Reliability and Power Quality Review (RPQR)

The OEB has issued the final Notice of Amendments to the Distribution System Code. The amendments establish minimum requirements for licensed electricity distributors in communicating with customers when there are widespread power interruptions in a distributor’s service area caused by severe weather. The amendments come into force on May 5, 2025.

• Final Notice of Amendment to the DSC

The OEB is introducing an enhanced approach to setting reliability performance targets for all rate-regulated electricity distributors. The new methodology will strengthen customer protection and encourage distributor performance improvement as the energy transition unfolds and customers increasingly rely on the electricity system. These enhanced performance targets will be applied to distributors’ performance scorecards when they submit rebasing applications, starting with applications filed in 2026, for determination of rates effective in 2027.

• OEB Letter: Setting Reliability Performance Targets

• Notice of Proposal to Amend the Distribution System Code

The OEB has released a report titled “Distribution Sector Resilience and Responsiveness” in response to the Minister’s November 2023 Letter of Direction. This Report provides valuable insight into Ontario distributors’ approach to planning for and recovering from major storms.

• Distribution Sector Resilience and Responsiveness

The OEB invited customers to participate in a survey to better understand their experience and expectations regarding the communications they receive from their electricity distributors throughout major weather events. The results of the survey highlighted the importance for customers to receive timely and accurate information, enabling them to stay prepared and ensure their safety during prolonged power interruptions.

• Non-Residential Customers – Summary of Results (OEB, July 2024)
• Residential Customers – Summary of Results (Ipsos, July 2024)

The OEB has developed a Guide to Addressing Electricity Distribution Power Quality Issues. The Guide is intended to enhance transparency and consistency by fostering a uniform approach for addressing power quality issues across Ontario.

• OEB Letter
• Guide to Addressing Electricity Distribution Power Quality Issues

The OEB is providing for new voluntary reporting by distributors on reliability data at the distribution feeder level. The OEB expects this information will be supportive in building customer awareness and understanding about the reliability of their distributor’s services. Distributors that have the available information are encouraged to report feeder-level reliability in April 2025 for the 2024 calendar year. This letter outlines the rationale for the new provision and the reporting details.

The OEB established a new RPQR Transmission Subgroup to review the policy framework related to the current customer-specific reliability standards – called “customer delivery point performance standards” – that apply to electricity transmitters. The review includes the scope of those standards. The RPQR Transmission Subgroup held its first meeting today.

The Ontario Energy Board is making improvements to the Reporting and Record-keeping Requirements for electricity distributors as part of its ongoing Reliability and Power Quality Review consultation.

The OEB is making improvements to its Reporting and Record-keeping Requirements (RRR) for electricity distributors as part of its Reliability and Power Quality Review.