Connection Assessment and Approval (CAA) Process: Obtaining an Assessment

If you need assistance with respect to the IESO's connection assessment process or requirements, or if you have any questions about the market participant registration process, please contact the IESO at 905-403-6900 or
1-888-448-7777, or by e-mail at helpcentre@ieso.ca.

Licenced Electricity Transmitters and Distributors in Ontario

It is recommended that you meet with the transmitter and/or distributor early in the planning process to review and develop your connection options.

Licenced Transmitters

Licenced Distributors

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Other related regulatory reviews, approvals or requirements

There may be a need to obtain other municipal, provincial and federal reviews and approvals or to address their specific requirements. These may include:

Ontario Ministry of Environment
Environmental Assessment Regulation for Electricity Projects
Ontario Regulation 116/01 sets out the regulatory requirements for environmental assessment of electricity generation and transmission projects.
Guide to Environmental Assessment for Electricity Projects
This guide sets out the environmental assessment requirements for electricity projects.
Environmental Protection Act
Ontario Water Resource Act

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Overview of Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency requirements
This presentation provides an overview of the federal environmental assessment requirements.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Water Resources:
Water New Site Review Release and Development Review
Sets out MNR guidelines for acquiring and developing water resources on Crown land.
Windpower Resources:
Wind Power Development on Crown Land Policy
Sets out MNR policy for developing wind power resources on Crown land.

National Energy Board Regulatory Review and Approvals
The National Energy Board (NEB) is an independent federal regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the export of electricity from Canada and over the construction and operation of international power lines. The NEB does not have jurisdiction over interprovincial transfers of electricity, imports of electricity into Canada, or over interprovincial power lines unless the line is designated as an interprovincial power line falling under federal jurisdiction by a decision of the federal cabinet. This webpage describes the NEB's responsibilities with respect to the regulation of electricity in Canada.

Other Requirements
Please note that there may be a need to address municipal by-laws and other requirements as part of this process.

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Connecting to the IESO-Controlled Grid

The IESO-controlled grid means the transmission system operated at voltages above 50 kV and for which the IESO has authority to direct its operations. The IESO-controlled grid could end at, and include, the load side of low-voltage feeder breakers.

The transmitter's customer connection process compliments the IESO's connection assessments by detailing the transmitters end-to-end process, procedures and data requirements for incorporating a new or modified connection into the IESO-controlled grid.
- Canadian Niagara Power Inc.
- Cat Lake Power Utility Ltd.
- Five Nations Energy Inc.
- Great Lakes Power Ltd.
- Hydro One Networks Inc.
The IESO's Connection Assessment process assesses the impact of new or modified connections on the reliability of the integrated power system including impacts on adjacent transmission systems. In order to facilitate the timely completion of the process, RFP respondents will normally be required to engage a consultant to carry out technical studies as directed by the IESO. See the IESO's Connection Assessment process page.

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Connection to a Distribution System

A distribution system delivers electricity at voltages of 50 kV or less and includes any structures, equipment or other things used for that purpose, such as distribution feeders.

Distributor Connection Impact Assessment
The Distribution System Code sets out the standards for assessing and connecting new generation facilities to a distribution system. See the Ontario Energy Board Distribution System Code.

IESO System Impact Assessment
The market rules require a distributor to obtain an IESO impact assessment in order to assess the effect of the proposed connection on the IESO-controlled grid. In order to facilitate the timely completion of the process, RFP respondents will normally be required to engage a consultant to carry out technical studies as directed by the IESO. This applies to market participants or other parties proposing to connect an embedded generation facility rated at 10 MVA or greater. See IESO Connection Assessment.

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Ontario Energy Board Regulatory, Review, Approvals or Requirements

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has regulatory oversight of both natural gas and electricity matters in the province and also provides advice on energy matters referred to it by the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Natural Resources.

Ontario Energy Board Leave to Construct: Section 92. (1) of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, directs that no person shall construct, expand or reinforce an electricity transmission line or an electricity distribution line or make an interconnection without first obtaining from the OEB an order granting leave to construct, expand or reinforce such line or interconnection. Ontario Regulation 365/00 prescribes the conditions under which OEB leave to construct is not required.

The OEB's Filing Requirements for Electricity Transmission Facilities Applications sets out the filing and evidentiary requirements which apply to the construction of electricity transmission lines in Ontario that are greater than or equal to 2 km in length.

Licence and Renewal Applications Section 57. of the Ontario Energy Board, 1998 sets out the licencing requirements for all market participants in the electricity sector, including generators, transmitters, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. Ontario Regulation 20/02 and Ontario Regulation 41/04 prescribes the conditions under which a transmitter is not required to obtain an OEB licence.

Related Rules, Codes and Procedures

Ontario Energy Board Rules of Practice and Procedure
The Rules of Practice and Procedure sets out the general procedures to be followed by parties appearing on matters before the OEB.

Transmission System Code
The Transmission System Code sets out the electricity transmitters' obligations with respect to transmission customers, including performance standards, technical requirements and expansions and connections to the IESO-controlled grid.

Distribution System Code
The Distribution System Code sets out the requirements for connecting new generation facilities to a distribution system. The Distribution System Code also sets the minimum obligations that a licenced electricity distributor must meet in carrying out its obligations to distribute electricity within its service area.

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Entry into the IESO-Administered Markets

All entities that intend participating in any of the IESO-administered markets or the Ministry of Energy's Renewable Energy Supply Contract Initiative or cause or permit electricity to be conveyed into, through or out of the IESO-controlled grid must become a registered market participant. The Market Entry Step-by-Step Guide explains what you need to do to join our markets.

Authorization

Before your facility becomes operational, you will be required to become an authorized market participant with the IESO. If you are already a market participant, you must register your new generation facility and its associated revenue metering with the IESO.

A number of documents are available to assist you in becoming an authorized market participant, including:

One of the requirements in becoming an authorized market participant is to obtain an Ontario Energy Board (OEB) Generators Licence which may take several months. We recommend you apply for this as soon as possible. Information relating to the application for licence is available on the OEB web site.

Facility Registration

Following the connection assessments process, you will be required to register your facility and meters with the IESO. Organizations with facilities wishing to participate in the IESO-administered markets must register their facilities with the IESO.

Information on registering your facilities is available at:

Meter Registration

Following the connection assessments process, you will be required to register your facility and meters with the IESO. Market participants are responsible for installing and maintaining the metering, the accuracy and reliability of the metering data, and for the security of the metering data on-site. Meters used for settlement purposes in the IESO-administered markets must be registered with the IESO.

Information on registering your meters is available at:

Metering

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