2026 electricity distribution rate applications

On October 13, 2016, the OEB issued the Handbook for Utility Rate Applications to provide guidance to utilities and stakeholders on applications to the OEB for approval of rates. The Rate Handbook outlines the key principles and expectations the OEB will apply when reviewing rate applications under the OEB’s renewed regulatory framework, Report of the Board: A Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity (the RRFE Report). Three alternative rate-setting methods are available to electricity distributors: Price Cap Incentive Rate-setting (Price Cap IR); Custom Incentive Rate-setting (Custom IR); and Annual Incentive Rate-setting Index (Annual IR Index).

On December 9, 2024, the OEB issued a letter identifying a preliminary list of electricity distributors (the Rebasing List) that are scheduled to file a cost of service application in respect of their 2026 rates assuming they opt for the Price Cap IR method. This letter also sets out the deadlines by which notice must be given to the OEB in respect of various other matters relating to the setting of 2026 rates, and by which cost of service applications for 2026 rates are expected to be filed. The following table summarizes these deadlines.

The following table identifies all 58 rate regulated electricity distributors in Ontario. The table contains links to select documents of a distributor’s rate application. These documents include:

• Key correspondence regarding the status of an application, including the choice of rate-setting method for 2026 rates. For applications to be decided under Delegated Authority, case management letters are used to communicate case steps and dates rather than a letter of direction and procedural order.
• The Notice of Application issued by the OEB and to be published by the distributor, if applicable. The purpose of the Notice is to inform affected ratepayers and other stakeholders of the application, its nature and the impact on affected customers.
• The Decision issued by the OEB when it has made determinations on the application and the subsequent Rate Order and Tariff of Rates and Charges that reflects the Decision.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

This table provides a list of select documents related to each application. To view all publicly available documents for the application, click the case number associated with that particular distributor.

DEFINITIONS:

Cost of Service: Distributors rebasing under the Price Cap Incentive Rate-setting method        
Price Cap IR: Distributors not rebasing under the Price Cap Incentive Rate-setting method        
Custom IR: Distributors filing under the Custom Incentive Rate-setting method        
Annual IR: Distributors filing under the Annual Incentive Rate-setting Index method        
Case Management Letter: Pursuant to powers granted in Section 6 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, an employee of the OEB (Delegated Authority) may make a decision on the application without holding a hearing. Certain mechanistic Price Cap IR and Annual IR applications are adjudicated by a Delegated Authority. For these applications, there are normally no formal hearings and thus, no publication requirements of a formal Notice of Application. The process and timelines associated with the assessment of the applications by OEB staff are communicated to distributors by way of Case Management letters.        
NoA: Notice of Application

Click the column header to sort the table by Distributor, Process, Application Received or Updated on. Click the column again to switch between ascending/descending order. To filter results, start typing in the search field below. As you type the table will re-sort to only show rows that match what you type (e.g. typing 'Niagara' will show only the rows for Canadian Niagara Power Inc., Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. and Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro Inc.).

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