David Sword

Enbridge Gas Inc. applied for a new certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct works to supply natural gas in the Township of Tay Valley, reflecting the municipality's amalgamated boundaries.

The Township and Climate Network Lanark opposed the application, arguing it conflicted with the Township's climate action plan and that there was no reasonably foreseeable need for gas works in the unserved areas.

The Ontario Energy Board granted the application, finding that aligning the certificate with current municipal boundaries is administratively efficient and consistent with the broad public interest and provincial energy policy.

Enbridge Gas Inc. applied to the Ontario Energy Board to replace two existing municipal franchise agreements with the County of Simcoe with a single 20-year agreement based on the Model Franchise Agreement.

The County opposed the application, seeking specific amendments to the Model Agreement regarding cost responsibility and timing for relocating gas systems.

The OEB denied the application for a new 20-year agreement and the requested amendments, finding no compelling reason to deviate from the standard terms.

Instead, the OEB extended the expired agreement to February 28, 2028, to align with the expiry date of the second existing agreement.

The applicant, an electricity distributor, filed a draft rate order and proposed Tariff of Rates and Charges to implement the outcomes of a prior Partial Decision and Order.

The Ontario Energy Board reviewed the draft rate order, along with comments from OEB staff and the applicant's reply, to ensure it accurately reflected the updated cost of capital parameters and corrected deferral and variance account rate riders.

The Board found the revised draft rate order accurately reflected the Partial Decision and approved the Tariff of Rates and Charges effective May 1, 2025.

The approved rates will result in an estimated monthly bill decrease for a typical residential customer.