Competitive market assessment, panel presentation

The Ontario Energy Board is a regulatory agency overseeing natural gas and electricity. The Board acts as an economic regulator with respect to rates, approving rates for gas and electricity transmission and distribution. The Board reports to the Ontario legislature through the Minister of Energy, Science and Technology. The Board's role is to uphold the public interest by licensing all electricity market participants, gas marketers and by establishing codes of standards of performance. In addition, the Board approves mergers, acquisitions, amalgamations and divestitures involving monopoly business. It also monitors utility performance, compliance and efficiency and reports information to consumers. The Board has been actively involved in the preparation for the opening of electricity markets in Ontario and will assume a more prominent role after the opening date since more challenges to jurisdiction and authority are to be expected