The Panel's review of the OEB included extensive consultation and engagement with Ontario's energy sector, as well as research and consideration of material relevant to the subject of regulatory excellence.footnote 3 There were three main phases to the review:

Phase One

Beginning in January 2018, meetings were held with various stakeholders, regulatory experts and the Auditor General's Office to help shape the review. They contributed their insights as to the challenges facing energy regulation in Ontario. Seven key themes emerged during these initial discussions, and the Panel subsequently prepared and distributed discussion notesfootnote 4 on these themes to facilitate engagement.

The Panel also considered research that would support its work, reviewing academic thinking, cross jurisdictional comparisons and generally accepted best practices.

Phase Two

During March and April 2018, over 45 organizations and individuals met with the Panel in Toronto, London, Ottawa, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay. The Panel also invited stakeholders to provide written submissions; 60 were received. The participants in the consultations included:

  • Entities regulated by the OEB
  • Industry associations
  • Consumer advocate groups
  • Regulatory lawyers
  • Innovation proponents / technology developers
  • Academics
  • Provincial and municipal organizations
  • The OEB

The Panel also received submissions from and met with representatives from Indigenous communities.

The Panel was in the process of reviewing all this input and other related materials when it was asked to pause its work in June 2018.

Phase Three

When the Panel was re-constituted in late August 2018, its first task was to prepare and submit a report summarizing the stakeholder input received in Phase 2. This "What We Heard" report was submitted to the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines on September 25, 2018.footnote 5

In parallel, the Panel continued its review of information and research related to regulatory best practices, as identified in academic literature and through review of regulators in other jurisdictions. The Panel also met with OEB Members and OEB senior officials to review financial and operational reports.

Over September and October, the Panel completed its deliberations, developed its recommendations and prepared this Final Report.

Footnotes