ARCHIVED - National Energy Board - 2013-14 - Report on Plans and Priorities - Section II: Analysis of Program Activities Activities by Strategic Outcome

Section II: Analysis of Program Activities Activities by Strategic Outcome

Strategic Outcome

The regulation of pipelines, power lines, energy development and energy trade contributes to the safety of Canadians, the protection of the environment and efficient energy infrastructure and markets, while respecting the rights and interests of those affected by NEB decisions and rec-ommendations.

Program: Energy Regulation

This program provides the regulatory framework under which the NEB carries out its mandate and achieves part of its strategic outcome. Specifically, it enables Canadian federally regulated energy infrastructure to be developed and supervised throughout its lifecycle. The regulatory framework includes components such as setting expectations for industry and others, monitoring and enforcing compliance with requirements, measuring performance of the NEB’s regulatory framework and focusing on continual improvement. The authority for this program is derived from the National Energy Board Act, the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, the Canada Labour Code and other associated regulations and guidelines. Energy regulation provides Canadians with safe, reliable and efficient energy supply.

Sub-program: Energy Regulation Development

This sub-program provides the energy sector and affected stakeholders with the regulatory expectations required for the development and operation of energy infrastructure and for oil and gas exploration and development activities in frontier and offshore areas. The NEB develops and communicates regulations, guidance materials and related processes to ensure its regulatory expectations are clear and useful. The NEB actively seeks opportunities for improvement through amendments to regulations and guidance, non-mandatory goals and guidance, and other direction provided from time to time.

Sub-program: Energy Regulation, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement

Through this sub-program, the NEB makes informed decisions and recommendations on issues and applications related to energy development, energy infrastructure, energy transportation, energy trade and related activities. As an independent regulatory tribunal, the NEB actively involves those affected by its regulatory decisions through public hearings and other engagement activities.

Through risk informed compliance verification activities, the Board enforces compliance with regulatory requirements and expectations such as those set out in the terms and conditions of ap-provals. The NEB conducts its monitoring and enforcement activities under seven compliance protection programs: integrity, emergency management, safety management (which includes damage prevention), finance and economics, respecting rights and interests, security, and envi-ronmental protection. Through monitoring and enforcement, the NEB holds regulated entities accountable for results in the Canadian public interest. The public interest is inclusive of all Ca-nadians and refers to a balance of economic, environmental and social considerations that chang-es as society’s values and preferences evolve over time.

Planning Highlights

The planning highlights reflect key priorities for the NEB in 2013-14. In support of the Energy Regulation Program, the NEB will:

• Implement the changes to the NEB Act resulting from changes to the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act;
• Complete the NEB Action Plan on Safety and Environmental Protection; and,
• Continue taking action with respect to Red Tape Reduction initiatives.

In support of a comprehensive regulatory framework, the NEB will:

• Clarify management system requirements under the NEB Onshore Pipeline Regulations, 1999;
• Clarify damage prevention requirements under the National Energy Board Act;
• Revise import and export application regulation;
• Develop and implement a system of administrative monetary penalties;
• Clarify expectations of regulated companies for exploration and development activities through development of guidance;
• Standardize oversight tools to verify and to compel company compliance during exploration and development activities through improvements to the NEB compliance verifica-tion program.

In support of fair and transparent application assessments and timely application assessment, the NEB will:

• Monitor time limits and use enhanced tracking tools for applications;
• Implement efficiencies in processing applications to ensure legislated time limits are met by:
  • Enhancing processing of export and import applications to address amendments in Part VI of the NEB Act contained in the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act.
• Use the Land Matters Group to provide input into regulatory matters;
• Continue to develop trust and credibility among Northerners and Northern institutions through continued engagement.

In support of holding regulated companies accountable for results in the Canadian public interest, the NEB will:

• Increase the number of inspections conducted per fiscal year from 100 to 150;
• Increase the number of audits conducted per fiscal year from 3 to 6;
• Improve the development of data collection and analysis to improve reporting on safety and environmental performance.

The above activities support the achievement of the expected result for the Energy Regulation Program: regulated activities are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Program: Energy Information

Under this program, the supply, demand, production, development, transmission and trade of energy are analyzed to ensure the requirements of Canadians are appropriately met. Advice is provided on energy issues of interest. The Board uses energy information to inform its regulatory decisions and to produce publicly available assessments of energy trends, events and issues that may affect Canadian energy markets and the supply and demand for energy.

Planning Highlights

The Energy Information Program will be different in 2013-14 due to changes in Part VI of the NEB Act, which sets out processes for the regulation of energy exports and imports. The details of the Board’s program are currently being revised in accordance with the new legislative man-date. In support of the Program, the Board will continue to monitor developments in energy mar-kets, gather and publish energy market statistics and publish analyses to inform Canadians on energy markets. These published analyses will include:

• Canada’s Energy Future to 2037 - a comprehensive report examining trends in Canadian supply and demand for energy;
• Short-term Natural Gas Deliverability 2013-2015 - an examination of trends in the dis-covery and development of natural gas resources;
• Other reports examining specific aspects of Canadian energy market development.

Program: Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Planning Highlights

To ensure the NEB has the capacity to effectively deliver its mandate, the Board will:

• Promote strategic management practices by implementing the 2013-16 People Strategy focusing on attraction and retention.
• Implement the Regulatory Resourcing Framework.
• Strengthen the Board’s integrated planning process to better link financial and human resources allocations to activities and outcomes.
• Strengthen the Board’s risk management processes and its integration with strategic planning.
• Manage the relocation of the NEB’s Calgary office in 2014 in a manner that causes the least disruption for NEB clients and staff.

Date modified:

2023-11-27