Activity and Program-based Benchmarking Initiative
This project benchmarks costs that electricity distributors incur at a program level.
Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated utilities and increase regulatory efficiency.
APB is the assessment of utilities’ costs at a more targeted level of a specific activity or program.
Benefits of APB for stakeholders:
For Customers – APB provides consistent evaluation and transparent reporting to customers about their utility’s performance relative to other utilities and relative to previous years. This provides further insight into whether their utility is delivering value in terms that are meaningful to customers.
For Utilities – Utilities can identify and learn about potential areas where there are opportunities to enhance performance. APB highlights the best performers across various activities and programs, and the sharing of best practices of these high performers can lead to improvements across the sector.
For the OEB – A well-developed APB program enhances regulatory effectiveness. The OEB can use more proportionate reviews of utilities’ proposed revenue requirements by relying on information and analysis about a utility’s investment planning, cost effectiveness, continuous improvement and operational excellence in meeting customer needs. APB will also support assessment across the sector and comparison with best-in-class performers. APB complements Total Cost Benchmarking, which has been in use for some time, and together they are expected to improve overall regulatory effectiveness to the benefit of customers.
This project benchmarks costs that electricity distributors incur at a program level.
Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated utilities and increase regulatory efficiency.
APB is the assessment of utilities’ costs at a more targeted level of a specific activity or program.
Benefits of APB for stakeholders:
For Customers – APB provides consistent evaluation and transparent reporting to customers about their utility’s performance relative to other utilities and relative to previous years. This provides further insight into whether their utility is delivering value in terms that are meaningful to customers.
For Utilities – Utilities can identify and learn about potential areas where there are opportunities to enhance performance. APB highlights the best performers across various activities and programs, and the sharing of best practices of these high performers can lead to improvements across the sector.
For the OEB – A well-developed APB program enhances regulatory effectiveness. The OEB can use more proportionate reviews of utilities’ proposed revenue requirements by relying on information and analysis about a utility’s investment planning, cost effectiveness, continuous improvement and operational excellence in meeting customer needs. APB will also support assessment across the sector and comparison with best-in-class performers. APB complements Total Cost Benchmarking, which has been in use for some time, and together they are expected to improve overall regulatory effectiveness to the benefit of customers.
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2024 Unit Cost Report
The OEB has published the Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) – 2024 Unit Cost Report, which aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated electricity distributors. The report includes unit cost results for 2024 based on the latest Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements (RRRs) data.
The OEB has published the Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) – 2024 Unit Cost Report, which aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated electricity distributors. The report includes unit cost results for 2024 based on the latest Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements (RRRs) data.
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2023 Unit Cost Report
The OEB has published the Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) – 2023 Unit Cost Report, which aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated electricity distributors. The report includes unit cost results for 2023 based on the latest Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements (RRRs) data.
The OEB has published the Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) – 2023 Unit Cost Report, which aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated electricity distributors. The report includes unit cost results for 2023 based on the latest Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements (RRRs) data.
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2024 Survey on Activity and Program Based Benchmarking
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) monitoring and reporting, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is seeking feedback on the understanding and use of the APB from interested stakeholders.
The OEB has created a survey to assist with this initiative to identify how the APB is used, how frequently it is used, for what purpose and to what degree. The survey also asks participants to identify issues and gaps with the APB, and potential enhancements. This is a voluntary survey and there will be no cost awards for its completion.
Responses will be usedContinue reading
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) monitoring and reporting, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is seeking feedback on the understanding and use of the APB from interested stakeholders.
The OEB has created a survey to assist with this initiative to identify how the APB is used, how frequently it is used, for what purpose and to what degree. The survey also asks participants to identify issues and gaps with the APB, and potential enhancements. This is a voluntary survey and there will be no cost awards for its completion.
Responses will be used to adjust metrics, refine scope, and provide increased value from the APB.
The deadline for feedback is October 11, 2024. The OEB plans to discuss APB enhancements as part of the annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements consultations which will occur later in 2024.
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2022 Unit Cost and Econometrics Reports
The OEB has published the Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) – 2022 Unit Cost and Econometrics Reports, which aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated electricity distributors. The reports include unit cost results for 2022 and updated econometrics results using Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements (RRRs) data reported for 2021 and 2022.
2022 Unit Cost Report - October 11, 2023
The OEB has published the Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) – 2022 Unit Cost and Econometrics Reports, which aims to encourage continuous improvement by regulated electricity distributors. The reports include unit cost results for 2022 and updated econometrics results using Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements (RRRs) data reported for 2021 and 2022.
