The OEB has developed hypothetical examples of proposals for third-party DER incentives. The examples are intended to assist electricity distributors in developing their own proposals by demonstrating how they could meet the information and analysis requirements set out in the OEB’s Filing Guidelines to Use Third-Party DERs as NWAs.

The OEB hosted a webinar on November 22, 2023, to present the examples, as well as provide participants with an opportunity to ask questions about the process for submitting a proposal. To provide continued guidance on developing a proposal, a recording of the webinar and materials presented are available .

• Examples of proposals for incentives to use third-party DERs
• Recording: Webinar on Examples of Proposals to Use Third-Party DERs

The OEB has issued a letter setting out its intended approach to any capital funding requests related to DER integration between rebasing applications for distributors on the Custom Incentive Rate-setting Method (Custom IR).

The OEB has issued Filing Guidelines for Incentives for Electricity Distributors to Use Third-Party DERs as Non-Wires Alternatives, which identifies the information distributors should include in their applications for incentive mechanisms.

This new filing guidance is intended to encourage the use of third-party Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) as non-wires alternatives, assist distributors in developing their incentive proposals and facilitate effective and timely regulatory review.

• Cover Letter: Filing Guidelines for Incentives for Electricity Distributors to Use Third-Party DERs as Non-Wires Alternatives
• Filing Guidelines for Incentives for Electricity Distributors to Use Third-Party DERs as Non-Wires Alternatives

The OEB has released the Framework for Energy Innovation: Setting a Path Forward for DER Integration. The Report sets out the OEB’s policies and next steps regarding the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in the province’s electricity distribution systems. The issuance of the Report marks the conclusion of the FEI consultation.

• Framework for Energy Innovation: Setting a Path Forward for DER Integration
• Cover Letter

The FEI Working Group (FEIWG) has delivered its Report to the OEB. To inform the OEB’s considerations of next steps, stakeholders are invited to submit written comments on the analysis and recommendations set out in the Report.

• OEB Letter Inviting Comments on FEIWG Report
• OEB Letter re: extension for comments on FEIWG Report
• FEIWG Report to the OEB
• Appendix A: BCA Subgroup Report
• Appendix B: Utility Incentive Subgroup Report
• Appendix C: DER Integration Subgroup Report
• Appendix D: FEIWG Terms of Reference

UPDATE: The OEB has extended the deadline for comments on the FEIWG Report to September 2, 2022.

The OEB has issued a letter confirming priority workstreams to be undertaken in the near term for the Framework for Energy Innovation: Distributed Resources and Utility Incentives (FEI) and the membership of the FEI Working Group.

View the stakeholder comments on near-term priority workstreams here:

• Advanced Energy Management Alliance
• Alectra Utilities Corporation
• Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario and Industrial Gas Users Association
• Coalition of Large Distributors
• Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
• Electricity Distributors Association
• Independent Electricity System Operator
• Ontario Chamber of Commerce
• Pollution Probe
• Power Workers’ Union
• Versorium Energy

The OEB has issued a letter setting out proposed priority workstreams to be undertaken in the near term and the approach to work in the Sector Evolution consultations: Utility Remuneration (EB-2018-0287) and Responding to Distributed Energy Resources (EB-2018-0288). The letter also announces the renaming of these consultations to Framework for Energy Innovation: Distributed Resources and Utility Incentives (EB-2021-0118).