The Ontario Energy Board Energy East Consultation and Review
In November 2013, Ontario’s Minister of Energy asked the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to examine and report on TransCanada PipeLines Limited’s proposed Energy East Pipeline from an Ontario perspective (read the Nov 12, 2013 letter). To support the preparation of the report, the Minister asked the OEB to undertake a consultation process. This consultation process will provide a forum for Ontarians to express their views on the proposed Energy East Pipeline. These views will inform the OEB’s report to the Minister.
The Minister has asked that the OEB consider the implications of four areas of potential impact of TransCanada’s proposed Energy East Pipeline:
- The impacts on Ontario natural gas consumers in terms of prices, reliability and access to supply, especially for those consumers living in eastern and northern Ontario
- The impacts on pipeline safety and the natural environment in Ontario
- The impacts on Aboriginal communities in Ontario, in particular how treaty and Aboriginal rights may be affected
- The short and long term economic impacts of the project in Ontario
Additionally, the Government of Ontario has adopted the following 6 principles with respect to assessing proposed pipeline projects:
- Pipelines must meet the highest available technical standards for public safety and environmental protection
- Pipelines must have the world leading contingency planning and emergency response programs
- Proponents and governments must fulfill their duty to consult obligations with Aboriginal communities
- Local communities must be consulted
- Projects should provide demonstrable economic benefits and opportunities to the people of Ontario, over both the short and long term; and
- Economic and environmental risks and responsibilities, including remediation should be borne exclusively by the pipeline companies, who must also provide financial assurance demonstrating their capability to respond to leaks and spills
The Government of Ontario intends to participate as an intervenor in the National Energy Board’s (NEB) review of the proposed Energy East Pipeline (learn more about the NEB process) and the Minister will use the OEB’s report to help formulate the Government’s position.
UPDATES
august 13, 2015
Today, the OEB released " Giving Ontarians a Voice on Energy East,” a report on our consultation and review of the proposed Energy East Pipeline. It's now available on the Resources page.
The report was prepared at the request of the Minister of Energy, and sets out the OEB’s assessment of the potential benefits and impacts of the proposed Energy East from an Ontario perspective.
June 29, 2015
Summary reports of Part Two are now available on the Resources page. The reports summarize the views that Ontarians shared with the OEB on the potential impacts of TransCanada’s proposed Energy East Pipeline and what the OEB should focus on in its report to Ontario’s Minister of Energy. These reports should not be construed as representing the views of the OEB.
The views expressed in these reports, along with advice from the OEB’s technical advisors, will help inform the OEB’s report to Ontario’s Minister of Energy. The OEB is now completing its report. Once completed, the OEB will then submit its report to the Minister.
March 30, 2015
Today we have posted the following final reports prepared by our Technical Advisors for the OEB's Consultation and Review of Energy East:
- Impact of Energy East on Ontario Natural Gas Prices prepared by ICF Consulting Canada - added Apr 9-15
- Assessment of Impacts on the Natural Environment prepared by DNV·GL
- Assessment of Impacts on Pipeline Safety prepared by DNV·GL
- Discussion Paper: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Resulting from Energy East Pipeline Project prepared by Navius Research Inc.
- A Review of the Economic Impact of Energy East on Ontario prepared by Mowat Centre
- Energy East Oil Pipeline: Potential Implications on Ontario Natural Gas Consumers prepared by Elenchus Research Associates Inc.
Click here to view the Final Technical Reports
The OEB and its Technical Advisors will review all feedback received over the course of the Energy East Consultation and Review. The OEB will then prepare and submit its report to the Minister.
March 9, 2015
ICF International Inc, one of the Board’s Technical Advisors, has prepared a preliminary assessment of the impact of Energy East on Ontario natural gas prices. As with the Board’s other Technical Advisors, ICF is now working on its final Report.
We will post all the Technical Advisors’ Reports on the Board’s website together once they are ready. These Reports will be posted as soon as possible, but it will not be sooner than the end of March 2015.
The deadline for Part Two written submissions will be at least two weeks after the release of the Reports. This will ensure that you have the opportunity to review these Reports before you finalize your submission. Read more...
august 26, 2014
On August 14, 2014, the Ontario Energy Board held a briefing session with TransCanada on the proposed Energy East Pipeline.
July 10, 2014
The Summary Reports in respect of the consultations held during Part One are now available on the Resources page on this website. These reports were prepared by our third-party facilitators and summarize the views that Ontarians shared with us during Part One on the potential impacts of TransCanada’s proposed Energy East Pipeline.
April 7, 2014
Community Discussion Summaries for Kenora and North Bay are now available. You can also view the presentations made at the first four community discussion meetings on the Resources page.
March 3, 2014
The Ontario Energy Board has released information about the next phases of its consultation with Ontarians on the impact of TransCanada's proposed Energy East Pipeline.
- News Release
- News Release (Discussions with First Nation and Métis communities)
- View Consultation Documents
February 19, 2014
Meeting Summary and Presentation from the first OEB Province-Wide Stakeholder Meeting have been posted. Read more...