What's new newsletter

The OEB is launching a comprehensive review of electricity transmitter processes and requirements for connecting load customers in response to the Minister of Energy and Mines’ Integrated Energy Plan Directive.  This review will assess the reasonableness of current timelines, identify opportunities to streamline the process, and explore improved coordination between transmitters and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). The OEB is also considering the potential introduction of performance standards for transmitters, with a final report due to the Minister in December 2025.

The OEB has announced the membership of the newly established Distribution Customer Connections Working Group. The accompanying letter also addresses matters related to cost award eligibility.

The OEB has released the final drafts of the Vulnerability Assessment and System Hardening (VASH) Report and Toolkit for stakeholder feedback. These resources help distributors assess system vulnerabilities to extreme weather and evaluate hardening options.
Comments are due by August 29, 2025. Submission details are in Appendix A. Documents are available on the Engage with Us webpage. Final versions will be published in September 2025.

The OEB is amending its Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for electricity distributors as part of its Reliability and Power Quality Review initiative. These changes aim to provide greater insight into distributor performance during severe weather events and improve visibility into customer interruptions caused by issues in the host distributor’s distribution or transmission systems. The amendments will come into force on January 1, 2026.

The OEB has posted Price Comparison templates for Natural Gas Contracts for Utilities Kingston valid from August 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025.

The OEB has launched a consultation on the regulatory treatment of electricity demand-side management (eDSM) programs delivered by electricity distributors that provide both local and system-wide benefits. This consultation draws on a new framework proposal from the IESO-LDC DSM Regulatory Working Group and supports directives issued by the Minister of Energy and Electrification.

The OEB has released an updated variance settlement factor that is to be used by electricity distributors to calculate a one-time credit or charge for consumers who choose to stop purchasing electricity through the Regulated Price Plan. This factor is called the "Final RPP Variance Settlement Factor" and is updated on the OEB website monthly.

The OEB is launching a comprehensive review of electricity distributor connection processes for load customers in response to stakeholder feedback and the Directive from the Minister of Energy and Mines. This review will build on the OEB's previous initiatives and be supported by a working group to identify improvements in efficiency, transparency and effectiveness. Stakeholders interested in participating in the working group are asked to send a letter by July 21, 2025.

The OEB has issued a letter setting out the requirements for licensed distributors to provide standardized available system capacity information to connect new loads. Aligned with the Minister’s Integrated Energy Plan Directive, this new, province-wide screening tool responds to customers' interest in a centralized map that will help to identify where new facilities can connect and support more informed discussions with distributors about connection feasibility. The OEB's work with stakeholders will now shift to focus on defining minimum data reporting requirements that will support the ability to demonstrate where distribution systems have capacity to host new distributed energy resources.

The OEB has approved changes to the prices Enbridge and EPCOR will charge its customers for natural gas effective July 1, 2025.