Planning in Northwest Ontario
The second regional electricity planning cycle for this region was completed with the release of the Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) and the supporting Appendices on January 13, 2023. The electricity plan identified that, with transmission reinforcements already underway in this region, the infrastructure in the Northwest will be generally adequate to support forecasted growth except for some station capacity and local operational needs. These needs are addressed by the IRRP recommendations summarized in Section 2.1 of the report including:
- Consideration of non-wires alternatives in Kenora as a cost-effective solution to support future capacity needs
- Addressing local capacity and reliability needs identified for Fort Frances MTS, Crilly DS and Margach DS
- Updated operational measures and equipment at Pickle Lake Substation to manage high voltages
The plan’s intent was to identify future electricity needs and options to ensure an adequate and reliable supply continues to be provided for customers in Northwest Ontario. This second cycle of planning commenced with the development of a Needs Assessment, a process led by Hydro One.
The Scoping Assessment Outcome Report outlines the needs and specific areas of the region that required more comprehensive regional planning through an Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP). A Terms of Reference also set out parameters for the IRRP and composition of the Technical Working Group tasked with developing the 20-year electricity plan for the Northwest region.
Community Engagement
The IESO engaged with local and regional communities to seek input to help inform planning activities. Learn more about engagement during the second regional planning cycle.