2022 Unit Cost Report - October 11, 2023
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2021 APB Unit Cost Report update
Aligned with its 2022-2025 Business Plan, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is supporting its strategic goal to drive energy sector performance by further refining its benchmarking approach. Based on feedback received through stakeholder engagement late last year, the OEB is making changes to unit cost formulas of two programs and publishing an updated report that presents 2018 to 2021 unit cost results
For more information, please refer to the letter.
Aligned with its 2022-2025 Business Plan, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is supporting its strategic goal to drive energy sector performance by further refining its benchmarking approach. Based on feedback received through stakeholder engagement late last year, the OEB is making changes to unit cost formulas of two programs and publishing an updated report that presents 2018 to 2021 unit cost results
For more information, please refer to the letter.
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OEB takes further steps to enhance Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) & Sets Stakeholder Meeting Date
As part of its strategic goal to drive energy sector performance, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) committed in its 2022-2025 Business Plan to further refine its approach to benchmarking. To that end, the OEB is taking further steps to enhance Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) to encourage continuous improvement by regulated utilities and increase regulatory efficiency.
Read the letter now.
As part of its strategic goal to drive energy sector performance, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) committed in its 2022-2025 Business Plan to further refine its approach to benchmarking. To that end, the OEB is taking further steps to enhance Activity and Program-based Benchmarking (APB) to encourage continuous improvement by regulated utilities and increase regulatory efficiency.
Read the letter now.
Initiative life cycle
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Consultation Launch – October 2018
Activity and Program-based Benchmarking Initiative has finished this stage -
Initial Consultation Work and 2019 APB Results
Activity and Program-based Benchmarking Initiative has finished this stage- Working Group Meeting – Fall 2018
- Staff Discussion Paper and Consultant Reports – Winter 2019
- Published 2019 APB Results – March 30, 2021
- Published 2020 APB Results – May 4, 2021
- Published 2021 APB Results – September 30, 2022
- Published 2022 APB Results – October 11, 2023
- Published 2022 APB Results – October 17, 2024
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Review of Activity and Program Based Benchmarking Report effectiveness and ways to improve
Activity and Program-based Benchmarking Initiative is currently at this stage- Stakeholder Survey – Fall 2024
- RRR Consultation Fall 2024 - upcoming
Key Dates
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September 23 2024
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October 11 2024
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October 2024
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November 2024
Reports and APB Results
Staff Discussion Paper and Consultant Reports (February 25, 2019)
- Cover Letter - Staff Discussion Paper
- Staff Discussion Paper
- Pacific Economics Group - Report to the Ontario Energy Board: Activity and Program Benchmarking of Ontario Electricity Distributors
- Midgard Consulting Inc. - Ontario Energy Board: LDC Capital / DSP Programs Review - Benchmarking Candidates
2019 APB Results (March 30, 2021)
- Letter
- Pacific Economics Group Report to the Ontario Energy Board - New Developments in Activities and Program Benchmarking (revised May 11, 2021)
- Tables in Excel format for the Pacific Economic Group Report to the Ontario Energy Board - New Developments in Activities and Program Benchmarking (May 11, 2021)
2020 APB Results (May 4, 2022)
- Letter
- Pacific Economics Group Report to the Ontario Energy Board - Activities and Program Benchmarking: 2020 Results
- APB Unit Cost Calculations: 2020 Results (xlsx)
2021 APB Results (September 30, 2022)
2022 APB Results (October 11, 2023)
- Letter
- APB Unit Cost Report
- APB Unit Cost Calculations: 2022 Results (xlsx)
- APB Econometrics Report by PEG
2023 APB Results (October 17, 2024)
2024 APB Results (September 29, 2025)
Stakeholder meeting documents
Stakeholder Meeting (March 5, 2019)
- OEB Staff Presentation - Stakeholder Information Meeting
- Pacific Economics Group Presentations - APB Methods
Stakeholder Meeting (May 13, 2021)
Stakeholder Meeting (December 9, 2021)
Stakeholder Meeting (November 30, 2022)
Working Group documents
Working Group Meeting # 1 (October 12, 2018)
- APB Backgrounder
- APB Working Group #1- meeting presentation
- Pacific Economics Group - APB Jurisdictional presentation
Working Group Meeting # 2 (October 29, 2018)
- APB Working Group #2 - meeting presentation
- Pacific Economics Group - APB Methods and Preliminary Research Results
Working Group Meeting # 3 (November 9, 2018)
Cost Award matters
The OEB has issued a Notice of Hearing for Cost Awards (November 15, 2021)
Consultation Case details
We're listening
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Senior Advisor, Performance Analytics & Reporting
Email raushan.bhuiyan@oeb.ca -
Email serena.jia@oeb.ca -
Manager, Performance Analytics & Reporting
Email gaurav.kumar@oeb.ca
