Ontario has announced a new national partnership aimed at strengthening Canada’s electricity grid by expanding connections between provincial power systems.
The agreement will see Ontario work with several provinces and territories to identify new transmission infrastructure and electricity interties across the country.
An intertie is a high-voltage transmission line that connects separate electricity grids, allowing jurisdictions to share power when supply or demand changes. These connections allow provinces to import electricity during shortages or export surplus power when production exceeds local demand.
Ontario currently operates fourteen interties with neighbouring provinces, including three with Manitoba and eleven with Quebec.
The province says expanding these connections will help Canada respond to rapidly growing electricity demand driven by population growth, electrification of transportation and industry, and development of critical minerals.
According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, provincial electricity demand could increase by as much as ninety percent by 2050.
The announcement comes as Ontario continues investing heavily in new electricity infrastructure, including nuclear refurbishments and potential new generation capacity.
Long-term planning discussions have occasionally referenced the Wesleyville site near Port Hope as a potential location for a future nuclear generating station if additional capacity is needed.
Some energy analysts have suggested Ontario could risk building more generating capacity than required if demand projections fall short. Provincial officials, however, say expanding both generation and transmission will position Ontario to export clean electricity and strengthen Canada’s energy security.
The national partnership will now focus on identifying priority transmission projects and coordinating electricity planning across participating provinces and territories.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)