Carriers Challenge Hydro One Pole Attachment Fees, And End Up Paying More

On August 4, 2016, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) released its Decision in a motion brought by cable and telecommunications carriers (the Carriers) seeking to review and vary the OEB's prior approval of pole attachment fees charged by Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One). The Carriers argued that the previously approved charge of around $37 per attachment should be reduced because it includes costs that should not be included in the fee. In the Motion Decision, the OEB agreed that the pole attachment fees should be changed, but decided that the proper charge should be increased to $41.28, mostly because the number of "attachers" per pole is lower than had been forecast (meaning that the total pole attachment costs are to be allocated to a smaller number of attachments). The result is that the Carriers will be paying more because of their review motion.