The OEB has issued a letter to stakeholders seeking input on
virtual hearings. The letter notes that the OEB's offices
have not yet reopened and that some applications may be ready to
proceed to oral hearing while the offices remain closed or while
participants are unable to attend the OEB in person. So as not to
delay the timely processing of applications, the OEB may choose to
hold virtual hearings, although its planning for this new form of
hearing is in the early stages.
The OEB is using Zoom technology for a technical conference and
a settlement conference in two different applications that are now
before it and it proposes to use this technology to facilitate
virtual hearings. The OEB anticipates that pre-hearing conferences
will be held well in advance of actual hearing dates so that it can
seek input from the applicant and intervenors and establish
procedures specific to a particular hearing. Ultimately, though, it
will be up to the individual OEB panel
