The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) works at the heart of Ontario’s power system ensuring there is enough power to keep the lights on, today and into the future.
A reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity system is essential to supporting community growth – powering homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and transportation. Engaging with communities is an important part of understanding energy needs and priorities so that we can plan for the future.
The IESO works closely with municipalities, Indigenous communities and other sector partners to understand local electricity requirements and priorities, and to determine the best options to meet growing needs.
Community Outreach
Community engagement is the first step in all electricity planning through which your input will contribute to the broader conversation about the energy transition. The IESO’s community outreach efforts:
Open the door to wider involvement for communities
Help participants understand how decisions are made and their role in the process
Reinforce how local electricity planning influences provincial planning
Highlight linkages between planning forecasts and procurement targets
Provide greater clarity on what you can expect from us
Your Regional Electricity Network
Ontario is divided into five regional electricity networks that share news and updates and provide communities with opportunities to share input on the future of electricity panning in their regions.
Learn more about participating in electricity discussions that impact your community by visiting the community engagement webpage.
Indigenous Communities
Indigenous communities are increasingly leading change in Ontario’s electricity sector in the areas of conservation, energy efficiency, generation and new transmission projects. The IESO collaborates with Indigenous communities to promote broad equitable participation in the sector and support community capacity building.
Learn more about how Indigenous communities are shaping Ontario’s electricity sector.
Municipalities
Municipalities prepare community energy plans, provide conservation programs, own small-scale generators and provide final consent as willing hosts of electricity projects. Many municipalities also own the local distribution company that is responsible for delivering electricity to residents and businesses in their community, contributing to local jobs and supporting the local economy. Municipalities also engage in policy discussions affecting the system, such as electrification and the energy transition, to ensure local needs are considered and met. Learn more about how municipalities contribute to electricity sector transformation.
Stakeholders
The IESO’s stakeholder engagement activities give organizations and businesses the opportunity to provide input on proposed changes to the electricity system that affect them. The IESO hosts engagement events year-round to gather public and sector feedback that helps make Ontario’s electricity system more reliable, affordable and sustainable.
Learn more about how stakeholders can provide input and feedback.
