What's new newsletter

The OEB has launched a consultation to engage stakeholders in assessing how the Renewed Regulatory Framework for Electricity (RRFE) structure for multi-year planning and rates affects utility spending patterns and the capitalization of assets. This analysis aims to enhance the OEB’s regulatory oversight of spending trends and capitalization policies in Ontario’s electricity sector. This review reflects the OEB’s commitment to improving cost assessment models and strengthening regulatory frameworks.

The OEB has launched a consultation to review the use of total cost benchmarking to assess the overall cost performance of rate-regulated electricity distributors. This consultation is aimed at renewing the 2013 benchmarking methodology which is expected to incent distributors towards better productivity. Stakeholder feedback will also inform the OEB’s consideration of updates to the components of the X factor in the I-X formulation.

The OEB has issued a final Notice of Amendments to the Transmission System Code which comes into force today. The amendments are intended to facilitate the connection of energy storage to a transmitter’s system and will improve the effectiveness of connection processes, procedures, and requirements by ensuring that the regulatory rules in the Code recognize and enable energy storage connections.

The OEB is excited to introduce OEB iSearch™, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) powered search tool that provides faster, smarter, and more efficient access to over 360,000 regulatory documents. With enhanced search capabilities through advanced filters, AI-driven results, and adaptive technology, OEB iSearch completes Phase One of the OEB's Business Operations Optimization and Systems Transformation (BOOST) Program, a multi-year initiative to modernize the OEB's information management systems. 
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The OEB has released its final report on the design of the Electric Vehicle Charging Rate.

The OEB has posted an updated Retail Transmission Service Rates (RTSR) Guideline and RTSR Workform to the Electricity Distribution Rates webpage. These updates implement the Electric Vehicle Charging Rate. In addition, distributors are now encouraged to update the allocation of wholesale transmission costs to distribution customer classes.

The OEB has posted Price Comparison templates for Natural Gas Contracts for EPCOR valid from April 1 - June 30, 2025.

The OEB has issued a Decision and Order which sets the cost of capital parameters for 2025 cost-based rate applications and updates the methodology for future mechanistic updates. Other matters addressed include the 2025 Quarter 2 prescribed accounting interest rates applicable to the carrying charges of deferral, variance and construction work in progress accounts.

The OEB has updated its performance standards for Mergers, Acquisitions, Amalgamations and Divestitures (MAADs) applications filed on or after April 1, 2025. These changes are intended to provide greater certainty about application processing timelines, and to measure the OEB’s performance with the objective of continuous improvement.

The OEB has issued the final Notice of Amendments to the Retail Settlement Code (RSC) and the Standard Supply Service Code (SSSC) that are intended to facilitate the implementation of the Market Renewal Program (MRP) and will come into force on the date the MRP goes live. The Notice also provides guidance to electricity distributors related to the new term to use on the electricity bills of non-Regulated Price Plan consumers to replace the Hourly Ontario Energy Price.