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Section II - Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Strategic Outcome

The Board has one strategic outcome: Pipelines, power lines, energy development and energy trade are regulated in the Canadian public interest. The strategic outcome contributes to the safety of Canadians, the protection of the environment and efficient energy markets. To support this outcome, the Board has two program activities: Energy Regulation and Energy Information. This section describes the targets for each program, and performance indicators, plans and activities that will contribute to meeting the expected results. Information is also provided on the financial and human resources that will be dedicated to each program area.

Program Activity: Energy Regulation

This program activity enables Canadian energy infrastructure to be appropriately developed and managed throughout its lifecycle. This program also allows for the appropriate exploration and development of oil and gas in frontier and offshore areas.

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. As an independent regulatory tribunal, the NEB examines and makes decisions on public interest considerations related to safety and security, environmental protection, economic efficiency and the rights and interests of those affected by NEB-regulated facilities. Energy regulation provides Canadians with safe, reliable and efficient energy supply.

The Energy Regulation Program has two program sub-activities:

• Energy Regulation Development: This sub-activity 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.
  
  
• Energy Regulation Implementation, Monitoring and Enforcement: Through this subactivity, the NEB efficiently makes informed decisions on issues and applications related to energy development, energy infrastructure, energy transportation, energy trade and related activities. The Board actively involves those interested in or affected by its regulatory decisions through public hearings and other engagement activities.
  
  Through risk based compliance verification activities, the Board monitors and enforces regulated entities’ compliance with regulatory requirements. The NEB also oversees the safe, secure and economically efficient construction and operation of energy infrastructure. Through monitoring and enforcement, the NEB holds regulated entities accountable for results in the public interest.

Financial Resources ($ millions)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
35.6	31.7	31.7

Human Resources (FTEs)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
224.4	224.4	224.4

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Regulated activities are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements.	Percent of major applications filed which are found to be deficient.	Less than or equal to 5% of major applications filed are found to be deficient, and are sent back to the applicant for re-submission.
	Percent of findings of non-compliance that are repeat findings.	Zero
Clear and comprehensive regulatory framework.	Level of stakeholder satisfaction.	Greater than or equal to 80% of stakeholders surveyed are satisfied with the regulatory framework.
Fair, transparent and efficient application assessment.	Stakeholder satisfaction based on post-decision feedback.	Greater than or equal to 80% satisfaction of stakeholders surveyed.
	Percent of successful judicial appeals related to fairness or legal principles.	Zero
Regulated companies are held accountable for results in the Canadian public interest.	Percent of planned high-risk compliance activities completed.*	100%
	Degree to which compliance-related information is publicly accessible per the Action Plan on Safety and Environmental Protection.	100%
* The NEB’s risk informed approach to compliance activities may result in adjustments to the plan through the year.

Planning Highlights

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

• Develop guidance, partnerships and awareness activities to promote working safely around pipelines.
• Implement the Action Plan on Safety and Environmental Protection.
• Engage citizens, communities and Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations to identify how NEB regulatory processes can improve environmental outcomes.
• Strengthen relationships with northern communities and organizations such that the NEB remains aware of the interests of residents.
• Develop a Drilling and Production Regulatory Framework.
• Maintain and develop strategic relationships with other regulators.

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

• Implement ongoing Filing Manual amendments.
• Implement efficiencies in processing applications, including hearing processes, to ensure service standards are met by:
  • Tailoring procedural steps to align with project requirements, as appropriate.
  • Enhancing online processes to increase efficiency of routine import and export applications through the Commodities Tracking System.
• Develop effective working relationships through the Land Matters Group so that concerns, views and opportunities related to land matters can be addressed collaboratively.

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

• Provide industry with information to improve performance on a company-by-company basis.
• Continue to provide public access to information about NEB programs and the performance of regulated companies on safety and environmental protection.
• Clarify management system requirements under the NEB Onshore Pipeline Regulations, 1999.
  • Support systematic approaches to managing and reducing risks related to safety and environmental protection.
  • Hold companies accountable for the effectiveness of their management systems.

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 Activity: Energy Information

Under this program activity, 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 to Parliament. The Board uses energy information to inform its regulatory decisions and to produce publicly-available assessments of energy trends, events and issues which may affect Canadian energy markets and the supply and demand for energy. The authority for this program is derived from the National Energy Board Act.

Financial Resources ($ millions)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
6.7	6.5	6.5

Human Resources (FTEs)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
51.2	51.2	51.2

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Canadians benefit from energy related information.	Feedback from internal and external clients on Energy Information Program products via questionnaires after workshops, comment cards with publications, interviews with clients.	Greater than or equal to 80% of feedback from clients indicates they find Energy Information Program products useful and relevant.

Planning Highlights

Due to an unprecedented increase in industry applications and safety and environmental protection workload, a significant portion of the Energy Information Program will be postponed. Resources will be reassigned to support safety, application and hearing processes. This will result in the Board suspending the production of many energy information products in 2012-13. The NEB will continue to monitor energy market development and trends in support of its regulatory program and post this information on its website.

Program Activity: Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are 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.

Financial Resources ($ millions)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
20.2	18.7	18.7

Human Resources (FTEs)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
118.0	118.0	118.0

Planning Highlights

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

• Promote good management practices by implementing the 2012-15 People Strategy and 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 lease renewal or relocation of the NEB’s Calgary offices in 2013 in a manner that causes the least disruption for NEB clients and staff.

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