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 | Dec 15, 2008 |
| | Lennox GS not required for reliability beyond September 2009 | | The Ontario Energy Board has decided that OPG's Lennox oil and gas-fuelled generating station will no longer be required for reliability reasons beyond September 30th, 2009. The decision acknowledges, however, that "alternative contractual support" beyond that date is anticipated--obtained through the OPA and justified for reasons of system adequacy, rather than local area reliability. |
| | Sep 8, 2008 |
| | Hearings Underway on 20-Year Power Plan for Ontario | | Hearings on the Ontario Power Authority’s 20-year power system plan began Monday, September 8. AMPCO, and the Alliance of Energy Consumers which it is leading, is arguing that the OPA seriously underestimates the impact of the plan on prices and consumer costs. |
| | Sep 5, 2008 |
| | Hydro One Seeking Double-Digit Rate Hikes in 2009 and 2010 | | On September 30, Hydro One Networks Inc. plans to ask the Ontario Energy Board to approve rate increases of 29 to 37 per cent by 2010. |
| | Jun 13, 2008 |
| | AMPCO Petitions Ontario Cabinet for Just and Reasonable Rates for Manufacturers | | Following the Ontario Energy Board's dismissal of AMPCO's motion to eliminate discriminatory and excessive electricity distribution rates for Ontario manufacturers, AMPCO has brought a petition to the Lieutenant Governor in Council to review the Board's authority and set conditions the Board must meet. |
| | May 22, 2008 |
| | OEB Dismisses AMPCO Motion to Review Decision on Oshawa Rates | | Utility allowed to go on gouging its large customers to subsidize its shareholder |
| | May 12, 2008 |
| | Province Appoints Hon. Howard Wetston to Second Five Year Term as OEB Chair | | AMPCO is pleased to note that the Honourable Howard I. Wetston has been appointed as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Energy Board for a second five-year term, effective June 30, 2008. |
| | Apr 28, 2008 |
| | AMPCO Files Evidence in OPG Payments Application | | AMPCO has made a submission to the OEB in its hearing of an application by Ontario Power Generation for a significant rate hike. In their evidence, AMPCO experts Tom Adams and Dr. Larry Murphy describe both the peculiar nature of OPG’s ownership which shelters it from risks of any normal corporation and OPG’s history of broken promises on nuclear performance. |
| | Apr 8, 2008 |
| | AMPCO Files Motion to Review OEB Decision on Oshawa PUC Rates | | AMPCO today filed motions with the Ontario Energy Board requesting a re-hearing of the Board's recent decision setting rates for the Oshawa PUC and to combine this hearing with the revenue-to-cost ratio portion of the Hydro One distribution rates application. |
| | Feb 14, 2008 |
| | OEB Denies Interim Payment Increase for OPG Regulated Assets | | The Ontario Energy Board has denied a request by Ontario Power Generation for an interim order to increase payment amounts effective April 1, 2008. If granted, the request would have increased commodity costs to all consumers by 6 percent or $2.66/MWh. |
| | Oct 12, 2007 |
| | AMPCO Comments on Licence Conditions for Smart Metering Entity | | Customer information belongs to customers. AMPCO recommends that the smart metering entity be required to provide customers with easy access to their consumption information from the outset. |
| | Aug 29, 2007 |
| | Hydro One Consults on 2008 Distribution Rates | | Details available for second session of stakeholder consultations on the Hydro One 2008 Distribution Rate Application. |
| | Aug 29, 2007 |
| | OEB Consults on Incentive-based Distribution Rates | | New Date for 3rd Generation IRM Stakeholder Consultation Conference |
| | Aug 17, 2007 |
| | OEB issues decision in Hydro One transmission rates case | | Hydro One transmission revenues and rates to be reduced in new rates effective November 1. |
| | Jun 5, 2007 |
| | AMPCO Files Final Argument in Hydro One Transmission Rates Case | | AMPCO today filed its final argument in the OEB hearing of an application by Hydro One Networks Inc. for approval of transmission revenues and rates for 2007 and 2008. |
| | Apr 12, 2007 |
| | OEB Decision on Ramp Rate Market Rule Amendment | | The Ontario Energy Board has issued a decision with reasons denying the application by the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario for an Order revoking the market rule amendment establishing the ramp rate multiplier to be used in the market schedule. |
| | Mar 27, 2007 |
| | AMPCO appeal of IESO ramp rate market rule goes to hearing |
| | Mar 21, 2007 |
| | OEB issues decision in IESO 2007 Fees Submission | | The Ontario Energy Board today approved a settlement between AMPCO, the IESO and other consumer groups to establish a consumers forum on electricity system operation issues. The consumers forum was opposed only by Ontario Power Generation. |
| | Feb 9, 2007 |
| | AMPCO appeals IESO ramp rate market rule amendment | | The Association of Major Power Consumers has filed an application with the OEB seeking a review of a market rule amendment made by the IESO that affects electricity prices. |
| | Feb 9, 2007 |
| | OEB approves AMPCO's request for stay of IESO ramp rate market rule | | The OEB has stayed the operation of a market rule amendment that would “Specify the Ramping Capability in the Market Schedule”, made by the IESO on January 18, 2007 and scheduled to come into effect on February 10, 2007. The stay will remain pending completion of the Board’s review of the amendment and issuance by the Board of its order embodying its final decision on AMPCO’s application for review of the amendment. |
