Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity

Case number

EB-2010-0377, EB-2010-0378, EB-2010-0379

Launched

October 27, 2010

Sector

Electricity

Status

Archived

Details

On October 18, 2012, the OEB released its Report, Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity Distributors: A Performance-Based Approach (RRFE).

The RRFE is a regulatory framework that guides the OEB in setting rates for electricity distributors and transmitters. The framework represents a continuing evolution in our focus as regulator. It moves the focus from costs and cost recovery to focusing on long-term value for money. The OEB recognizes that delivering long-term value for the money consumers spend on electricity is essential to delivering a sustainable energy sector.

RRFE INITIATIVES

Rate Design for Electricity Distributors (EB-2012-0410)
The OEB initiated a project to complete the work begun in EB-2010-0060 on revenue decoupling for electricity and natural gas distributors.
Distribution Network Investment Planning (EB-2010-0377)
The OEB initiated a consultation process to address how the OEB might ensure that distributor investment plans are demonstrably economically efficient and cost-effective and paced so as to match required expenditures with fair and reasonable rate adjustments and predictable changes to the elements of customer bills affected by the plans.
Approaches to Mitigation for Electricity Transmitters and Distributors (EB-2010-0378)
The OEB initiated a consultation process to provide utilities and the OEB with a range of approaches and supporting tools to help mitigate the effects of unavoidable and significant rate and/or bill impacts.
Defining and Measuring Performance of Electricity Transmitters and Distributors (EB-2010-0379)
The OEB initiated a consultation process to address how the OEB might create conditions which would foster the cost-effective and efficient implementation of OEB-approved network investment plans by transmitters and distributors through the establishment of appropriate standards for performance and efficiency, the provision of appropriate incentives, and the review of utility performance.
Developing Guidance for the Implementation of Smart Grid in Ontario (EB-2011-0004)
The OEB initiated a consultation process to examine issues associated with the implementation of Smart Grid.
Regional Planning for Electricity Infrastructure (EB-2011-0043)
The OEB initiated a consultation aimed at promoting the cost-effective development of electricity infrastructure through coordinated planning on a regional basis between licensed distributors and transmitters.
Policy Options for Funding Capital Investments (EB-2014-0219)
The OEB initiated a consultation to consider revised approaches to the funding of capital investments by utilities.

Reports

Report - A Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity Distributors: A Performance Based Approach

