Reference Levels and Reference Quantities

Market Power Mitigation

The IESO is responsible for overseeing and administering Ontario’s wholesale electricity market. Efficient and competitive market — both in its design and in market participant behaviour — helps ensure the reliable availability and competitive pricing of wholesale electricity.

In situations where competition is restricted and one or more market participants hold market power and could exercise it to materially impact prices, the IESO has rules and processes designed to address such situations.

Reference Levels and Reference Quantities

Reference levels are IESO-determined pre-established estimates of what would have been offered by a market participant had they been subject to unrestricted competition.

This section provides guidance materials for one-on-one consultations for reference levels and reference quantities (RLRQ), including example workbooks and Frequently Asked Questions.

For Blank Workbooks for RLRQs pertaining to each technology type, please refer to Renewed Market Rules & Manuals Library.

Example Workbooks for Reference Levels and Reference Quantities

Dispatchable Load
- $0 cost
- Positive cost
Energy Storage
- Positive cost with separately metered station service
- Positive cost without separately metered station service
Hydro
- Positive cost with pumped storage
- Positive cost without pumped storage
Nuclear
- $0 cost
Solar
- $0 cost
- Positive cost
Thermal
Wind
- $0 cost
- Positive cost

Market Power Mitigation FAQs

FAQS will be provided in the future.