Powering the GTA

FAQ

You may have some questions about the IESO’s work. Here are some answers that we hope are helpful. You can also send questions to community.engagement@ieso.ca.

Electricity Demand

Why is Toronto’s electricity demand expected to approximately double by 2050?

You just have to look out the window to see why: new homes and buildings springing up, electric vehicles on our streets, and the City’s decarbonization plan.

We also have pockets of massive redevelopment taking place throughout the city, such as Port Lands, Downsview and the Golden Mile.

GO Transit electrification and the Ontario Line together will also add approximately 100 MW of demand to Toronto – that’s like adding a city the size of Kingston to the grid.

You can read the full demand forecast here (pdf).

Why is this happening now? 

This is the third regional plan for Toronto. We continually revise these plans, working with Hydro One and Toronto Hydro. Our last regional plan led to the Etobicoke Greenway project, which is upgrading the transmission lines near Richview, and two new energy efficiency programs in the area.

With this new plan, we are also looking at how we can facilitate reducing reliance on the only major generation station in the area, Portland Energy Centre, and what the impact of that might be.

What will the recommendations look like?

In 2025, the IESO will release its recommendations for what’s needed to meet Toronto’s energy needs, which will be the result of consultation with sector partners, business, developers and other stakeholders.

We expect to propose a multi-pronged approach – bringing forward a series of solutions that together will meet Toronto’s future needs. For example, in our regional plans for Southwest Ontario, which is experiencing even faster growth, new transmission lines, innovative projects, energy efficiency programs and new supply projects are already in development.

Getting Involved

How can I get more involved?

Feedback from community leaders, businesses and residents is necessary to inform our recommendations.

The IESO holds webinars for anyone interested in learning more and participating in the process. We are here to answer questions and solicit feedback. We also post your feedback and our responses to it.

You can visit ieso.ca to learn more details about the engagement process and subscribe to be notified of future meetings.

Learn more

If you live or work in the GTA, the IESO offers more information about the region’s electricity needs. Learn more about the IESO’s planning process.