UPDATE – ON: CPA prevails at Ontario Energy Board to recover costs
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As members may recall, the CPA has invested significant resources in the past year filing applications with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) objecting to the practices of natural gas operators in Ontario as they expand their markets inline with the Ontario government’s natural gas expansion policy.
On May 8, 2020 Enbridge Gas filed an application with the OEB under section 36 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, as amended for approval of a harmonized System Expansion Surcharge, a Temporary Connection Surcharge and an Hourly Allocation Factor for former Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and Union Gas Limited rate zones.
The CPA filed objections to this application and was granted intervenor status along with 12 other impacted stakeholders.
On February 2, 2021, the OEB issued an order reimbursing the CPA and other intervenors for 100 per cent of the costs associated with these filings. The OEB found that cost eligibility claims were reasonable and ordered Enbridge Gas to reimburse the CPA and all other intervenors who filed for cost eligibility to be repaid immediately.
This ruling helps finance the CPA’s ongoing proactive propane industry advocacy efforts before this board and other tribunals. It also sends a signal to large energy companies that their board submissions should consider the positions, and costs, of all interested parties.
