The OEB is commencing a generic proceeding on its own motion to conduct a limited review of the Model Franchise Agreement.
What is a Model Franchise Agreement?
Before a natural gas utility can provide gas service within a municipality, it must enter into a franchise agreement with that municipality. A franchise agreement is an operational contract between a municipality and a gas utility that sets out the rights and obligations of both parties. All franchise agreements must be approved by the OEB. The OEB adopted the Model Franchise Agreement to ensure fairness, transparency and consistency among individual franchise agreements across Ontario. The OEB expects that gas utilities and municipalities will use the terms of the Model Franchise Agreement without amendment, unless there is a compelling reason for deviation.
Why is the OEB Initiating this Proceeding?
In recent years, several municipalities and local community-based interest groups in Ontario have challenged certain terms of the Model Franchise Agreement during individual gas franchise proceedings. Many of these challenges raised issues of a generic nature, focusing on certain sections of the Model Franchise Agreement itself, rather than unique municipality-specific circumstances. In response, the OEB is initiating this proceeding to examine certain sections and components of the Model Franchise Agreement that have emerged as issues of concern. This proceeding will review the templated form of the Model Franchise Agreement; it will not entail a review of individual franchise agreements that have been signed by specific municipalities and gas utilities.
This proceeding takes place within the context of Ontario’s current energy landscape and the objectives outlined in Ontario’s Natural Gas Policy Statement, which establishes that natural gas remains a vital component of Ontario’s energy mix.
Learn more about the Generic Hearings Protocol.
View the complete record for EB-2026-0009 through the OEB Advanced Regulatory Document Search (RDS).
Application Hearing
Procedural Orders
Correspondence
Expert Evidence
Oral Hearing
Submissions
Post-Decision
Cost Awards
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.