Ontario Energy	Commission de l'Énergie

Board	de l'Ontario

P.O. Box 2319	C.P. 2319

2300 Yonge Street	2300, rue Yonge

26th. Floor	26e étage

Toronto ON M4P 1E4	Toronto ON M4P 1E4

Telephone: (416) 481-1967	Téléphone; (416) 481-1967

Facsimile: (416) 440-7656	Télécopieur: (416) 440-7656

Licensing and Applications Branch

December 13, 1999

To:	All interested stakeholders

Re:	Implementation of Board Decision on Standard Supply Service Code - Guidelines and Filing Requirements

On October 18, 1999, the Ontario Energy Board issued its Decision with Reasons (the "Decision") for Electricity Distributors. In the Matter of a Proposed Standard Supply Service Code. To complete the proceeding, the Decision identified a number of implementation issues that would require further development in the form of guidelines and filing requirements. Paragraph 4.2.2 of the Decision states:

"The Board Panel's comments herein regarding implementation of SSS pricing, procurement and rates will form direction to Board staff in the development of guidelines and filing requirements for the Board's approval of SSS rates. The Board Panel anticipates that stakeholders will be consulted prior to finalization, and the resultant requirements and methodologies will be incorporated into the Board's rate setting process for SSS."

Additional requirements to complete the process can be found in Paragraph 4.2.3 of the Decision. Board staff launched this implementation process at a November 10, 1999 Information Session on the Standard Supply Service Code (Code). Staff has now prepared a Draft Issues List for commencing its consultation regarding the guidelines and filing requirements related to Standard Supply Service (see attached).

The consultation process is intended to ensure stakeholder involvement and input into the development of the guidelines prior to their approval by the Board. This consultation will follow these steps:

December 13, 1999 - Draft Issues List to circulated parties for feedback and commentary - specifically requesting comment on: "Is this List Complete?"

December 23, 1999 - Responses to the Draft Issues List received by Board staff.

End January, 2000 - Staff will issue a discussion paper setting out options which will be used to focus discussion at a workshop to address the issues with the objective of developing guidelines and filing requirements.

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February, 2000 - Staff will circulate Guidelines based on the workshop discussions to interested parties setting out recommendations on the issues.

End February / March, 2000 - Stakeholder responses to the Guidelines to be received by the Board.

March, 2000 - Guidelines and filing requirements approved by Board and incorporated into the Electric Distribution Rate Handbook, the SSS Code, the Distribution System Code or the Retail Settlement Code.

Interested parties who wish to comment and make suggestions on the Draft Issues List are invited to do so in writing. Please note that the Decision contains commentary sections entitled "Board Panel Comments" throughout. Please use these comments as guidance to place parameters on the scope of the issues to be considered. Comments should focus on the implementation issues arising out of the Decision and not on the substance of the Decision itself. Please address the completeness of the list only at this stage and point out any issues that may have been overlooked.

With respect to the Draft Issues List, please forward written comments by fax, regular mail or E-mail to Colin J. Schuch (schuchco@oeb.gov.on.ca) before 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 23, 1999 at:

Ontario Energy Board

26 Floor/ P.O. Box 2319

2300 Yonge Street

Toronto ON M4P 1E4

fax (416) 440-7656

Any questions relating to the Draft Issues List should be directed to Colin J. Schuch (416-440-8105) or Mark Garner (416-440-7627).

The Board has finalized and approved the Standard Supply Service Code. A copy of the Code is attached.

Sincerely,

original signed by A. Powell

Anne Powell

Director of Licensing

Attachments