Stage 1 - Prepare application


Obtain Approval Design and Build Authorize Market and Program Participation Register Equipment Commission Equipment and Validate Performance

Contact your transmitter or distributor for questions about this stage of the process.


See process diagram for Stage 1
         


Your organization will want to take the following preliminary steps to lay the groundwork for your application to connect your new or modified facility to Ontario's electricity system.

  • Identify the connection point(s) and preliminary design requirements of the new or modified connection facility by contacting the owner of the system or facility you intend to connect to

This could be the:

  • Distributor who owns the local distribution system
  • Transmitter who owns the transmission system
  • Facility owner, if you're seeking to connect within an existing facility that belongs to a customer of a transmitter or a distributor. The facility owner (the "host") is, in turn, responsible for contacting their transmitter or distributor on your behalf.

                                  

Transmission system operates at voltage levels >50 kV                  

Distribution system operates at voltage levels < 50 kV                                 

 

  • Confirm the connection assessment processes that apply to your new or modified facility and who is responsible to initiate them

Connection type  Required processes and parties responsible 

New or modified connection of less than or equal to 10 MW to distribution system or to an existing load or generation facility within a distribution system

Distributor's connection impact assessment process

               

New or modified connection larger than 10 MW to a distribution system or to an existing load or generation facility within a distribution system

Distributor’s connection impact assessment process

The distributor is responsible for initiating the IESO's and transmitter's connection assessments process on your behalf

New or modified connection to a transmission system

IESO’s and transmitter’s connection assessments process

Your organization is responsible for initiating the IESO's and transmitter's connection assessments process

New connection within an existing load or generation facility that is connected to a transmission system

IESO’s and transmitter’s connection assessments process

Your host is responsible for initiating the IESO's and transmitter's connection assessments process on your behalf

If your new or modified connection doesn’t fall into any of the categories listed above, please contact the IESO or consult Market Manual 1.4 for support.

 

  • Collect the technical data required to prepare the application

To streamline the initiation of their connection assessments processes, the IESO and Hydro One have developed joint system impact assessment (SIA) and customer impact assessment (CIA) application forms for generation (including electricity storage), renewable generation and load projects.

If you are required to participate in the IESO's and the transmitter's connection assessments process, your complete application must be sent via email to IESO and Hydro One at the addresses indicated on the front page of the form.

Please visit the Obtain Conditional Approval to Connect webpage for the applicable forms.

You may contact the IESO for any questions you have about completing the SIA application forms, or if your transmitter is not Hydro One Networks Inc. or Hydro One Sault Ste. Marie.

If your facility is required to participate in a distributor's connection assessment process, contact the distributor for further instructions.