Should Enbridge Gas Use Non-Pipe Alternatives Instead of Building New Infrastructure?
Official title: Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) pilot
The Ontario Energy Board is reviewing Enbridge Gas's pilot projects for "Integrated Resource Planning" (IRP). Instead of building new gas pipelines, IRP tests whether alternatives like energy efficiency programs, geothermal systems, or demand management can meet customer needs at lower cost. This case examines whether these pilot projects should be approved and how they'd affect your gas bills.
Why This Matters
Pay a gas bill in Ontario? This decision affects how Enbridge plans for future demand. If non-pipe alternatives work, it could mean lower infrastructure costs passed on to customers. It's also a test case for whether Ontario's gas system can adapt to changing energy needs without expensive new pipelines.
What Could Change
The OEB issued a Decision and Order in March 2025 on the IRP pilot projects. A motion to review that decision is now underway. The outcome will determine whether Enbridge can recover costs for these pilot programs from ratepayers, and could set precedent for how gas utilities approach infrastructure planning across Ontario.
Key Issues
- Should Enbridge Gas be allowed to recover costs for IRP pilot projects from ratepayers?
- Are non-pipe alternatives like energy efficiency and demand management cost-effective compared to traditional infrastructure?
- Should the OEB's March 2025 decision on IRP pilots be reviewed or modified?
How to Participate
- Review the Decision and Order on IRP Pilots from March 2025 to understand what was decided.
- Review the Notice to Review motion to understand the current review process.
- Access all case documents to follow the proceeding.