Newsroom

GET THE FACTS!

Access to reliable and trusted information has never been more important. 

OEB Fact Sheets are designed to help provide reporters and consumers alike with baseline information on a variety of energy sector-related topics. They act as a primer directing readers to more in-depth information about the OEB’s mandate, essential information that Ontarians should know about their energy system, and how the OEB is enabling Ontario’s energy advantage. These Fact Sheets will be added and updated as new information becomes available.

Have a media inquiry or a suggestion for a topic that you would like us to consider for a new Fact Sheet? Contact the OEB Media Line at 416-544-5171 or email oebmedia@oeb.ca. 

Keep up to date on all of the OEB’s latest news by subscribing to our What’s New alert service, where you can customize your notifications by choosing the topics that interest you the most. 
 

Fact sheets

Assurance of Voluntary Compliance
The OEB closely monitors energy companies and investigates when we think they may have broken the rules. If we find that an energy company has broken the rules, there are a range of actions we can take, like negotiating an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC), imposing a financial penalty or forcing the company to comply. 

Ten Things to Know about Electricity Bills
The OEB sets prices that utilities charge for the electricity used by residential and small business customers. It appears on the electricity line of the bill. The OEB also sets the rates that cover the cost to deliver electricity to customers.

First Time Energy Customers
Being responsible for rent or a mortgage payment and all of the associated bills can be overwhelming. There is a lot to understand. That’s why the OEB has put together a list of what every first-time energy customer should know.

Ten Things to Know about Natural Gas Bills
The OEB sets rates for residential and business customers of Enbridge Gas (including Union Gas Rate Zones) and EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership.

Regulated Price Plan
The Regulated Price Plan (RPP) is designed to provide stable and predictable electricity pricing. It encourages conservation and ensures the price consumers pay for electricity better reflects the price paid to generators that produce the electricity. Several price plans are offered under the RPP and most residential and small business customers in Ontario pay for the electricity commodity portion of their bill through the RPP.

Quarterly Rate Adjustment Mechanism
The OEB sets prices for the natural gas commodity, that is the natural gas that residential and business customers of Enbridge Gas (including Union Gas Rate Zones) and EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership use.

Z Factor
Once a utility’s rates have been set by the OEB, the utility is expected to operate and maintain its system and serve its customers based on those rates until the utility’s next major scheduled rate application, usually five years later. Between rate-settings, if a utility experiences an unforeseen event (typically damaging storms) that impacts their financial sustainability, they can apply for cost recovery through an OEB rate mechanism called the “Z-Factor” application.