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Introductions. Take-home messages. Course outline. Introduction About the OEB GEA, Directive and CDM Code; roles and responsibilities of the OEB Mechanisms for decision-making Interaction with the OPA Reporting to the OEB. Introduction to the Ontario Energy Board and its role in CDM.
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Course outline • Introduction • About the OEB • GEA, Directive and CDM Code; roles and responsibilities of the OEB • Mechanisms for decision-making • Interaction with the OPA • Reporting to the OEB
Introduction to the Ontario Energy Board and its role in CDM
What can the OEB provide an LDC? • Licence • Approved rates • Recovery of lost revenues from CDM • CDM incentives • A rate of return on rate base
What can the OEB not provide an LDC? • A guarantee you will achieve your CDM targets, recover all your lost CDM revenues, earn CDM incentives • A substitute for good CDM program design
What is the OEB? • A quasi-judicial body that makes independent decisions that can be overturned in court on points of law • An independent, self-financing Crown corporation • A regulator of Ontario’s electricity and natural gas sectors in the public interest
Mandate of OEB • Determined by provincial government • Embodied in legislation and regulations • OEB may obtain: • Government direction through Directives from the Minister of Energy • Suggested guidance through letters from the Minister of Energy
Example of Directive • Minister’s Directive to the OEB on CDM, March 31, 2010see handout
Example of Minister’s letter (suggested guidance) • Minister’s letter to the OEB on low-income work, July 5, 2010 see handout
EXERCISE #1: Spot the differences • Individually, read the Minister’s Directive and the Minister’s letter to the OEB. • Note any differences in language, style, etc. between the Directive and the letter. • We will discuss your findings as a group.
How OEB fits into government structure • Accountable to the Minister of Energy for Board’s fiscal management and business operations, fulfilling mandate • Conducts itself according to the management principles of the Ontario government
General regulatory functions • Issuance of codes, rules and guidelines and setting regulatory policy • Licensing and oversight of market participants (generators, marketers, retailers) • Monitoring and enforcing compliance with regulations • Approving MAADs
Relationships with market participants Source: http://www.oeb.gov.on.ca/OEB/Consumers/OEB+and+You/About+the+OEB
Gas distributor regulatory functions • Approving natural gas commodity price • Approving and setting distribution and transmission rates • Approving facilities, including pipelines, gas storage • Setting DSM framework and deciding on approvals (DSM Plan, DSMVA, LRAM, SSM)
Gas guiding objectives (OEB Act) • Facilitate competition in gas sales to users • Protect consumers regarding price, reliability, quality of service • Facilitate expansion of transmission and distribution, and development & safe operation of gas storage • Promote energy conservation and efficiency • Facilitate maintenance of financially viable gas industry for transmission and distribution and storage of gas • Promote communication with gas industry and the education of consumers
Electricity distributor regulatory functions • Approving commodity pricing for certain consumers (RPP, TOU) • Approving and setting distribution and transmission rates • Approving facilities, including transmission facilities • Setting CDM framework and deciding on approvals
Electricity guiding objectives (OEB Act) • Protect consumer interests regarding price, adequacy, reliability and quality of service • Promote economic efficiency and cost effectiveness in generation, transmission, distribution, sale and demand for electricity and facilitate maintenance of financially viable electricity • Promote electricity CDM [new role for CDM in core business of LDCs] • Facilitate implementation of a smart grid in ON • Promote use and generation of electricity from renewable energy sources
Electricity Codes • Affiliate Relationships Code for Distributors and Transmitters • Distribution System Code • Electricity Retailer Code of Conduct • Retail Settlement Code • Smart Sub-Metering Code • Standard Supply Service Code • Transmission System Code
Electricity Guidelines • 2005 Distribution Rate Adjustment Filing Guidelines • Authorized Electronic Business Transaction Standards • Directive for the Disclosure of Information to Consumers by Electricity Retailers • Electricity Distribution Rate Handbook • Electricity Distributor Recovery of Regulatory Assets (Phase 1, 2)
Electricity Guidelines cont. • Electricity Distribution Retail Transmission Service Rates • MAADs Forms • Ontario Price Credit • Smart Meter Funding and Cost Recovery • Filing Requirements: Distribution System Plans, for Service Area Amendment Applications, for Transmission and Distribution Applications, for Transmission and Distribution Rate Applications and Leave to Construct Projects, CDM
