Regional Electricity Planning - East Lake Superior

Forecasting and Planning

Regional electricity planning has kicked-off in the East Lake Superior electrical region to ensure a reliable supply of electricity, and to support local growth and economic development. Regional planning looks at the unique needs of each region and considers wire and non-wire options and innovative resources to meet the needs. This engagement initiative will provide interested parties with an opportunity to offer input for consideration during the regional planning process.

Regional electricity plans take a 20-year outlook on every region in the province. The planning process provides an opportunity for communities to inform the IESO about anticipated needs and priorities and to provide feedback on the development of the options for meeting this region’s future electricity needs.

Interested parties that were invited to participate in this engagement initiative include but are not limited to:

Municipalities – Town of Bruce Mines, Township of Chapleau, Hilton Township, The Municipality of Huron Shores, Township of Jocelyn, Township of Johnson, Laird Township, Township of Macdonald, Meredith & Aberdeen Additional, Township of Plummer Additional, Prince Township, City of Sault Ste. Marie, Township of St. Joseph, Tarbutt Township & Tarbutt Additional, Township of Dubreuilville and Municipality of Wawa.
Indigenous communities that may be potentially impacted or may have an interest based on treaty territory, traditional territory or traditional land uses: Batchewana First Nation, Brunswick House First Nation, Chapleau Cree First Nation, Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation, Garden River First Nation, Michipicoten First Nation, Missanabie Cree First Nation, Mississauga First Nation, Serpent River First Nation, Thessalon First Nation, Métis Nation of Ontario, Bar River Métis, Red Sky Métis Independent Nation.
Local distribution companies (LDCs) who serve the community including Algoma Power Inc., Hydro One Distribution and PUC Distribution.
Transmitters including Hydro One Networks Inc., Hydro One Networks Sault Ste. Marie LP., and PUC Transmission LP.
Consumers, service providers and associations for the area.

East Lake Superior Technical Working Group - A Technical Working Group is led by the IESO and consists of the three LDCs in the region and the three local transmitters. The group will use this regional planning engagement initiative to incorporate input while developing the IRRP for the region.

All comments and enquiries in this engagement initiative can be directed to engagement@ieso.ca.

Related Information

2025 East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report

2024 East Lake Superior Needs Assessment

2022 Need for Northeast Bulk System Reinforcement

2021 East Lake Superior Integrated Regional Resource Plan

2021 East Lake Superior Integrated Regional Resource Plan Appendices

2019 East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report

2019 East Lake Superior Needs Assessment

Hydro One East Lake Superior Regional Planning Website

See also the East Lake Superior regional planning web page

Active Engagement

Date	Materials	Expected Actions
October 6, 2025	IESO Response to Feedback to Public Engagement Webinar: Demand Forecast
July 30, 2025	Deadline for Feedback Feedback Form Feedback Received Ontario Rivers Alliance	All feedback posted
July 9, 2025	Public Engagement Webinar: Demand Forecast Presentation IRRP Forecasting Methodology Data Tables 1 of 2 Data Tables 2 of 2 Engagement Plan Communication	Recorded Presentation
January 9, 2025	Final East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report and the IESO’s response to feedback Communication
December 18, 2024	Deadline for public comment Feedback Form Feedback Received Enbridge Gas Inc.	All feedback posted
December 4, 2024	Public Webinar Presentation	Recorded Presentation
November 27, 2024	Draft East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report
November 20, 2024	Launch Scoping Assessment Engagement Communication

2021 IRRP Engagement Activities

Date	Materials	Expected Actions
April-May 2021	2021 East Lake Superior Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) 2021 East Lake Superior IRRP Appendices	Post final report and appendices IESO responses to feedback received on draft recommendations posted Close engagement
March 4, 2021	Feedback on public webinar #3 due Feedback form Energy Storage Canada	Feedback to be posted
February 11, 2021	Public webinar #3 Communication Presentation Overview of IRRP and recommendations, including details on evaluation of alternatives Discuss considerations for communities and interested parties to consider in their medium- to long-term planning	Recorded Presentation
December 23, 2020	IESO response to feedback	Posted
December 8, 2020	Deadline for written comment on public webinar #2 Feedback form N-Sci Technologies Uplight	Feedback received posted
November 17, 2020	Public webinar #2 Communication Presentation Overview of options screening Overview of range of potential solutions to be examined Outline next steps	Recorded presentation Presentation and recorded webinar posted Seek input on options screening and range of potential solutions to be examined Post feedback and IESO response to feedback, including rationale
July 21, 2020	IESO response to feedback	Posted
June 25, 2020	Feedback on public webinar #1 due Feedback form	Feedback posted
June 4, 2020	Public webinar #1 Presentation Provide update on planning activities underway Summary of preliminary regional demand forecast and needs and draft engagement plan	Recorded Presentation Seek input on draft engagement plan, electricity demand forecast and preliminary needs identified
May 14, 2020	Communicate ELS IRRP engagement initiative Communication Draft Engagement Plan
October 3, 2019	Final East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report Communication	Final version posted following a two-week comment period
October 3, 2019	IESO response to Public Comments on East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report	IESO responses to public comments posted
September 10, 2019	Deadline for public comment on draft East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report NRStor	Comments posted
August 27, 2019	Public webinar Presentation Overview of the regional electricity planning process in Ontario Update on planning activities underway in the region Overview of Scoping Assessment Next steps	Recorded presentation Seek input on draft Scoping Assessment Outcome Report
August 27, 2019	Draft East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment Outcome Report	Draft posted for public comment
August 15, 2019	Launch East Lake Superior Scoping Assessment engagement Communication