Energy Insider

Insights EnergyInsider

A Look Back at Our Top Energy Stories From 2020 By David Stevens Jan 21, 2021 In the energy sector, the Ontario government announced a number of initiatives in 2020 to help th... In the energy sector, the Ontario government announced a number of initiatives in 2020 to help those who were struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of COVID-19. However, a few other issues made headlines as well and in this article, we look back at a few of the top stories we covered o...

Insights EnergyInsider

The Hydrogen Strategy for Canada By David Stevens and Christian Nianiaris Jan 04, 2021 On December 16, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources announced the Hydrogen Strategy for ... On December 16, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources announced the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada. As stated in the announcement, Canada will be leveraging its position as one of the world’s top hydrogen producers to stimulate the Canadian economy and reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissi...

Insights EnergyInsider

Participants Selected for Ontario Non-Wires Alternative Demonstration Project By David Stevens Dec 03, 2020 The York Region Non-Wires Alternative Demonstration Project is aimed at developing a better under... The York Region Non-Wires Alternative Demonstration Project is aimed at developing a better understanding of how to competitively secure and operate distributed energy resources to meet local, regional and provincial electricity needs.

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy By David Stevens and Christian Nianiaris Nov 24, 2020 Ontario’s first Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy is in the works. On November 19, 2020, Jeff Yurek, t... Ontario’s first Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy is in the works. On November 19, 2020, Jeff Yurek, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, announced a plan to foster an Ontario hydrogen economy. As part of this announcement, the government released the Ontario Low-Carbon Hydrogen St...

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Energy Board Approves Hydrogen Blending Pilot Project By David Stevens Nov 05, 2020 On October 30, the Ontario Energy Board issued a decision approving an application from Enbridge ... On October 30, the Ontario Energy Board issued a decision approving an application from Enbridge Gas Inc. to pursue a pilot project involving the blending of hydrogen with conventional natural gas distributed to customers as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Energy Board Moving Forward With Its Modernization Plans By David Stevens Nov 04, 2020 In an October 30, 2020 letter, the new CEO of the Ontario Energy Board (Suzanna Zagar) indicated ... In an October 30, 2020 letter, the new CEO of the Ontario Energy Board (Suzanna Zagar) indicated that the OEB is “moving forward on the OEB Modernization Review Panel recommendations and its position that the OEB must be more than a prudent regulator.”

Posted in: Ontario | Energy Policy | Conservation

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Government Proposes to Mandate “Green Button” Tool to Allow Energy Consumers to Access and Share Their Consumption Data By David Stevens and Sara Abhari Oct 21, 2020 On October 8, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines issued a regulatory ... On October 8, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines issued a regulatory proposal indicating that electricity and gas utilities across the province will be required to implement “Green Button”.

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Proposes to Change Net Metering Regulation to Support “Community-Based Energy Systems” By David Stevens and Emily Chittick Oct 20, 2020 On October 8, 2020, the Ministry of Energy, Development and Mines posted a regulatory proposal de... On October 8, 2020, the Ministry of Energy, Development and Mines posted a regulatory proposal detailing planned amendments to Ontario’s Net Metering Regulation to allow for “demonstration of community net-metering projects.”

Posted in: Energy Policy | Ontario | Conservation

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Minister of Energy Directs IESO to Deliver a New Conservation and Demand Management Framework By David Stevens and Christian Nianiaris Oct 09, 2020 On September 30, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines approved a Minister’s Dir... On September 30, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines approved a Minister’s Directive requiring the Independent Electricity System Operator to establish a new four-year electricity conservation and demand management framework.

Insights EnergyInsider

New Governance Structure for the Ontario Energy Board is Now in Place By David Stevens Oct 02, 2020 On October 1, the Ontario government announced that the Ontario Energy Board’s new governance str... On October 1, the Ontario government announced that the Ontario Energy Board’s new governance structure is now in place. The new governance structure reflects the changes made previously in Bill 87.

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario’s Carbon Emissions Standards to Replace the Federal Regime for Large Emitters in the Province By David Stevens and Sara Abhari Sep 25, 2020 On September 21, 2020, the Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks announced ... On September 21, 2020, the Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks announced that the federal government has accepted Ontario’s Emissions Performance Standards as an alternative to the federal carbon pricing regime.

Insights EnergyInsider

OEB Proposes Updated Rules for Consumers Switching Away From TOU Pricing By David Stevens and Angela Oh Aug 31, 2020 As discussed previously, the Government of Ontario has announced that Regulated Price Plan consum... As discussed previously, the Government of Ontario has announced that Regulated Price Plan consumers will be able to opt out of time-of-use pricing in favour of tiered prices starting November 1, 2020.