| | Dec 1, 2006 |
| | AMPCO comments on IPSP filing guidelines (EB-2006-0207) | | AMPCO today submitted comments on the Draft Report of the Board on the Ontario Power Authority’s Integrated Power System Plan and Procurement Processes. |
| | Aug 18, 2006 |
| | AMPCO comments on filing guidelines for transmission and distribution rates and projects (EB-2006-0170) | | AMPCO has submitted comments to the Ontario Energy Board on draft filing guidelines for transmission and distribution rates and projects. |
| | Jul 26, 2006 |
| | EB-2006-0064 Payment amounts for OPG prescribed assets | | AMPCO has submitted comments on the recent Board staff discussion paper recommending a regulatory approach to setting payment amounts for the output of OPG prescribed assets. |
| | Jul 25, 2006 |
| | EB-2005-0551 Adam White testifies at OEB hearing on Natural Gas Electricity Interface | | AMPCO President Adam White testified on Thursday, July 21, before the Ontario Energy Board to address the reasons for AMPCO's intervention in the hearing and to provide AMPCO's views on the question of whether the gas storage business is competitive. |
| | Jul 18, 2006 |
| | OEB Staff Proposal on minimum filing requirements for transmission and distribution rates and projects (EB-2006-0170) | | OEB staff have proposed minimum filing requirements for electricity transmission and distribution rate applications and leave to construct projects. |
| | Jul 6, 2006 |
| | OPG payment amounts for prescribed assets (EB029006-0064) | | OEB staff have undertaken consultations and produced a disucssion paper on options for regulating payment amounts for OPG base load generation facilities. |
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OEB issues decision in IESO 2007 Fees Submission |
The Electricity Act provides that the IESO shall, at least 60 days before the beginning of each fiscal year, submit its proposed expenditures and revenue requirements for the fiscal year and the fees it proposes to charge during the fiscal year to the Board for review. The IESO filed its fees submission with the OEB on October 30, 2006. Intervenors subsequently met and settled all issues with the IESO except for a single issue, regarding the establishment of a Consumers Forum by the IESO, which was opposed by Ontario Power Generation.
The OEB has considered this outstanding issue and today (March 21, 2007) has issued its decision and order:
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The settlement proposal regarding stakeholdering reads as follows:
AMPCO and VECC agree to settle this issue on the following basis:
a) The IESO agrees to establish a “Consumers Forum”; and
b) The IESO shall meet with consumer representatives and, within 45days of OEB approval of this Settlement Proposal, distribute to intervenors and file with the OEB for its information the framework, terms of reference, and workplan for the Consumers Forum. Prior to distributing to intervenors and filing with the OEB, the IESO shall distribute for written comment to all intervenors drafts of the said framework, terms of reference, and workplan and the IESO shall consider any intervenor comments before finalizing these documents.
OPG objects to and disagrees with the IESO’s proposed settlement of this issue with AMPCO and VECC.
APPrO takes no position on either the evidence set out or the settlement reached.
All other parties are satisfied with the evidence … or take no position on this issue.
In its submission, OPG stated that the Consumers Forum will create a separate forum/process to solicit comments and advice from consumers and consumer groups only, to the exclusion of other market participants and other interest groups and this will work contrary to developing a mutual understanding of the issues and argued against such segmentation.
Energy Probe submitted that the actions required by the IESO in the settlement proposal are within its mandate and the Consumers Forum represents a positive initiative. VECC argued that the value of stakeholdering will be enhanced, not diminished, with the creation of the Consumers Forum. Hydro One noted that it took no position on the stakeholdering issue but indicated that this fees proceeding is not the optimal vehicle for pursuing improvements to the IESO’s stakeholdering processes.
The IESO submitted that it has the clear statutory authority to establish a Consumers Forum and argued that OPG’s concerns are unfounded. The Board agrees with Energy Probe and the IESO that the IESO has the clear authority to establish a Consumers Forum pursuant to section 13.2 of the Electricity Act which reads:
The IESO shall establish one or more processes by which consumers, distributors, generators, transmitters and other persons who have an interest in the electricity industry may provide advice and recommendations for consideration by the IESO
Whether or not there are better alternatives to engaging consumers, this is a matter that should be left to the IESO in exercising the mandate given to it by the legislature and the Board will not second-guess the IESO in this regard. This would be duplicative and inappropriate. From the Board’s perspective, there are no budgetary issues that are being challenged by OPG. The Board accepts the settlement proposal on this issue.
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