Consultation on Energy Issues Relating to Low Income Consumers (EB-2008-0150)

The Board has initiated a consultation process to examine issues associated with low income energy consumers in relation to their use of natural gas and electricity. This consultation is intended to assist the Board in gaining a better understanding of those issues and in considering the need for and nature of policies or measures that could address those issues.

Consumers who would like more information about findings of the Report of the Board should call the OEB’s Consumer Relations Centre at 1-877-632-2727 or complete an online submission.
Questions regarding the Board’s report from licensees and other energy market participants should be directed to the Market Operations Hotline.

The Board has formed two working groups to complete the work necessary to implement the Financial Assistance and Conservation components of the Board’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, or LEAP. Materials from the working groups can be found at the following links:

Documents

Date	Issue / Document

Nov 10-09	The Board has extended the deadline for licensed electricity and natural gas distributors to object to any aspect of costs claimed in this proceeding. The deadline is now November 13, 2009. Letter
Oct 9-09	The Board has issued the final report of the Financial Assistance Working Group. Letter Report on the Proposed Framework for Low-Income Emergency Financial Assistance: Final Report of the Emergency Financial Assistance Working Group to the Ontario Energy Board Appendix A – Written comments on draft report Appendix B – Written comments on revised draft report Appendix C – Direct Energy and LIEN strawman submissions
Sep 28-09	The Board has issued a letter to update stakeholders and provide further direction to electricity and natural gas distributors in relation to the Board’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) initiative. Letter Minister’s Letter of September 8, 2009 Report on the Proposed Short-Term (2010) Framework for Natural Gas Low-Income DSM: Final Report of the Conservation Working Group to the Ontario Energy Board Appendix A – Frameworks Proposed by Natural Gas Utilities Appendix B – Comments from CWG Members on Revised Draft Report Appendix C - Comments from CWG Members on Draft Report Appendix D – Trends in DSM and CDM Benefit-Cost Tests
Jun 5-09	The Board issued a letter to stakeholders announcing the selection of members for the LEAP Financial Assistance and LEAP Conservation working groups. Letter
May 11-09	The Board has issued a letter seeking nominations for participation on two working groups as part of the consultation on energy issues relating to low income consumers: LEAP Financial Assistance Working Group and the LEAP Conservation Working Group. The deadline for nominations is May 20, 2009. The letter also provides some information as to the next steps for EB-2007-0722 and EB-2008-0346. Letter
Apr 27-09	The Board has posted written submissions due April 17, 2009 on the “Report of the Board: Low-Income Energy Assistance Program” (the “Report”). Related comments can also be found in submissions received in EB-2007-0722. Submissions
Mar 10-09	The Board has issued its “Report of the Board: Low-Income Energy Assistance Program” (the “Report”), which is the result of the consultation and submissions in EB-2008-0150 and sets out the Board’s policies for implementation of a “Low-Income Energy Assistance Program”, or “LEAP”. Implementation of certain elements of the LEAP in the context of the electricity sector requires amendments to a number of the Board’s codes. These proposed code amendments have been integrated with a number of proposed code amendments in EB-2007-0722. Cover Letter Report of the Board Appendix: Staff Report to the Board Report of the Board (en francais - à venir)
Nov 3-08	The Board has posted written submissions due October 31, 2008. Submissions
Oct 24-08	The Board has posted a supplemental report from its consultant, Concentric Energy Advisors, prepared in response to additional information requested during the meetings held from September 22 to 25, 2008: Supplemental Report Appendix A
Oct 20-08	The Board has extended the deadline for written submissions to October 31, 2008. Letter
Oct 3-08	During the meetings held from September 22 to 25, 2008 members of the Board, Board staff and participants requested some additional information from several electricity and natural gas distributors. Filings from these distributors will be posted as they are received. Information Filings
Oct 1-08	The Board has posted the transcripts and webcast of the September 22 to 25, 2008 stakeholder conference on energy issues relating to low income consumers. The Board has also extended the date for written comments to October 21, 2008. Letter Transcripts Webcast of stakeholder conference
Sep 17-08	The Board has posted an updated agenda and the presentations submitted to the Board for the stakeholder conference on energy issues relating to low income consumers. The stakeholder conference will be held from September 22nd to 26th in the Board’s North Hearing room 25th floor, 2300 Yonge Street, Toronto. Updated Agenda for Stakeholder Conference Presentations Listen to the Stakeholder Conference Webcast - September 22-26
Sep 16-08	The Board has received the following submissions regarding the issues to be addressed at the stakeholder conference on low income energy consumers. London Property Management Association and Building Owners and Managers Association Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. Green Energy Coalition
Sep 5-08	The Board has posted further details and the agenda for the stakeholder conference on energy issues relating to low income consumers to be held in Toronto from September 22nd to 26th, 2008. In addition, the Board has posted the consultant’s report, the parties that have requested to make a presentation at the stakeholder conference and an updated list of parties that have registered to participate in this consultation. Cover Letter with Agenda for Stakeholder Conference A Review of Low Income Energy Assistance Measures Adopted in Other Jurisdictions by Concentric Energy Advisors Appendix A: Country Specific Low Income Energy Programs Appendix B: US Utility Rate Assistance Programs Appendix C: Program Summaries Parties Who Have Requested to Make a Presentation Updated List of Participants
Aug 11-08	The Board has provided a list of issues and questions proposed to be addressed during the Stakeholder conference commencing on September 22nd. Participants wishing to make a presentation at the Stakeholder conference are requested to indicate to the Board, their intention to do so by August 26th. Letter List of Participants
Jul 29-08	The Board has posted requests for cost eligibility and participation in relation to the consultation on energy issues relating to low income consumers. Distributors that wish to object to the cost eligibility requests must file their objections to the Board by August 12, 2008. Cost Eligibility Requested Cost Eligibility Not Requested
Jul 2-08	The Board has initiated a consultation process to examine issues associated with low income energy consumers in relation to their use of natural gas and electricity. Letter

