Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)

We are pleased to share the news that our President and CEO, Lesley Gallinger, has been appointed to the Electrifying Canada Advisory Panel, where she will provide leadership, insights and guidance to help accelerate Canada’s transition while ensuring a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy system. 

The IESO is honoured to receive the 2024 Friend of Energy Storage Award from Energy Storage Canada for our work finalizing Canada’s largest energy storage procurement to date and congratulations to the other award winners. Energy storage will play a critical role in modernizing the grid by allowing surplus electricity generation to be saved until it is needed most. This is providing system operators with another tool to help enhance reliability and flexibility. The IESO has been working closely with the energy storage sector for over a decade, starting with early pilots that tested the ability of storage to provide ancillary grid services. Today, energy storage is emerging into a key component of modern grid operations and by 2028, Ontario’s battery storage fleet is expected to reach almost 3,000 MW. The IESO's President and CEO, Lesley Gallinger, was at the Energy Storage Canada conference this week to accept the award on behalf of the organization. Also at the conference was Robby Sohi to discuss the work being done to fully integrate storage into Ontario’s electricity system and markets. See the news release for full details: https://lnkd.in/gYgfeE_A

The IESO’s Strategic Advisory Committee pulls together leaders from across the electricity sector to provide strategic advice on key issues such as new resource procurement, grid modernization and transmission planning. The Committee met today to provide an update on the development of the IESO’s External Relations Engagement Framework and the actions that are underway to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities and municipalities, plan new transmission and enhance Ontario’s electricity markets. IESO President and CEO, Lesley Gallinger, provided her thoughts on how the electricity sector and its partners must work together faster and closer than ever before to build-out an electricity system that will support innovation, economic development and quality of life. The committee was also joined by Michael Fedchyshyn to provide an overview on the role of Invest Ontario in developing major energy projects. Materials from the meeting are available on the IESO’s website. A live recording of the meeting will be published soon. https://lnkd.in/gXdrdEzC

With Indigenous communities increasingly driving change in the province’s energy sector – and in recognition of the long path towards reconciliation – the IESO is committed to driving meaningful change in how we work with Indigenous Peoples that acknowledges the historical grievances they have endured.

The IESO’s Board of Directors has appointed four new members to the Strategic Advisory Committee: Chief R. K. Joe Miskokomon, Dave Landers, Monica Gattinger and Heidi Bredenholler-Prasad. Chief Miskokomon, Mr. Landers and Dr. Gattinger will represent Ontario communities. Ms. Bredenholler-Prasadwill will represent Energy Related Businesses and Services. These new members reflect the IESO’s commitment to inclusivity and responsiveness to the changing range and diversity of stakeholders and communities actively playing a role in the energy transition. For a full list of current SAC members and to stay up to date on upcoming meetings, visit the IESO's website. https://lnkd.in/gXdrdEzC

Commitment. Collaboration. Building big at a faster pace.   That was the theme that informed President and CEO Lesley Gallinger’s remarks at the joint Ontario Energy Association/Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO) Ontario Energy Conference.   While the sector has accomplished a tremendous amount of work over the past few years to prepare for increasing demand, there remains a significant amount of work ahead. For our continued success – the IESO, the sector at large and the communities and ratepayers that we serve– must support the economic and social needs of the province by growing its calling card: a reliable, affordable and sustainable grid.   Lesley’s remarks are available online. https://lnkd.in/gDp24DhH

Career fair season kicks off this week and the IESO’s talent acquisition team is coming to a community near you. The energy transition is in full swing and there is no better time to get in on the ground floor than now. Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in electricity market systems and operations, planning and forecasting or community engagement, the IESO needs your expertise. Stop by our booth and visit our careers site to learn more about our expanding role in the sector and available opportunities. https://careers.ieso.ca/

We are thrilled to share that Joseph Weston is the recipient of the 2024 Indigenous Energy Scholarship. This scholarship is jointly sponsored by the IESO and the Ontario Energy Network to recognize outstanding achievement in the areas of electrical trade, engineering, IT and business, while also demonstrating a commitment to community-building. The energy transition is a multi-generational undertaking and supporting the energy leaders of tomorrow is crucial if we are to succeed in expanding our reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity system. Joseph is a third-year Bachelor of Science in Engineering student at the University of Calgary and a member of the Miawpukek First Nation. He has a passion for zero and low carbon electricity generation and after graduation hopes to pursue a career in Ontario’s nuclear sector. Join us in congratulating Joseph on this scholarship. We wish him success this academic year and look forward to following his career.

Sachigo Lake First Nation celebrated its connection to the provincial grid today, marking an end to the community’s reliance on diesel generators for power. The IESO’s Chuck Farmer joined community members and electricity sector leaders to mark the occasion. The Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission System-- the “Line that Brings Light” -- is a partnership between 24 First Nations that are working together to connect 17 remote communities. Once complete, it will represent the largest First Nations grid connection project in Ontario’s history. To date, 12 remote First Nations communities have been connected, improving quality of life and providing access to more reliable, affordable and clean electricity. For more on how this project is bringing First Nations together to strengthen local communities, visit https://www.wataypower.ca/ Wataynikaneyap Power

Our economy is growing as new industrial facilities and data centres look to make Ontario home, more businesses and industry are electrifying their operations, and our population is continuing to increase. Demand for electricity is now expected to grow at a faster pace, and Ontario needs a significant buildout of our electricity system to support this growth. The Minister of Energy and Electrification recently directed the IESO to ensure that the Long-Term 2 Request for Proposal considers all eligible sources of generation in our next procurement and to accelerate timelines to ensure our electricity system remains reliable and affordable. This work will build on the many actions already taken to competitively secure new sources of electricity.  Read the Ministry’s letter to the IESO for more information: https://lnkd.in/gcWGt6Eu