Mechanisms for conducting regulatory functions • Oral and written public hearings (Board Members) • Administrative approvals (Board Staff) • Working groups • Written consultations
OEB vision • Board envisions a viable and efficient energy sector with informed consumers, and works towards this vision through regulation that is effective, fair, and transparent
Delivery • Board reviews and processes hundreds of applications annually, ranging from routine licensing requests to complex rate-change applications
OEB Management Committee • Consists of Chair and two Vice-Chairs • Oversees the management and operations of the OEB
Board Members • Make decisions on rates and policy through consultations and hearings • Make decisions on CDM • The Board will form a Board panel for a particular hearing • This panel will make the decision • A Board policy decision is typically made by the Board with advice from Board Staff
Board Staff • Provide technical advice and administrative assistance to the Board • Typically facilitate Board consultations
Applications and regulatory audit • Responsible for oversight of energy market licencees and rate regulated utilities • Applications unit advises the Board on utility applications for rates and facilities approvals, and licence applications • Regulatory Audit unit monitors financial performance of gas and electricity utilities, and provides accounting, financial, technical advice • Conservation & Reporting group will handle CDM Code implementation
Regulatory policy and compliance • Develops policy options and recommendations related to natural gas and electricity sector • Conducts research on emerging energy issues • Undertakes strategic regulatory planning • Ensures electricity and natural gas industries comply with OEB licences, rules and regulators • Assists industry stakeholders with regulatory issues • Rates, Conservation & Policy Evaluation group deals with CDM policy
Legal Services • Legal services and Board Secretary’s office • Under leadership of General Counsel, provides legal advice to Board members and staff on all aspects of Board’s authority and responsibilities
Board Secretary’s Office • Legal services and Board Secretary’s office • Performs all hearings-related and registrar functions including making logistical arrangements for hearings, maintaining public record, and issuing regulatory documents • Provides case administration services to assist hearing panels and Board staff • Manages the Information Resources Centre and the Public File Room • CDM filings are addressed to Board Secretary
Responsible for full service communications and public affairs support to OEB Board members and staff • Provides communications planning, stakeholder and media relations, web site management, internal communications, correspondence management, consumer information • Responds to inquiries/complaints from public and licencees • Communications and Consumer Relations (CCR) Department
Provides range of strategic planning, financial, IT and administrative support to the Board • Three groups within department: IT, Finance, Planning and Administration • Planning and Business Services Department
Provides strategic direction with respect to human resource initiatives and activities within the Board, including strategic planning and policy formulation • Human resources
Golden anniversary • HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY, OEB! • 1960-2010
Golden anniversary • Interactive timeline showing key milestones in evolution of Ontario’s energy sector: http://www.oeb.gov.on.ca/html/OEB50th/timeline.htm
EXERCISE #2: Adminis-Trivia • Divide into 2 teams. • Select a team name and a team captain. • The team that answers the most questions correctly will win the game.
GEA, Directive and CDM Code: roles and responsibilities of the OEB
Legislation (GEA) Green Energy Act • Passed on May 14th, 2009 • Repeals: • Energy Conservation Leadership Act, 2006 • Energy Efficiency Act, 1990 • Amends several other Acts
Legislation (GEA) GEA and CDM • Made CDM a core business (condition of licence) of LDCs with regulatory oversight by OEB • Gives LDCs and OEB broader role in renewables, conservation, and smart metering • LDCs can be generators
Legislation (GEA) LDC-owned generation • GEA allows distributors to own and operate a generation facility if it is a: • Renewable energy generation facility ≤10 MW • Cogeneration facility • Energy storage facility • OEB licenses the generator
Legislation (GEA) GEA and renewable energy • Transmitter and distributor obligation to connect a renewable energy generation facility • Priority connection access granted to renewables • Streamlines approval process for renewables • Does not include federal approvals