East Lake Superior

The regional planning process was completed for the East Lake Superior region with the release of a long-term electricity plan – Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) and supporting Appendices – in Q2 2021. The plan identifies electricity system needs specifically related to reliability; some of these needs are expected to be addressed through operational transmission solutions, while others will be considered as part of the IESO’s bulk planning studies in 2021 due to the nature of the needs. A Regional Infrastructure Plan (RIP) led by Hydro One is expected to be completed by mid-to-late-2021.

A Scoping Assessment Outcome Report and Terms of Reference that set the parameters for IRRP development were finalized and posted in October 2019 following a two-week comment period. Visit the Regional Planning Process web page for more information. See below for past regional planning activities in this region.

Documents referenced on this page, but not posted, can be obtained by contacting customer.relations@ieso.ca with a link to the web page that lists the document and advise whether it needs to be provided in an accessible format. Please allow a minimum of one business day for a response.

Community Engagement

The IESO engages with local communities to seek input to help inform planning activities. Learn more about engagement on this current planning cycle.

Area Overview

The East Lake Superior region extends from the Township of Dubreuilville in the North to the town of Bruce Mines in south and includes the city of Sault Ste. Marie and the township of Chapleau. The Region is roughly bordered geographically by Highway 129 to the east, Highway 101 to the north, Lake Superior to the west and St. Mary’s River and St. Joseph Channel to the south.

Electrical supply to the Region is provided primarily through 230/115 kV autotransformers at Third Line TS, Wawa TS and MacKay TS as well as the 230 kV and 115 kV transmission lines and step-down transformation facilities shown in Figures 1 and 2. The Region is defined electrically by the 230 kV transmission circuits bounded by Wawa TS to the northwest and Mississagi TS to the southeast.

Local distribution companies in this area include: Algoma Power Inc., Sault Ste. Marie PUC , Chapleau PUC, and Hydro One Distribution. The transmitters include: Hydro One Networks and Hydro One Sault Ste. Marie LP.

ELS

Click for a larger image


Regional Planning Process - Background

The first cycle of regional planning for East Lake Superior was completed in late 2014 by a working group led by Great Lakes Power Transmission LP (now Hydro One Sault Ste. Marie), and including representatives from the IESO, OPA (now merged with IESO), Hydro One Transmission, Hydro One Distribution, Algoma Power Inc., PUC Distribution Inc. and Chapleau Public Utility Corporation. A Needs Assessment completed during this process determined that there are no electricity needs in the next 10 years requiring regional coordination. The report did identify three issues for which localized "wires-only" solutions will be developed, and for those projects to be managed by the local transmitter (Great Lakes Power Transmission LP) and the impacted customer.

More information can be found on Hydro One's East Lake Superior Region web page

Map of East Lake Superior region Click for a larger image
Key Resources

2021 East Lake Superior Integrated Regional Resource Plan

2021 East Lake Superior Integrated Regional Resource Plan Appendices 

2019 Hydro One Needs Assessment

Regional Planning Overview