Imports and Exports

Ontario efficiently imports and exports electricity as part of the regular operation of its electricity market. Ontario currently has interconnections with its five neighbours: Quebec, Manitoba, Minnesota, Michigan and New York. Being a part of an interconnected grid means that Ontario has the ability to export and import power to provide operational and planning flexibility, and enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the electricity system.

The tables below provide annual imports and exports (in TWh), as well as by jurisdiction (in GWh).

Annual Imports and Exports

Year Imports (TWh) Exports (TWh)
2022 7.9 17.5
2021 8.7 17.2
2020 5.2 20.4
Annual Imports and Exports (in TWh) prior to 2019
Year Imports (TWh) Exports (TWh)
2019 6.6 19.8
2018 8.4 18.6
2017 6.6 19.1
2016 8.0 21.9
2015 5.8 22.6
2014 4.9 19.1
2013 4.9 18.3
2012 4.7 14.6
2011 3.9 12.9
2010 6.4 15.2
2009 4.8 15.1
2008  11.3 22.2
2007 7.2 12.3
2006 6.2 11.4
2005 11.0 10.2
2004 9.8 9.5
2003 10.4 6.3
2002 7.1 3.9
2001 4.3 4.1
2000  5.1 5.5
1999  6.0 4.0
1998 6.0 3.0
1997 3.8 6.4
Annual Imports and Exports by Jurisdiction (in GWh)
Year Total Imports Total Exports Manitoba
 Michigan
 Minnesota
 New York
 Quebec
       Imports Exports  Imports Exports  Imports Exports Imports Exports  Imports Exports
2022 7,881  17,500 262  239 255  9,068  79  275 246  4,823  7,039  3,096
2021 8,708 17,214 741 646 55 8,482 307 283 116 5,798 7,489 2,005
2020 5,178 20,377 687 654 26 9,835 153 448 31 7,504 4,281 1,938
2019  6,613  19,779 514 739 84 9,566  64 520 21 6,318 5,930 2,635
2018 8,438 18,591 551 776  85 8,374 106 229 83 7,156 7,614 2,055
2017 6,627 19,098 634 680 25 7,606 136 570 46 8,289 5,786 1,953
2016 7,992 21,856 674 1,116 68 10,651 118 361 290 7,942 6,842 1,786
2015 5,764 22,618 477 789 198 10,248 42 157 280 8,571 4,767 2,852
2014 4,924 19,073 414 296 344 7,437 40 198 481 7,623 3,645 3,519
2013 4,880 18,309 319 123 213 8,067 21 273 142 7,617 4,184 2,229
2012 4,722 14,626 326 90 257 6,908 24 167 265 6,056 3,850 1,405
2011 3,913 12,847 661 89 453 5,626 120 252 207 3,514 2,472 3,367
2010 6,373 15,164 626 213 2881 7,000 101 264 338 2,897 2,428 4,789
2009 4,844 15,104 221 193 1,759 8,916 110 540 544 4,280 2,209 1,173
2008 11,309 22,200 323 127 4,398 10,218 137 690 5,555 10,175 894 990
2007 7,198 12,286 585 181 4,307 2,243 212 255 944 8,654 1,149 953
2006 6,179 11,389 861 104 3,761 882 208 123 429 9,501 920 778
2005 10,941 10,181 1,477 43 7,157 565 227 137 960 8,429 1,120 1,007
2004 9,765 9,487 797 87 7,237 445 246 196 848 8,082 637 677
2003 10,432 6,261 1,384 322 6,731 326 434 154 1,522 4,982 271 477
2002 6,345 1,800 1,165 9 3,054 103 195 19 978 1,493 954 175

Numbers may not add up to totals due to rounding.

2003 data does not include import and export information during the blackout that took place between August 14 and August 22.

2002 data only includes transactions going back to May 1, the opening of the wholesale market.


Related Information

Ontario-Québec Electricity Trade Agreement

Ontario benefits from an electricity trade agreement with Québec that includes three components: energy, capacity and cycling. This agreement makes use of existing intertie and transmission system capability.

The Ontario-Quebec Interconnection Capability is a technical report developed by the IESO in response to a request from the Deputy Minister of Energy and was released in May 2017. Building on the 2014 intertie report and using updated modelling and analysis, this technical review presents several cases in which expanding the eastern Ontario transmission system could enable Ontario to maximize the firm import capability of the existing tie-lines and facilitate competitive market-based trade with Québec.

The Review of Ontario Interties, prepared for the Minister of Energy and released in October 2014 examines opportunities to increase the use of Ontario's interconnections. Disponible en français.

The IESO has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with NYISO to facilitate capacity imports and exports between Ontario to New York.