Planning today for a reliable energy future

Over the next 30 years, Ontario's population is expected to grow by nearly 5.3 million1. To keep up with energy demands, we’re planning now to ensure our natural gas system can meet long-term energy needs, affordably and sustainably.

Through our regional Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process, we forecast what energy demand will look like, determine whether a traditional pipe project or an alternative will meet the energy need, and then lay out a roadmap for how we’ll manage it. As part of this process, we gather input and feedback from communities on what matters most.

What options will regional plans explore?

Regional Integrated Resource Planning explores energy needs and the associated costs and benefits of a pipe or an alternative solution, such as:

Community engagement

We're gathering input from Indigenous groups and community stakeholders to help us understand what matters most. Stakeholders can include customers, intervenors, environmental groups, municipalities, government and other groups.


How the process works

One

Identifying needs

The first step is to identify the energy needs and the associated project.

Screening the need

Needs that require more urgent action may be excluded from the IRP. Additionally, projects may also be screened out by specific criteria that has been approved by the Ontario Energy Board.

Two-stage evaluation

Project alternatives will be evaluated based on technical and economic feasibility. During this evaluation stage, a decision to move forward with a traditional pipe project or an alternative will be made.

Periodic review

Changes, such as policies or timing, may impact the decisions made in the previous steps. Any changes will be reported annually.

Find Integrated Resource Planning projects in your region

See how we’re investing in our system to support future energy demand and implement low carbon alternatives.

Current projects

Parry Sound Pilot Project

This pilot project is located within the Municipality of Parry Sound. The Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) alternatives being explored for this pilot project include supply and demand side alternatives, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and an enhanced targeted energy efficiency (ETEE) program which will be explored to reduce peak demand on the system.

Learn more

Southern Lake Huron Pilot Project

This pilot project is located within the City of Sarnia and the Town of Plympton-Wyoming in the County of Lambton. The Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) alternatives being explored for this pilot project include demand side alternatives, such as demand response and an enhanced targeted energy efficiency program which will be explored to reduce or shift peak demand on the system.

Learn more

Upcoming webinars

Southeast region

Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar

RSVP today

Southwest Region

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

RSVP today

Eastern Region

Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

RSVP today

GTA East

Date: Thursday April 13, 2023
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

RSVP today

Toronto Region

Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

RSVP today

Northern Region

Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Time: 10 - 11 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

RSVP today

GTA West

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

RSVP today

Webinar information

Click your region for information on how you can participate in natural gas planning.

Southeast region

Upcoming webinar

Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar

GTA West

Upcoming webinar

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

Toronto Region

Upcoming webinar

Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

GTA East

Upcoming webinar

Date: Thursday April 13, 2023
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

Eastern Region

Upcoming webinar

Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

Northern Region

Upcoming webinar

Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Time: 10 - 11 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

Southwest Region

Upcoming webinar

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual – Link will be sent out 2 days prior to the webinar.

Sign up for updates

Stay informed about upcoming stakeholder engagement activities and milestones.

1. https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-population-projections