Issued

October 18, 2012

Updates

Date	Issue / Document
September 25, 2013	The Board has issued a letter inviting stakeholders to workshops on the Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity (RRFE) Implementation. Letter RRFE Workshop Presentations: The Renewed Regulatory Framework - an Overview Process Planning Working Group Presentation Regional Infrastructure Planning - Code Amendments Policy Guidance on Smart Grid Development Distribution System Planning Chapter 5: Consolidated Distribution System Plan Filing Requirements Questions & Answers: RRFE Implementation
October 31, 2012	Board staff has posted the presentation from its October 31, 2012 webcast Q&A on the next steps arising from the "Report of the Board – A Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity Distributors: a Performance Based Approach". Presentation (.ppt)
October 30, 2012	The Board has issued a letter to stakeholders announcing the selection of working group members. Letter
October 18, 2012	The Board has issued its "Report of the Board – A Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity Distributors: a Performance Based Approach". The issuance of the Report completes the consultation process which began in October of 2010. Cover Letter Report of the Board – A Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity Distributors: a Performance Based Approach
April 24, 2012	Board staff has posted the written comments received by the Board by April 20, 2012. Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), the Biogas Association (formerly the Agri-Energy Producers Association of Ontario, (BGA)), the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWEA), the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CANSIA), the Canadian District Energy Association (CDEA) Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario Building Owners and Managers Association Canadian Federation of Independent Business Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Consumers Council of Canada Cover Letter Comments Cornerstone Hydro Electric Concepts Association Inc. Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario Electricity Distributors Association Energy Probe Research Foundation Entegrus Powerlines Inc. Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario FortisOntario Great Lakes Power Transmission LP Guelph Hydro Inc. Hydro One Networks Inc. Independent Electricity System Operator Just Energy Ontario L.P. London Property Management Association Comments (General) Comments (EB-2010-0377) Comments (EB-2010-0378) Comments (EB-2010-0379) Comments (EB-2011-0043) Low-Income Energy Network National Chief's Office for the Assembly of First Nations Cover Letter (Apr 27-12) Comments (Apr 27-12) NORTHWATCH Cover Letter Comments Ontario Energy Association Ontario Power Authority Ontario Power Generation Ontario Sustainable Energy Association Comments (General) Comments (EB-2010-0377) Comments (EB-2010-0378) Comments (EB-2010-0379) Comments (EB-2011-0004) Comments (EB-2011-0043) Ontario Waterpower Association Pollution Probe Power Workers Union Comments (EB-2010-0377 and EB-2011-0043) Comments (EB-2010-0378) Comments (EB-2010-0379) Comments (EB-2011-0004) Retail Council of Canada Cover Letter Comments Comments - Appendix 1 Comments - Appendix 2 School Energy Coaltion Cover Letter Comments The City of Thunder Bay; Common Voice Northwest (CVNW); Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce (NOACC); and Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) in collaboration with other Stakeholders in the Northwest Region. The Distribution Regulation Review Task Force (Enersource Hydro Mississauga Inc., Horizon Utilities Corporation, Hydro Ottawa Limited, PowerStream Inc., Toronto Hydro Electric System Limited, and Veridian Connections Inc., Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Hydro One Networks Inc., and Union Gas Limited.) The Mid-Size Distributor Group (Bluewater Power Distribution Corporation, Enwin Utilities Ltd., Erie Thames Power, Essex Powerlines Corporation, Greater Sudbury Hydro Inc., Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc., London Hydro Inc., and PUC Distribution Inc.) Vulnerable Energy Consumers Coalition
April 9, 2012	Board staff posted transcripts from the March 28-30 Stakeholder Conference. Transcripts
April 5, 2012	The Board has issued guidance to stakeholders on issues where comments would be particularly helpful to the Board in developing a renewed regulatory framework for electricity distributors and transmitters. Letter
March 27, 2012	Board staff posted an updated draft agenda for the two and a half-day Stakeholder Conference planned for March 28, 29, and 30, 2012. Updated Draft Agenda Attachment to Draft Agenda
March 23, 2012	Board Staff has posted the presentations filed by participants for the Stakeholder Conference to be held March 28-30. Travis Allan, Counsel for Retail Council of Canada Tom Brett, Counsel for Building and Office Managers Association Jake Brooks, Executive Director, the Association of Power Producers of Ontario Bob Chow, Director – Transmission Integration, Ontario Power Authority Frank Cronin, Consultant to Power Workers Union John Cyr, Counsel for Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce & Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Presentation Susan Frank, VP & Chief Regulatory Officer of Regulatory Affairs, Hydro One Networks Regional Planning Investment Recovery Robert Frank, Counsel for Electrical Contractor Association of Ontario Marion Fraser, Director, Ontario Sustainable Energy Association Rene Gatien, President & CEO, Waterloo North Hydro Inc. Jack Gibbons, Consultant to Pollution Probe Elise Herzig, President & CEO, Ontario Energy Association Brennain Lloyd, Coordinator for Northwatch Colin McLorg, Manager – Regulatory Policy & Relations, Toronto Hydro Jack Robertson, Vice President & General Manager, Elster Metering Andrew Roman, Counsel for Medium Size Distributors Group Bruce Sharp, Consultant to Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and co-sponsored by Consumers Council of Canada, Vulnerable Energy Consumers Coalition, School Energy Coalition, and Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario Aegent OEPIF: unit price increase details Aegent OEPIF: unit price increase pie charts Aegent OEPIF: residential increases Jay Shepherd, Counsel for School Energy Coalition John Loucks, Vice-President - Corporate and Member Affairs, Electricity Distributors Association George Vegh, Chair, Distribution Regulation Review Task-Force
March 21, 2012	Board Staff has posted materials from a series of Executive Roundtable Meetings held by the Chair during February and March 2012. Presentation List of Attendees Meeting Notes: Consolidated Notes from Executive Roundtables with Distributor Consolidated Notes from Executive Roundtables with Consumer Groups Notes from Executive Roundtable with Agencies & Transmitters Notes from Executive Roundtable with Academics, Finance Industry, Consultants & PWU
February 6, 2012	The Board has issued a letter providing an update to interested stakeholders on the consultation process for its initiative to develop a renewed regulatory framework for electricity distributors and transmitters. Letter Attachment A - “straw man” model Regulatory Framework
December 12, 2011	Board staff posted material shown at the December 8 – 9 Information Session. Power Advisory ‘Bill Impact Estimation Model’ presentation
December 9, 2011	Board staff posted the questions that participants of the two-day Information Session provided in writing. Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters December 2, 2011 Letter Questions Brief Consumers Council of Canada Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario Just Energy Ontario LP Low-Income Energy Network Ontario Power Authority Pollution Probe Power Workers' Union School Energy Coalition
December 6, 2011	Board staff posted a draft agenda for the two-day Information Session planned for December 8 and 9, 2011. Draft Agenda
November 8, 2011	The Board has issued a set of staff discussion papers and supporting consultant reports for the initiatives set out below. Cover Letter FAQs: Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity
January 27, 2011	Board staff has posted material for the Stakeholder Conference to be held on February 2nd. Presentations Overview Distribution Network Investment Planning (EB-2010-0377) Rate Mitigation (EB-2010-0378) Defining and Measuring Performance of Electricity Distributors and Transmitters (EB-2010-0379)
December 17, 2010	The Board issued a letter a letter initiating a consultation process to develop three key elements to a Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity. Letter
October 27, 2010	The Board issued a letter announcing its intention to develop a Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity. Letter

