What's new newsletter

Following the January 29, 2026 launch of the Centralized Capacity Information Map (CCIM), the OEB has issued a letter outlining the schedule for the first quarterly data refresh. To ensure the CCIM remains a reliable tool for customers and developers, all licensed distributors are required to complete the quarterly submission process by March 31, 2026, even if capacity data has not changed since the previous upload. This letter also clarifies additional technical requirements for the 2026 cycle, including the transition to polyline format for feeder topology and the submission of nominal voltage values to ensure data accuracy and standardization.

The OEB’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of James Sidlofsky to the role of full-time Commissioner effective March 1, 2026. Mr. Sidlofsky joins an existing complement of highly qualified and dedicated Commissioners who work to achieve adjudicative excellence.

The OEB has issued a letter summarizing the outcomes of its initial pilot on intervenor categorization and required collaboration (Item #3 of the OEB’s 10‑Point Action Plan). Feedback from participating parties indicates that coordinated participation can reduce duplicative interrogatories and support a more efficient adjudicative process. Building on these lessons, the OEB will undertake a second pilot as part of Enbridge Gas’s 2027–2030 DSM Proceeding (EB‑2025‑0295). Further details will be provided in Procedural Order No. 1.

The OEB has released an updated variance settlement factor that is to be used by electricity distributors to calculate a one-time credit or charge for consumers who choose to stop purchasing electricity through the Regulated Price Plan. This factor is called the "Final RPP Variance Settlement Factor" and is updated on the OEB website monthly.

The OEB has selected five projects to receive just over $1.2 million as part of its Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership.

The OEB is releasing draft revisions proposed for Phase Two of the Benefit Cost Analysis Framework for Addressing Electricity System Needs (BCA Framework). The BCA Framework supports electricity distributors in assessing the economic feasibility of non-wires solutions to meet distribution system needs. These revisions aim to further enable cost-effective and innovative approaches that can help support Ontario’s economic growth. Registered participants are invited to submit written feedback on the draft revisions by March 6, 2026.

The OEB has refreshed its System Reliability Dashboard with updated visualizations to improve clarity on reliability trends.

The OEB has issued a letter regarding the implementation of Item #2 of its 10-point Action Plan. This initiative introduces a $20,000 intervenor budget cap for cost of service applications from distributors with fewer than 30,000 customers, subject to the OEB’s discretion. The cap encourages intervenors to plan and manage their activities within a defined budget. This change supports more efficient, predictable participation and will be communicated to intervenors in Procedural Order No. 1 for applicable cases.

The OEB has issued a new CEO Policy, made under section 13.1 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, as amended by Bill 40. The policy directs OEB staff to identify portions of Energy for Generations: Ontario’s Integrated Plan to Power the Strongest Economy in the G7 (June 2025) that are relevant to the matters in issue in the proceeding. This policy applies to applications filed on or after January 30, 2026.

The OEB has announced the membership for the third term of its Adjudicative Modernization Committee (AMC). The AMC will continue providing early advice on adjudicative practices, regulatory guidance, and procedural approaches that strengthen the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of OEB proceedings.