East Lake Superior

The regional planning process for this region is underway to identify future electricity needs and options to ensure an adequate and reliable supply continues to be provided for its customers. This second cycle of planning commenced with the development of a Needs Assessment, a process led by Hydro One.

The Scoping Assessment Outcome Report is now available and outlines the needs and specific areas of the region that require more comprehensive regional planning through an Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP). A Terms of Reference also set out parameters for the IRRP and composition of the Technical Working Group tasked with developing the 20-year electricity plan for the East Lake Superior (ELS) region.

Documents referenced on this page, but not posted, can be obtained by contacting customer.relations@ieso.ca with a link to the web page that lists the document and advise whether it needs to be provided in an accessible format. Please allow a minimum of one business day for a response.

Community Engagement

The IESO engages with local communities to seek input to help inform planning activities. Learn more about engagement on this current planning cycle.

Area Overview

The East Lake Superior region extends from the Township of Dubreuiville in the North to the town of Bruce Mines in south and includes the city of Sault Ste. Marie and the township of Chapleau. The Region is roughly bordered geographically by Highway 129 to the east, Highway 101 to the north, Lake Superior to the west and St. Mary’s River and St. Joseph Channel to the south.

Electrical supply to the Region is provided primarily through 230/115 kV autotransformers at Third Line TS, Wawa TS and MacKay TS as well as the 230 kV and 115 kV transmission lines and step-down transformation facilities shown in Figures 1 and 2. The Region is defined electrically by the 230 kV transmission circuits bounded by Wawa TS to the northwest and Mississagi TS to the southeast.

Local distribution companies in this area include: Algoma Power Inc., Sault Ste. Marie PUC , Chapleau PUC, and Hydro One Distribution. The transmitters include: Hydro One Networks and Hydro One Sault Ste. Marie LP.


ELS

Click for a larger image


Regional Planning Process - Background

A Needs Assessment was conducted for the East Lake Superior region in late 2014 by a working group led by Great Lakes Power Transmission LP (GLPT), and including representatives from the IESO, OPA (now merged with IESO), Hydro One Transmission, Hydro One Distribution, Algoma Power Inc., PUC Distribution and Chapleau Public Utility Corporation.

Through this process, it was determined that there are no electricity needs in the next 10 years requiring regional coordination. The report did identify three issues for which localized "wires-only" solutions will be developed, and for those projects to be managed by the local transmitter (GLPT) and the impacted customer.

More information can be found on Hydro One's East Lake Superior Region webpage.


Map of East Lake Superior region Click for a larger image
Key Resources

2019 Hydro One Needs Assessment

Regional Planning Overview