OEB Supports Five Energy Projects that Empower Indigenous Innovation and Leadership
February 25, 2026
In May 2025, the OEB launched its Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership, which is providing funding, project-specific support and regulatory guidance through the OEB’s Innovation Sandbox. Natural Resources Canada is supporting this initiative with $1.125 million from the Energy Innovation Program Smart Grid Regulatory Innovation Capacity Building funding call. The OEB is providing the rest of the funds, which come from administrative monetary penalties collected through its compliance activities.
The Challenge aims to identify economic barriers, explore emerging opportunities, enhance energy services and build capacity through Indigenous-led innovation. To be eligible, projects must have a maximum two-year timeline and be led by, developed in partnership with or meaningfully engage Indigenous communities. The projects are now underway and are scheduled to conclude in the winter of 2027-28.
The OEB has selected the following projects for funding:
- Keepers of the Circle, the Ontario representative of the Native Women’s Association of Canada and operated by the Temiskaming Native Women’s Support Group, will receive $400,200 to build a parking lot solar energy system designed for northern climates.
- Grand Council Treaty #3, based in Kenora, Ont., will receive $265,000 to develop an operational and partnership model to establish its Treaty #3 Energy Institute, which will teach energy literacy, provide technical training and facilitate leadership development.
- Mohawk College, in partnership with the Independent First Nations Alliance, will receive $219,905 to centralize multiple sources of asset and energy-related data in an online platform, supporting Indigenous communities in making informed decisions for capital and operational investments.
- Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, located west of Thunder Bay, Ont., will receive $195,000 to develop and deploy an Indigenous-led energy asset management platform and technician marketplace, helping homeowners and businesses in that community manage distributed energy resources and hire local qualified technicians.
- AUX Energy, a Hydro One energy solutions company, will receive $157,500 to develop a framework, in partnership with an Indigenous community, for evaluating energy project opportunities in the private sector.
This is the second Innovation Sandbox Challenge that the OEB has launched in response to sector feedback highlighting a need for innovation funding. A report highlighting lessons learned from the first Innovation Sandbox Challenge is expected next year, following the completion of all participating projects.
