Eastern Ontario Bulk Planning

The IESO has launched an Eastern Ontario Bulk Planning engagement to actively involve interested sector participants and Ontario communities in shaping the future of Ontario's energy transmission system.

Given the electrification and decarbonization initiatives that would promote intensification of electricity use and potentially result in substantial demand increase, there is a need to assess whether the bulk transmission system is sufficient to reliably supply the demand growth expected in Eastern Ontario. Additionally, this bulk planning study will explore opportunities to improve transmission system’s capability to deliver new resources located in Eastern Ontario and the capacity transfers to and from Quebec.

With the formalization of the Bulk System Planning Process in 2022, the IESO seeks to enhance transparency and create opportunities for valuable input from communities and sector participants in individual bulk system studies. Participant involvement during the various phases will ensure views and preferences are considered throughout the planning process. This inclusive approach helps establish a strong foundation for successful implementation, enabling a sustainable energy plan that can adapt to future demands.

The overall purpose of this engagement is to develop an Eastern Ontario bulk transmission plan that fosters reliable electricity supply and supports the region's economic growth objectives. By actively participating in this initiative, sector participants have an opportunity to contribute to a more resilient and prosperous energy future for Ontario.

The IESO encourages interested parties to register for public sessions noted below and direct any questions or feedback to IESO Engagement at engagement@ieso.ca.

Related Information

Engagement Plan

2024 Annual Planning Outlook

IESO's Regional Electricity Planning

Related Engagements

Northern Ontario Bulk Planning

South and Central Bulk Planning

Formalizing the Integrated Bulk System Planning Process

Schedule of Activities

Anticipated timing for this engagement is presented below.

Date	Engagement Activity	Expected Actions
October 31, 2025	Feedback due on the items discussed during the September 30th engagement session.
September 30, 2025	Public Engagement Webinar The IESO will provide sector participants and Ontario communities with an update about our current Bulk Planning initiatives. Presentation Feedback Form	Register
June 19, 2025	Feedback due on the items discussed during the May 29th engagement session. Feedback Received: Ontario Power Generation Ontario Rivers Alliance September 8, 2025: IESO Response to Feedback
May 29, 2025	Public Engagement Webinar The IESO will provide sector participants and Ontario communities with an update on the Bulk Planning initiatives underway. Part 1 Presentation Part 2 Presentation Feedback Form The webinar will be broken-up intro two parts: Part 1 May 29 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: During this session the IESO will provide an overview of Bulk Transmission Planning, introduce the North of Sudbury Bulk Plan, share updates on the progress of the Northern Ontario Bulk Plan, the Eastern Ontario Bulk Plan and the Ontario-Manitoba Intertie Joint Study, seek feedback and answer questions. ⁠Part 2 May 29 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: During this sessions the IESO will share preliminary portfolios of transmission options as part of the South and Central Bulk Study to support future generation connections and demand growth in key areas throughout southern and central Ontario, including the GTA, and to enable a decarbonized power system in the future, seek feedback and answer questions.	Recorded Presentation - Part 1 Recorded Presentation - Part 2
October 15, 2024	Feedback due following the September 24, 2024 engagement session. Feedback Received: ESC November 19, 2024: IESO Response to Feedback
September 24, 2024	Public Engagement Webinar Presentation Feedback Form	Recorded Presentation This webinar was presented during the IESO's September stakeholder engagement sessions, see full agenda for more information.