Powering Northwest Ontario

As the largest region in Ontario, the northwest is poised for remarkable growth to support local, regional, and provincial economic development. That’s why the IESO is exploring a variety of options to meet that demand that could include new and strengthened transmission lines, generation, energy-efficiency programs, and other electricity infrastructure.

Where It's Happening

The Northwest regional planning area is bounded by Lake Superior to the south, Marathon to the east, and the Manitoba border to the west — and includes the districts of Kenora, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay.

Why It's Happening

Across Ontario, electricity demand is forecast to grow significantly over the next 25 years. In the northwest, electricity demand is expected to grow by 90 per cent over the same period, driven by new housing developments; expanding business and industry (which includes mining); connecting off-grid First Nations and reducing or eliminating dependency on diesel generation.

What's Happening

Planning

Every five years, the IESO develops an integrated regional plan for specific areas of the province. Critical to this work is understanding local characteristics — based on growth and development — and gathering local insights, all of which helps connect to the broader electricity needs of the province.

To keep pace with the rapid growth and economic development in the northwest, the IESO has accelerated planning activities to support economic development and critical mineral mining. A new Northwest Integrated Regional Resource Plan has launched with ongoing engagements throughout 2026.

Regional Planning in Northwest Ontario

At the same time, the IESO’s bulk planning assesses provincial needs by helping connect electricity from where it’s generated to where it’s needed across the high-voltage grid and transmission lines that span the province; preserve new or expanded transmission corridors for future development; and link with neighbouring jurisdictions for additional reliability. Thousands of kilometres of new transmission lines are being built across northern Ontario to deliver more electricity where it’s needed.

Northwest Ontario Bulk Planning

Procurements

With electricity demand set to grow across Ontario and in the northwest, the IESO is in the midst of a series of competitive procurements for new generation and storage to support economic development, population growth, electrification of the economy; and to replace aging assets on the system.

As part of the ongoing Request for Proposals to build new resources, projects in northern Ontario are being encouraged to stimulate local electricity generation that powers economic growth — including future mines under consideration — in partnership with local communities and First Nations.

Resource Acquisitions

Support for Indigenous Communities

Northern development also encourages equitable participation in Ontario’s energy sector for Indigenous communities and organizations who play an active role in Ontario’s energy sector through energy efficiency, generation, and new transmission projects.

The IESO offers several rebates and funding through Save on Energy that improves energy efficiency for band-owned commercial and institutional facilities; remote First Nations, and income-eligible households. The Indigenous Energy Support Program offers funding to Indigenous communities and organizations to support community energy security and inclusive participation to help make Ontario’s electricity system cleaner and more reliable.

Land Acknowledgement

The IESO acknowledges that northwest Ontario is the traditional territory of many nations including the Anishinaabeg, the Cree, and Métis people, encompassing areas covered by Treaty 3, Treaty 5, Treaty 9, and the Robinson-Superior Treaty.

The IESO would also like to acknowledge all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.