EB-2018-0143: IESO Application for Approval of 2018 Expenditure, Revenue Requirement, and Fees

  • Purpose: The IESO sought Board approval of IESO’s proposed 2018 expenditures, revenue requirement and fees.  IESO proposed a net revenue requirement of $190.8 million (same as 2017) and a usage fee of $1.2187/MWh for domestic customers and $0.9872/MWh for export customers (same as 2017).
  • Status: Completed.  The parties attended a settlement conference and submitted a settlement proposal to the Board.  The Board accepted the settlement proposal.
  • OSEA involvement:  OSEA submitted written interrogatories relating to the implications of the government’s decision to cancel 758 renewable energy contracts, the status and potential improvements to the Conservation First Framework and Industrial Accelerator Program.  

 

EB-2017-0319: Enbridge Renewable Natural Gas Enabling Program and Geothermal Energy Service Program

  • Purpose:  Enbridge sought a Board approval of its Renewable Natural Gas Enabling Program and Geothermal Energy Service Program.  Enbridge later withdrew its application for the Geothermal Energy Service Program because of the Government of Ontario cancellation of GreenOn.
  • Status: Completed.  The Board released its decision on October 18, 2018 approving Enbridge’s application for its RNG Enabling Program.
  • OSEA involvement:  OSEA submitted written interrogatories relating to Enbridge’s Geothermal Energy Service Program before the program was withdrawn from the application.  OSEA submitted written submissions in support of Enbridge’s proposed RNG Enabling Program.  OSEA stated that it supports market development to supply RNG, and Enbridge’s use of the EBO-188 methodology to ensure there is no cross-subsidization by existing ratepayers.

 

EB-2017-0323/EB-2017-0324-2015: Union and Enbridge 2015 DSM Deferral and Variance Accounts

  • Purpose:  Enbridge and Union sought Board approval for the final disposition and recovery of their respective 2015 Demand Side Management deferral and variance accounts.
  • Status: Completed.  The Board released its decisions on August 30, 2018.
  • OSEA position:  OSEA’s position was that it agreed with both Enbridge and Union’s submissions and request for the Board to approve the disposition of the accounts in the amounts sought.  OSEA provided comments on the evaluation and audit process of the DSM programs.

 

EB-2017-0255/EB-2017-0224/ EB-2017-0275: Cap and Trade 2018 Compliance Plans

  • Purpose:  Enbridge, Union, and EPCOR Natural Gas (the Utilities) sought Board approval of their respective 2018 Cap and Trade Compliance Plans
  • Status: Completed.   Government repealed Cap and Trade Program.
  • OSEA position: OSEA’s position was that it generally supported the Utilities’ 2018 Compliance Plans.  OSEA expected future compliance plans to provide clearer timelines in order to develop cost-effective abatement measures, and to better include incremental energy efficient abatement measures.  OSEA supported the Utilities’ progress in developing the Abatement Construct, and the Utilities’ request for up to $2 million for the Low Carbon Initiative Fund to support investigations, studies and pilot programs for new customers and facility abatement measures.

 

EB-2017-0049: Hydro One 2018-2022 Distribution Rates

  • Purpose: Hydro One is seeking approval of its electricity distribution rates and service charges such as for access to power poles.
  • Status: Incomplete. 
  • The Oral Hearing concluded on June 29, 2018.  OSEA attended the hearing and asked questions of the Customer Engagement Panel, Shared Services Panel, and Load Forecasting and Rate Design Panel.  On August 10, 2018, OSEA submitted written reply submissions in response to Hydro One’s written argument. 
  • Subsequently, motions were brought by other intervenors on issues not relevant to OSEA.  The Board proceeded through these additional issues through to the end of 2018.  We await the next procedural order, and the Board’s decision.
  • OSEA position: OSEA’s written reply submissions requested that the Board require Hydro One to:
  • conduct a study to determine how Hydro One can achieve greater energy savings than Hydro One’s assigned target
  • continue to explore and implement Distributed Energy Resources, and
  • study ways to further reduce Connection Impact Assessment charges for small generators.

 

EB-2017-0127/EB-2017-0128: DSM Mid-Term Review

ยท         Purpose: Board is undertaking a review of the 2015-2020 DSM Framework for Natural Gas Distributors.  Subsequent to the Board’s approval of the Utilities’ 2015-2020 DSM Plans, the government of Ontario created the Cap and Trade Program, which had the potential to overlap with DSM programming.  The Government of Ontario has now cancelled its Cap and Trade Program and associated funding.

  • Status: Completed.  
  • OSEA position:  OSEA’s position is that it supports DSM programming and the ultimate goal of reducing natural gas consumption in Ontario. In its submissions, OSEA emphasized that the DSM Framework and Utilities’ DSM plans should continue to provide programs, in light of the government of Ontario’s decision to cancel the Cap and Trade Program and associated funding.  OSEA also submitted that the Utilities should shift towards the use of metered consumption data versus the use of engineering assumptions.


Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software