Market Renewal Newsletter - March Update
March 12, 2025
The Market Renewal Program (MRP) newsletter provides information related to Market Participant readiness activities in support of the launch of the renewed market on May 1, 2025. The newsletter features information on testing, training and stakeholder engagement activities. Visit the MRP Readiness section of IESO’s website to learn more about our Readiness Program.
Ontario Energy Board Released Decision on MRP Market Rule Amendments
The OEB recently released a decision on the application to challenge the Market Renewal Program (MRP) Market Rule Amendments. The decision found that the MRP Market Rule Amendments are not unjustly discriminatory to non-quick start generators and are not contrary to the purposes of the Electricity Act. Non-quick start generators are natural gas facilities that take one to six hours to ramp up production.
The decision notes that the amendments, such as the elimination of the congestion management settlement payments and the introduction of market power mitigation prior to the settlement process, increase the economic efficiency of the electricity market to the benefit of all consumers. As a result, the OEB concluded that to the extent that market participants receive different revenues, those differences are due to a more efficient market and do not constitute unjust economic discrimination.
The full decision is available on the OEB’s website.
Market Renewal Program on Track Following OEB Decision
IESO activities to launch the renewed market on May 1, 2025, continue as planned following the OEB’s recent decision on the application to challenge the Market Renewal Program (MRP) Market Rule Amendments.
With the OEB challenge concluded, the IESO is continuing to proceed with the renewed market launch. Market Participants are encouraged to continue with readiness activities and completing End-to-End testing which concludes on March 26. If your organization has questions about what they should be doing to prepare for the launch, please reach out to IESO Customer Relations at IESOCustomerRelations@ieso.ca.
In early April, the IESO will confirm with market participants its final decision to proceed with the launch of the renewed market. This decision will be based on confirmation that all necessary conditions for Go-Live have been achieved and the final preparations for the cutover should commence. The decision will consider that:
- Market rules are approved and in effect
- Solutions are working as designed and can be deployed to production
- The IESO is ready to operate the renewed market and solutions
- Market Participants are ready to operate in the renewed market
The IESO is prepared to execute the system cutover at go-live
In the interim, the IESO will continue to monitor progress and keep market participants informed accordingly.
New Overview Webinars on the Renewed Market
As preparations continue for the renewed market, market participants that are not already familiar with how the renewed market will be different are invited to join a series of webinars designed to provide an overview of the changes taking place.
Three webinars will be offered for consumers, suppliers and traders to provide a high-level overview of changes resulting from market renewal.
- April 3, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Consumers: Providing information for large industrial loads, local distribution companies, price responsive loads and dispatchable loads. Consumer Registration
- April 4, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Suppliers: Providing information for self-scheduling, variable, hydroelectric and combined cycle natural gas resources. Supplier Registration
- April 10, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Intertie Traders and Transmission Rights Auction participants. Intertie Trader and TRA Participants Registration
IESO will also be hosting a webinar in mid-April focusing on final preparations for the launch of the renewed market and what to expect during the cutover. This webinar will provide market participants and service providers with an opportunity to ask questions in advance of launch. Event details will be shared soon.
Posting of the Pre-Production Connectivity Test Plan, Test Cases, and Issue Log Template
Pre-Production Connectivity Testing will provide market participants an opportunity to test to see if they are able to access the new and updated market-facing systems and address any connectivity issues prior to the cutover to the IESO’s new Production environment which is planned to start on April 30, 2025. Pre-Production Connectivity Testing is scheduled from March 17, 2025 to March 28, 2025. The IESO has posted the Pre-Production Connectivity Testing Plan, Test Cases, and the Issue Log template on the Market Participant Testing page to provide more information on this test phase.
Posting of the Cutover Testing Plan
The IESO will be posting the Market Renewal Program (MRP): Cutover Test Plan on the Market Participant Testing page on Friday March 14, 2025.
Posting of Version 2.0 of the MRP Readiness Plan for Market Reneal Launch
Version 2.0 of the MRP Readiness Plan for Market Renewal Launch is now available on the Market Participant Readiness webpage. Market Participants are asked to review the plan in preparation for Market Renewal launch on May 1, 2025 and also in advance of planned Cutover Testing on March 31, 2025 – April 2, 2025. Any questions about the plan can be submitted to the IESO Market Renewal mailbox.