The IESO has undertaken a review of the deposit structure for its connection process. This structure has remained unchanged since the early 2000s, and as connection activities continue to evolve in scale and complexity, updates are needed to ensure it more accurately reflects the costs of connecting new or modified facilities to the Ontario system projects across Ontario.
The proposed update introduces a tiered deposit structure based on project size (MW) and updates the deposit amount for technical feasibility studies, giving market participants a greater understanding of costs upfront. These changes are intended to better align initial financial commitments with the scope and requirements of each project, supporting a more consistent and transparent connection process.
In addition, the IESO is proposing to invoice for these activities on an ad-hoc basis when costs exceed the deposit. Together, these updates aim to strengthen cost recovery, improve financial transparency, and keep the connection process efficient as system demands grow.
An overview of the IESO’s connection process can be found here. All comments and enquiries on this engagement can be directed to engagement@ieso.ca.
