Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework for Natural Gas Distributors (2015-2020)

Case number
EB-2014-0134
Launched
Sector
Natural Gas
Status
Archived
Details

The DSM Guidelines for natural gas distributors, issued by the OEB on June 30, 2011, provided for a three-year term ending December 31, 2014. As the DSM term was nearing its conclusion, the OEB initiated a consultation process to review the DSM Guidelines and develop a new DSM Framework to be used for the development of the next generation of DSM plans.

On March 31, 2014, the Minister of Energy issued a Directive to the OEB (the “DSM/CDM Directive”) that among other things required the OEB to establish a DSM policy framework.

View all documents for this consultation

Updates
Updates
Date Issue / Document
June 4, 2024

The OEB has officially retired the Report of the Board: Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework for Natural Gas Distributors (2015-2020). Certain parts of the Filing Guidelines to the DSM Framework are also being retired. They are:

  • Section 6.4. Low Income Programs, and
  • The second paragraph and bulleted list in section 7

Although the retired materials are no longer operational, they will remain accessible on the OEB's website for historical reference and research.

March 15, 2017

The OEB has issued letters that provide information related to the deadline for the gas utilities to file their 2016 Draft Evaluation Reports.

March 15, 2017

The OEB has posted the 2016 to 2018 Natural Gas DSM Evaluation, Measurement and Verification (EM&V) Plan. 

March 29, 2016

The OEB has issued a letter that provides information related to the timelines for the gas utilities to report their 2015 DSM program results.

March 4, 2016

The OEB has issued a letter to outline the transition of the current DSM evaluation activities from the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) to the OEB.

August 21, 2015

The OEB has issued a letter that establishes its process to evaluate the results of Natural Gas Demand Side Management programs from 2015 to 2020.

March 4, 2015

The OEB has received a letter from the Minister of Energy requesting that the OEB, in its achievable potential study for natural gas efficiency in Ontario, consider how such potential DSM benefits as carbon reduction and natural gas suppression may be used to screen prospective DSM programs and inform future budgets.

December 22, 2014

The OEB has issued the new Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework for Natural Gas Distributors. The new DSM framework is related to the natural gas distributors’ conservation and energy efficiency activities from 2015 to 2020. The OEB has also issued the Filing Guidelines to the DSM Framework, which is a technical companion document to be used by the natural gas distributors.

October 31, 2014

The OEB has received the following comments on the Draft Report on the Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework for Natural Gas Distributors for 2015 to 2020:

September 15, 2014

The OEB has issued the Draft Report on the Demand Side Management (DSM) Framework for Natural Gas Distributors for 2015 to 2020 (EB-2014-0134). In addition to the Draft Report, the OEB has also issued a draft version of the DSM Guidelines to the DSM Framework.

April 10, 2014

The OEB has issued a letter announcing a consultation to develop a new DSM Framework for natural gas distributors for the period 2015 to 2020.

Working Group

Date Issue / Document
August 28, 2014

The DSM Working Group held its third meeting on July 25, 2014. The working group participants discussed the cost effectiveness tests, the process for updating input assumptions, the evaluation and audit process, adjustment factors, program types, and key components of Board’s Staff’s working draft DSM Framework.

August 28, 2014

The OEB received a letter from Environmental Defense on August 6, 2014, providing comments and concerns on Board Staff’s recommendations as part of the DSM Working Group meetings.

August 28, 2014

The OEB received a letter from the Green Energy Coalition (“GEC”) on July 30, 2014, providing comments and concerns on material discussed within the DSM Working Group meetings and addresses concern for not participating in the DSM Working Group meetings.

August 28, 2014

The OEB received a letter from the School Energy Coalition (“SEC”) on July 30, 2014, providing comments and concerns on material discussed within the DSM Working Group meetings.

August 28, 2014

The OEB received two reports from the Canadian Solar Industries Association (“CanSIA”) on August 8, 2014. The first report provides considerations and recommendations on key elements of the DSM Framework. The second report outlines the importance of integrating solar thermal heating into Canada’s energy future including broad policy recommendations.

August 28, 2014

The OEB received a set of discussion papers from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (“TAF”) on August 11, 2014 outlining considerations and recommendations on key elements of the DSM Framework.

July 23, 2014

The DSM Working Group held its second meeting on June 18, 2014. The working group participants discussed the guiding principles for the framework, integration of electricity DSM and natural gas DSM, DSM targets and budget, the performance incentive, input assumptions and joint filings of the utilities’ DSM plans.

June 13, 2014

The DSM Working Group had its first meeting on April 25, 2014.  The working group participants discussed first thoughts regarding the new DSM framework, some options for overall guiding principles, integration of electricity DSM and natural gas DSM, and the regulatory process for approving DSM plans.