Cost Award Matters

Date	Issue / Document
March 5, 2014	The Board has issued its Decision and Order on Cost Awards for activities that have occurred between April 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013 in relation to performance, benchmarking and rate adjustment indices (EB-2010-0379). Decision and Order on Cost Awards
December 12, 2013	The Board has issued an EB-2010-0379 Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards. Notice of Hearing
September 17, 2013	The Board has issued its Decision and Order on Cost Awards for the second phase of the RRFE consultation. Decision and Order on Cost Awards
June 26, 2013	The Board has issued its Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards. Notice of Hearing
February 14, 2013	The Board has posted a late request for cost eligibility. Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario ("FRPO")
November 13, 2012	The Board has posted requests for cost eligibility. Association of Power Producers of Ontario Participant Request Cost Eligibility Request Biogas Association Canadian Solar Industries Association Canadian Wind Energy Association Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario Energy Probe Research Foundation Participant Request Cost Eligibility Request Low-Income Energy Network Northwatch Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce NRStor Inc. Ontario Sustainable Energy Association Ontario Waterpower Association Retail Council of Canada
October 18, 2012	The Board has issued its Decision and Order on Cost Awards for the RRFE. Decision and Order on Cost Awards
July 11, 2012	The Board issued its Notice of Hearing to determine the cost awards that will be made in accordance with section 30 of the Act in relation to eligible consultation activities that occurred on or before May 31, 2012. Notice
April 18, 2012	The Board has received additional information from the Association of Power Producers of Ontario regarding its request for cost eligibility for an expert and related matters. Association of Power Producers of Ontario (EB-2010-0377, EB-2010-0378, EB-2010-0379, EB-2011-0004, EB-2010-0043)
March 6, 2012	The Board has posted additional requests for cost eligibility. Association of Power Producers of Ontario (EB-2011-0004, EB-2010-0378) Canadian Solar Industries Association (EB-2011-0043, EB-2010-0377, EB-2010-0378, EB-2010-0379) Canadian District Energy Association (EB-2010-0377, EB-2010-0379) Canadian District Energy Association (EB-2011-0043) Canadian Wind Energy Association (EB-2011-0043, EB-2011-0004, EB-2010-0377,0378,0379)
January 19, 2012	The Board has posted a request for cost eligibility. Low-Income Energy Network (EB-2011-0043; EB-2011-0004)
December 19, 2011	The Board has posted requests for cost eligibility for experts received in relation to the Board’s coordinated consultative process to develop a renewed regulatory framework for electricity (EB-2010-0377; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379). Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) (EB-2010-0377; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379; EB-2011-0043; EB-2011-0004) Further information (Jan 31-12) Retail Council of Canada (RCC) (EB-2010-0377; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379; EB-2011-0004; EB-2011-0043)
December 14, 2011	The Board has posted late requests for cost eligibility (EB-2010-0377; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379; EB-2011-0043; EB-2011-0004). AgriEnergy Producers’ Association of Ontario (EB-2011-0043; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379) Further information Consumers Council of Canada (“CCC”) (EB-2011-0004) Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (EB-2011-0004; EB-2011-0043) Ontario Waterpower Association (EB-2011-0043; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379) Further information Retail Council of Canada (EB-2010-0377, EB-2010-0378, EB-2010-0379, EB-2011-0004, and EB-2011-0043)
November 15, 2011	The Board has posted requests for cost eligibility (EB-2010-0377; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379; EB-2011-0043; EB-2011-0004). Building Owners and Managers Association of the Greater Toronto Area (BOMA) (EB-2010-0377; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379; EB-2011-0043) Canadian Federation of Independent Business (EB-2011-0043; EB-2011-0004) Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) (EB-2011-0004) Common Voice Northwest (EB-2010-0379; EB-2011-0043; EB-2011-0004) Common Voice Northwest (EB-2011-0043; EB-2010-0377; EB-2011-0004) Electricity Distributors Association (EB-2010-0379) Northwatch (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379; EB-2011-0043; EB-2011-0004) Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce (EB-2011-0004) Pollution Probe (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379; EB-2011-0004) School Energy Coalition (EB-2011-0043) Vulnerable Energy Consumers Coalition (EB-2011-0004)
January 10, 2011	The Board has posted requests for cost eligibility (EB-2010-0377; EB-2010-0378; EB-2010-0379). Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) – received Jan. 17, 2011 Association of Power Producers of Ontario (EB-2010-0377; 0379) Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) – received Jan. 17, 2011 Canadian Federation of Independent Business (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) – received May 12, 2011 Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) Consumers Council of Canada (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) Council of Canadians (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) Energy Probe (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) - received Jan. 10, 2011 Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) - received Jan. 10, 2011 London Property Management Association (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) Low-Income Energy Network (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) - received Jan. 10, 2011 National Chief’s Office (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) – received Jan. 18, 2011 Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) – received Jan. 12, 2011 School Energy Coalition (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379) Vulnerable Energy Consumers Coalition (EB-2010-0377; 0378; 0379)