Insights EnergyInsider

2020: Energy Storage Developments in the Last Twelve Months By David Stevens, Angela Oh and Benjamin Mayer-Goodman Aug 28, 2020 Each year, we highlight the growing prominence of the energy storage market. This article is our ... Each year, we highlight the growing prominence of the energy storage market. This article is our annual update on the topic of energy storage in Canada, the United States and beyond since our post last summer.

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Consults on Removing Timing Requirements for Next Long-Term Energy Plan By David Stevens and Benjamin Mayer-Goodman Jul 31, 2020 On July 27, 2020, the Ontario government issued a proposal to remove the timing requirements for ... On July 27, 2020, the Ontario government issued a proposal to remove the timing requirements for releasing Ontario’s next Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP) by revoking Ontario Regulation 355/17 (the Long-Term Energy Plans Regulation).

Insights EnergyInsider

OEB Approves Hydro One’s Rate Orders for Peterborough and Orillia Transactions By Fred D. Cass Jul 10, 2020 The OEB has now approved rate orders and accounting orders to give effect to its decisions in res... The OEB has now approved rate orders and accounting orders to give effect to its decisions in respect of the Peterborough and Orillia transactions. The OEB’s decisions approving the rate orders address a number of matters arising from its conditions and directions in respect of ...

Insights EnergyInsider

BCUC Approves FortisBC Energy’s Clean Growth Innovation Fund By David Stevens and Benjamin Mayer-Goodman Jun 29, 2020 On June 22, FortisBC Energy Inc.’s application for a $24.5 million ratepayer funded Clean Growth ... On June 22, FortisBC Energy Inc.’s application for a $24.5 million ratepayer funded Clean Growth Innovation Fund was approved by the British Columbia Utilities Commission as part of FortisBC’s rate application.

Insights EnergyInsider

OEB Reaffirms That Proposal By New Gas Distributor Must Include Assessment of CNG Option By Fred D. Cass Jun 08, 2020 In a decision issued on June 4, the OEB concluded that the grounds for a review motion brought by... In a decision issued on June 4, the OEB concluded that the grounds for a review motion brought by Red Rock Indian Band and Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation did not pass the threshold test and it dismissed the motion.

Insights EnergyInsider

OEB Approves Project Granted Funding Under the Access to Natural Gas Act By Fred D. Cass May 12, 2020 The OEB has approved a project that, with funding granted under the Access to Natural Gas Act, wi... The OEB has approved a project that, with funding granted under the Access to Natural Gas Act, will extend natural gas distribution into a previously unserved area in the northeast of North Bay, Ontario.

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Superior Court Will Hear Challenge to Validity of Global Adjustment Charges By David Stevens May 07, 2020 As discussed in a previous post, in November 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal decided that a cha... As discussed in a previous post, in November 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal decided that a challenge to the validity of the Global Adjustment charges should proceed to be heard by the Superior Court of Justice on the basis of a full evidentiary record.

Insights EnergyInsider

OEB Approves Hydro One Acquisition of Orillia and Peterborough Electricity Distributors By Fred D. Cass May 04, 2020 The OEB has now approved the acquisition of Orillia Power by Hydro One, subject to a number of co... The OEB has now approved the acquisition of Orillia Power by Hydro One, subject to a number of conditions, in a decision issued on April 30, 2020. In another decision issued on the same day, the OEB approved Hydro One’s proposed acquisition of Peterborough Distribution ...

Insights EnergyInsider

Climate Change Litigation - Dutch Supreme Court Delivers Historic Climate Change Decision in the Urgenda Case By David Stevens and David Mba Feb 27, 2020 The Supreme Court of Netherlands recently delivered a landmark decision in the Urgenda climate change case against the Dutch government, confirming lower court decisions holding that the government has obligations to urgently and significantly redu...

Insights EnergyInsider

OEB Dismisses Application Seeking Revocation of Market Rule Amendments By Fred D. Cass Jan 28, 2020 In September 2019, the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario filed an application to the Ontario Energy Board in which it asked the OEB to revoke, and send back for further consideration, a set of amendments to Ontario’s wholesale electricity market rules made by the Independe...

Insights EnergyInsider

OEB Decision Confirms Policy and Treatment of Behind-the-Meter Storage Is a Topic for the Responding to DERs Consultation By David Stevens Jan 10, 2020 A recent decision by the Ontario Energy Board in Toronto Hydro’s “Custom IR” rate application confirms that utilities wishing to include behind-the-meter storage in their regulated operations should seek policy changes in the OEB’s ongo...

Insights EnergyInsider

Ontario Minister of the Environment Revokes Approval of Under-Construction Wind Farm Project By David Stevens Dec 12, 2019 On December 4, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks granted an appeal overturning the approval of the Nation Rise Wind Farm in North Stormont, Ontario.

Blog

Featured Energy Insider Posts

FOR LEGAL INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

MORE GOODIES