More than 2,500 megawatts (MW) of new and refurbished generation is expected to be connected to Ontario's bulk power system over the next 18 months. This includes the anticipated return of two refurbished Bruce nuclear units, the addition of approximately 400 MW of gas-fired generation in York Region and the construction of approximately 700 MW of grid-connected renewable generation. This new grid-connected wind supply comprises 500 MW contracted under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program and 200 MW from the Renewable Energy Supply III Program, which brings Ontario's total renewable portfolio to 2,000 MW on the IESO-connected grid and 2,700 MW on the distribution system.

In the meantime, two units at Nanticoke will be shut down by December 31, 2011, reducing the installed capacity of coal-fired generation by 980 MW to 3,504 MW.

"Exports have played a significant role in managing Surplus Baseload Generation (SBG) conditions in the past and the IESO will continue to utilize exports and other available options to address the SBG that is expected over the 18-month period," said Bruce Campbell, Vice President of Resource Integration. "The IESO's priority is to integrate renewables into its dispatch processes and maintain efficient and reliable scheduling and commitment of Ontario's generation resources."

The next 18 months will see demand for electricity influenced by two opposing factors. Economic and population growth will push demand higher, while conservation programs and embedded generation will offset these expected increases. Overall energy consumption is expected to grow by 0.5 per cent in 2011 and 1.9 per cent in 2012.

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