Updates
Date Issue / Document
June 17, 2021

The OEB has issued the Report of the Ontario Energy Board: Regulatory Treatment of Impacts Arising from the COVID-19 Emergency which establishes guidelines for the COVID-19 deferral account.

April 13, 2021

The OEB has issued a letter regarding the applicability of the COVID-19 deferral account guidelines to certain utilities.

February 12, 2021

The OEB has posted reply stakeholder comments in relation to the Staff Proposal for this consultation, as per the OEB’s January 7, 2021 letter.

January 25, 2021

The OEB has posted stakeholder comments in relation to the Staff Proposal for this consultation, as per the OEB’s December 16, 2020 letter.

January 20, 2021

As per the January 14, 2021 webinar, the OEB has posted a response to a stakeholder request for further information, prepared by London Economics International LLC.

January 14, 2021

The OEB has posted materials from the January 14, 2021 stakeholder webinar.

January 7, 2021

The OEB has issued a letter to provide details on the January 14, 2021 consultation webinar, as well as other matters.

December 29, 2020

The OEB has posted stakeholder comments in relation to the consultation, as per the OEB’s December 16, 2020 letter.

December 16, 2020

The OEB has posted a series of reports related to the COVID-19 pandemic prepared by London Economics International LLC, as well as a Staff Proposal.

November 19, 2020

The OEB has issued a letter to provide the scope of work with respect to expert reports.

October 15, 2020

The OEB has posted a stakeholder comment in relation to the consultation, as per the OEB’s September 24, 2020 letter.

September 24, 2020

The OEB has issued a letter to provide an update on the next steps in the consultation.

September 24, 2020

The OEB has posted an additional stakeholder comment in relation to the form of consultation to be adopted, as per the OEB’s August 14, 2020 letter.

August 17, 2020

The OEB has posted a stakeholder comment in relation to the form of consultation to be adopted, as per the OEB’s August 14, 2020 letter.

August 14, 2020

The OEB has issued a letter to provide the Final Issues List for the consultation.

July 17, 2020

The OEB has issued a letter to provide an update on the next steps in the consultation.

July 16, 2020

The OEB has posted an additional reply stakeholder comment in relation to the Draft Issues List for this consultation, as per the OEB’s June 4, 2020 letter.

July 10, 2020

The OEB has posted an additional reply stakeholder comment in relation to the Draft Issues List for this consultation, as per the OEB’s June 4, 2020 letter.

July 9, 2020

The OEB has posted an additional reply stakeholder comment in relation to the Draft Issues List for this consultation, as per the OEB’s June 4, 2020 letter.

June 26, 2020

The OEB has posted an additional reply stakeholder comment in relation to the Draft Issues List for this consultation, as per the OEB’s June 4, 2020 letter.

June 25, 2020

The OEB has posted additional reply stakeholder comments in relation to the Draft Issues List for this consultation, as per the OEB’s June 4, 2020 letter.

June 18, 2020

The OEB has posted reply stakeholder comments in relation to the Draft Issues List for this consultation, as per the OEB’s June 4, 2020 letter.

June 11, 2020

The OEB has posted stakeholder comments in relation to the Draft Issues List for this consultation, as per the OEB’s May 14, 2020 letter.

June 4, 2020

The OEB has issued a letter to provide clarifications on matters discussed at the preliminary stakeholder meeting and to outline the next steps in the consultation process.

May 28, 2020

The OEB has posted materials from the May 28, 2020 Preliminary Stakeholder Meeting.

May 14, 2020

The OEB has commenced a consultation on a deferral account, established in relation to the impacts arising from the COVID-19 emergency, approved for all rate-regulated utilities in the electricity and natural gas sectors and Ontario Power Generation Inc. 

The OEB has also posted the presentation, Q&A’s and recording for the OEB’s April 8, 2020 webinar on “Review of OEB COVID-19 Guidance”.

Cost Award Matters
Cost Award Matters
Date Issue / Document
September 23, 2021

The OEB has issued a Decision and Order on Cost Awards.

 

July 30, 2021

The OEB has issued a letter regarding the Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards.

July 22, 2021

The OEB has issued the Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards.

May 27, 2020

The OEB has issued a Decision on Cost Award Eligibility.

May 22, 2020

The OEB has posted requests for cost eligibility received in relation to participation in this consultation.