Ontario's electricity supply assured for next 18 months: IESO

Ontario's generation capacity is expected to increase with return of two refurbished Bruce nuclear plants and 800 megawatts of grid-connected renewable generation. 

Ontario will have adequate electricity to meet consumers' needs over the next eighteen months, confirms the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in its most recent eighteen-month outlook report. The report, released today, makes recommendations to ensure the reliability of the electricity system can continue to be maintained in the future. IESO is a not-for-profit corporation that manages the supply and demand for electricity in Ontario.

Ontario's generation resources will increase over the next eighteen months with the anticipated return of two refurbished Bruce nuclear units, and the addition of approximately 400 megawatts (MW) of gas-fired generation and more than 800 MW of grid-connected renewable generation. The new transmission line from the Bruce area to Milton is expected to be completed in December 2012 and will deliver additional power to southwestern Ontario where electricity use is concentrated. These expected generation and transmission additions result in a forecast of adequate resources in every week over the outlook period, even under extreme weather conditions.

Continued additions of wind and solar generation will see a combined total of more than 4,300 MW in Ontario by May 2013. Increases in variable generation combined with lower off-peak demand for electricity and the return of two nuclear units may affect the IESO's ability to balance the system in real time when electricity supply exceeds what is being consumed.

Bruce Campbell, IESO Vice President, Resource Integration said that it is important for the IESO to continue to integrate renewable energy into the electricity grid. "We need all resources to be flexible so we can keep the grid in balance as consumer demand rises and falls throughout the day and week," he said.

Electricity consumption in 2011 is expected to decline slightly compared to 2010 but is forecast to grow in 2012 by 1.1 per cent. Peak demands are expected to increase slightly.

The IESO regularly assesses the adequacy and reliability of Ontario's power system. The 18-Month Outlook is issued on a quarterly basis and is available at www.ieso.ca/18-Month.Outlook.

 For more information, please visit www.ieso.ca.