Cost Eligibility and Awards

Date	Issue / Document

Oct 8-09	The Board has issued a Revised Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards for eligible activities relating to the provision of comments on the March 10, 2009 Board Report and to participation on the Conservation and/or Financial Assistance working groups are the subject of this Notice. Revised Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards Attachment A – Form for Cost Claim Summary for Conservation Working Group (.xls) Attachment B - Form for Cost Claim Summary for Financial Assistance Working Group (.xls) Attachment C – Form for Cost Claim Summary for Provisions of Comments on Report of the Board: Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (.xls)
Oct 1-09	The Board has issued a Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards. Cost awards in relation to eligible activities relating to participation on the Conservation and/or Financial Assistance working groups are the subject of this Notice. A revised Notice has been issued that replaces this posting. Please see the Oct 8-09 update above for the Revised Notice.
Aug 19-09	The Board has issued a Supplementary Decision and Order on Cost Awards in respect of this initiative. Supplementary Decision and Order on Cost Awards #2
Jun 17-09	The Board has issued its decision on cost eligibility in relation to participation on the working groups, as part of the Consultation on Energy Issues Relating to Low Income Consumers. Decision on Cost Eligibility
Apr 28-09	The Board has issued a Supplementary Decision and Order on Cost Awards in respect of this initiative. Supplementary Decision and Order on Cost Awards
Mar 17-09	The Board has issued its Decision and Order on Cost Awards in respect of this initiative. Decision and Order on Cost Awards
Dec 19-08	The Board has issued a Notice of Hearing on Cost Awards in relation to EB-2008-0150. Key dates in Notice: eligible parties' cost claims due January 9, 2009; distributor objections, if any, due January 23, 2009; and eligible parties' reply submissions due January 30, 2009. Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards
Aug 15-08	Today The Board issued its decision on cost eligibility in relation to the Consultation on Energy Issues Relating to Low Income Consumers. Decision
Jul 29-08	The Board has posted requests for cost eligibility and participation in relation to the consultation on energy issues relating to low income consumers. Distributors that wish to object to the cost eligibility requests must file their objections to the Board by August 12, 2008. Cost Eligibility Requested Cost Eligibility Not Requested

CONTACT

For more information, please contact the Market Operations hotline at 416-440-7604 or by e-mail at market.operations@oeb.gov.on.ca.