Performance standards for processing applications

Criteria for Complex Application Performance Standard

Below are the criteria that will inform whether the Complex performance standard will apply to a Leave to Construct (LTC) application. Section references below are to sections of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.

ELECTRICITY LTC APPLICATIONS:

1. Relates to a greenfield project
2. Project requires a capital contribution or involves a complex economic evaluation or contestable connection procedure
3. One phase of a broader or multi-phase project
4. Involves significant new land rights
5. If approved, will result in significant changes to the existing ‘look’ of the transmission line (e.g., changing from wood poles to steel structure or overhead lines to cables)
6. If approved, will result in a change to the line voltage
7. The application contains a supplemental request under any of the following sections:

• section 78 (electricity rates)
• section 98 (entry onto land)
• section 101 (construction of work upon, under or over a highway, utility line or ditch)

8. Requires additions / revisions to the standard issues list
9. No approved Environmental Assessment stipulating the route that the project must take
10. Raises a significant factual, legal or policy issue

NATURAL GAS LTC APPLICATIONS:

1. The project is subject to competition to serve an unserved area
2. The project involves natural gas expansion funding (section 36.2)
3. One phase of a broader or multi-phase project
4. The application contains a supplemental request under any of the following sections:

• section 36 (natural gas rates)
• section 98 (entry onto land)
• section 101 (construction of work upon, under or over a highway, utility line or ditch)

5. Raises the adequacy of Indigenous consultation as an issue
6. Requires additions / revisions to the standard issues list
7. Raises a significant factual, legal or policy issue

Criteria for Short-form Application Performance Standard

Below are the criteria that will inform whether the Short-form performance standard will apply to a Leave to Construct (LTC) application. Section references below are to sections of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.

ELECTRICITY LTC APPLICATIONS:

1. Involves a re-conductoring project that is predominantly on an existing transmission right-of-way
2. If approved, will increase the ampacity rating / kcmil of the conductor, but does not change the line voltage (e.g., 155 kV to 230 kV)
3. Involves a limited number of new permanent land rights
4. There is an approved Environmental Assessment stipulating the route that the project must take
5. Does not require additions / revisions to the standard issues list
6. Exemption requested under section 95
7. Does not raise significant factual, legal or policy issues

NATURAL GAS LTC APPLICATIONS:

1. The application does not contain any supplemental requests under the following sections:

• section 36 (natural gas rates)
• section 98 (entry onto land)
• section 101 (construction of work upon, under or over a highway, utility line or ditch)

2. Are not subject to competition to serve an unserved area
3. Does not raise the adequacy of Indigenous consultation as an issue
4. Does not require additions / revisions to the standard issues list
5. Exemption requested under section 95
6. Does not raise significant factual, legal or policy issues