David Stevens
Canada Guide 2025
Band 3 : Energy: Power (Regulatory)
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
416.865.7783Share profile
Band 3
About
Provided by David Stevens
Practice Areas
David is an experienced and practical litigator, with particular expertise in energy regulation. He is comfortable working within complex regulatory environments to find and optimize achievable outcomes. With the ability to hone in on the most crucial and meaningful details amongst large amounts of information, David identifies opportunities for his clients that others may miss.
As Practice Group Leader of the firm's Litigation Group and member of the Energy Group, David practises in the area of regulatory and commercial litigation.
David has deep and broad knowledge about energy regulation in Ontario. For over 20 years, David has advised gas and electric utilities, and other participants in Ontario’s electricity market, on a wide range of regulatory and commercial issues, and regularly appears before the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). Among other things, he assists clients with ratemaking applications, policy consultations, compliance issues, licencing, Measurement Canada issues and regulatory strategy. David often works with energy services providers to ensure that their business practices and documentation are compliant with relevant legal requirements, including those imposed by the OEB and by other government agencies (such as Consumer Services and Measurement Canada).
David is a frequent writer on energy regulation issues. Over the past three years, David has written more than 200 articles for Energy Insider, and has often had items published in industry publications such as Energy Regulation Quarterly.
As a commercial litigator, David has been involved with a wide range of matters, including contractual disputes, fiduciary duty cases, competition matters, construction disputes, class proceedings, lease disputes, injunctions and professional negligence matters. He also has expertise in matters relating to Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act, and the obligations imposed by that statute.
David has appeared before the OEB and all levels of Ontario courts, including the Superior Court, Divisional Court and Court of Appeal, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court Trial Division, the Competition Tribunal, the Ontario Securities Commission and the Commissioner of Mining and Lands (Ontario).
Learn more about David's practice here: https://www.airdberlis.com/people/bio/david-stevens
Chambers Review
Canada
David Stevens of Aird & Berlis handles a range of regulatory matters for his electric utility clients, offering particular expertise in the Ontario market.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"It's always a pleasure to work with David, whose exceptional patience and calming presence, as well as his creative and well-informed advice, help us get through the toughest files with great ease."
"David is extremely responsive and knowledgeable. He is a pleasure to work with and I would happily refer him."
"David is very customer-focused and easy to work with. He's a true gentleman."
"It's always a pleasure to work with David, whose exceptional patience and calming presence, as well as his creative and well-informed advice, help us get through the toughest files with great ease."
"David is extremely responsive and knowledgeable. He is a pleasure to work with and I would happily refer him."
"David is very customer-focused and easy to work with. He's a true gentleman."
Articles, highlights and press releases
9 items provided by Aird & Berlis LLP
A Look Back at Our Top Energy Stories From 2020
Changes to electricity rates in Ontario, environmental initiatives, the expansion of natural gas to communities across Ontario, energy storage, the Trans Mountain pipeline and the Ontario Energy Board’s new governance structure were a few of the top stories we covered at EnergyInsider.ca in 2020.
The Hydrogen Strategy for Canada
On December 16, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources the Honourable Seamus O’Regan announced the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada. Canada will be leveraging its position as one of the world’s top hydrogen producers to stimulate the Canadian economy and reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions.
Ontario Energy Board Looking to Simplify Rate Applications for Smaller Distributors
On December 17, 2020, the OEB issued a letter inviting “smaller electricity distributors” to participate in a meeting to identify opportunities to improve regulatory efficiency for their rate applications.
Participants Selected for Ontario Non-Wires Alternative Demonstration Project
The York Region Non-Wires Alternative (NWA) Demonstration Project is aimed at developing a better understanding of how to competitively secure and operate distributed energy resources (DERs) to meet local, regional and provincial electricity needs.
Ontario’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy
Ontario’s first Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy is in the works. On November 19, 2020, Jeff Yurek, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, announced a plan to foster an Ontario hydrogen economy.
Ontario Government Proposes to Mandate “Green Button” Tool
On October 8, 2020, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines (Ministry of Energy) issued a regulatory proposal indicating that electricity and gas utilities across the province will be required to implement “Green Button”.
Ontario Proposes to Change Net Metering Regulation to Support “Community-Based Energy Systems”
On October 8, 2020, the Ministry of Energy, Development and Mines posted a regulatory proposal detailing planned amendments to Ontario’s Net Metering Regulation to allow for “demonstration of community net-metering projects.”
Ontario Minister of Energy Directs IESO to Deliver New Conservation and Demand Management Framework
On September 30, 2020, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines approved a Minister’s Directive (2020 Minister’s Directive) requiring the Independent Electricity System Operator to establish a new four-year electricity conservation and demand management framework.
Changes Coming for Ontario Electricity Consumers
Electricity consumers in Ontario may see a couple of changes in their electricity bills in the coming months. As of November 1, 2020, regulated price plan customers will have the option to switch to “tiered pricing” instead of time-of-use (TOU) pricing.
A Look Back at Our Top Energy Stories From 2020
Changes to electricity rates in Ontario, environmental initiatives, the expansion of natural gas to communities across Ontario, energy storage, the Trans Mountain pipeline and the Ontario Energy Board’s new governance structure were a few of the top stories we covered at EnergyInsider.ca in 2020.
The Hydrogen Strategy for Canada
On December 16, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources the Honourable Seamus O’Regan announced the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada. Canada will be leveraging its position as one of the world’s top hydrogen producers to stimulate the Canadian economy and reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions.
Ontario Energy Board Looking to Simplify Rate Applications for Smaller Distributors
On December 17, 2020, the OEB issued a letter inviting “smaller electricity distributors” to participate in a meeting to identify opportunities to improve regulatory efficiency for their rate applications.
Participants Selected for Ontario Non-Wires Alternative Demonstration Project
The York Region Non-Wires Alternative (NWA) Demonstration Project is aimed at developing a better understanding of how to competitively secure and operate distributed energy resources (DERs) to meet local, regional and provincial electricity needs.
Ontario’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy
Ontario’s first Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy is in the works. On November 19, 2020, Jeff Yurek, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, announced a plan to foster an Ontario hydrogen economy.
Ontario Government Proposes to Mandate “Green Button” Tool
On October 8, 2020, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines (Ministry of Energy) issued a regulatory proposal indicating that electricity and gas utilities across the province will be required to implement “Green Button”.
Ontario Proposes to Change Net Metering Regulation to Support “Community-Based Energy Systems”
On October 8, 2020, the Ministry of Energy, Development and Mines posted a regulatory proposal detailing planned amendments to Ontario’s Net Metering Regulation to allow for “demonstration of community net-metering projects.”
Ontario Minister of Energy Directs IESO to Deliver New Conservation and Demand Management Framework
On September 30, 2020, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines approved a Minister’s Directive (2020 Minister’s Directive) requiring the Independent Electricity System Operator to establish a new four-year electricity conservation and demand management framework.
Changes Coming for Ontario Electricity Consumers
Electricity consumers in Ontario may see a couple of changes in their electricity bills in the coming months. As of November 1, 2020, regulated price plan customers will have the option to switch to “tiered pricing” instead of time-of-use (TOU) pricing.
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