Electricity in Ontario
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All about electricity in Ontario
Charging your phone, cooking for your family, and turning on the light switch are just of a few of the things we all do every day. And they’re all possible because of electricity. But have you ever wondered what it is, where it comes from, or how it gets to you?
In this story you’ll find out more about Ontario’s electricity system. You’ll also find out more about the role we at OPG play in that system. And, it’s a big one.
Electricity
You know what electricity can do, but what is it? Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. You may experience this in nature, for example when you see a lightning storm or feel a static spark after walking across a carpet and touching something. Electricity is also something that we can produce or generate.
Measures of electricity
When people talk about electricity, there are a few different measurement terms that are common. These include:
The grid
The grid is the system that links you to the companies that generate electricity. There are three key players in the grid – Generators, Transmitters, and Distributors.
Other players in the grid...
There are two other players that have important roles to play within the grid, the company that operates the grid and the organization that sets the electricity prices.
Ontario’s grid is complex.
It involves hundreds of companies serving millions of people. It’s reliable, meaning when you flip on that switch or charge your cell phone, the grid is always available for you.
Ontario's demand for electricity
The demand for electricity changes throughout the day and across the seasons based on people’s patterns. Demand for electricity is generally higher in the morning when people are getting ready for the day, and in the evening when people get home after school or work. In general, demand dips slightly during the middle of the day, later in the evening, and drops overnight when most people are asleep and businesses are closed. This pattern repeats itself nearly every day.
The weather has an impact on electricity demand. Hot summer days and cold winter ones can make demand go way up as people try to stay cool or warm. Demand can also change depending on where you live. People in the north usually have cooler summers and colder winters than those living in the south. So, there may be high demand in one part of the province and lower demand in other parts, all in the same season.
Find out more about balancing electricity supply and demand.Â
Illustrative seasonal demand
All of these things make getting you the electricity you need, when you need it, a complex job. And it’s going to get even more complex very soon, since it’s been predicted that demand will likely double by 2050.
The Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Energy and Electrification, sets the overall policy for the energy sector.
Find out more about Ontario’s plan to provide reliable, low cost and cleaner power here.
Categories of generation
Baseload
A source of constant, steady supply of electricity, 24x7, 365 days a year
Can produce the minimum amount of electricity consistently needed all day
Dispatchable/Peak
A source that can be turned on and off in response to changes in demand levels
Can meet the highest demands in the day
Variable/Intermittent
A source that fluctuates throughout the day based on the availability of their energy inputs
Can be constantly changing
Types of electricity generation
Ontario’s electricity system is reliable, secure, and resilient thanks to its diverse energy mix. Ontario’s energy mix is a combination of different types of generation that keeps electricity flowing to those who need it. In Ontario, we currently generate electricity through six different methods.
Ontario's energy mix
Each type of generation in the energy mix has a role to play in meeting Ontario’s needs. Some produce electricity every hour of the day, every day of the year. Some can respond quickly to meet the highest demand hours. Others fill in gaps when needed. That’s why a diverse energy mix is so important.
The graphic to the right illustrates Ontario's total grid-connected capacity in 2023. Capacity is the maximum amount of electricity a generator can produce, measured in megawatts (MW). While capacity represents the maximum amount of electricity able to be supplied at any given time, the actual amount of energy output varies from minute to minute.
See what types of generation are near you
Check out IESO’s Ontario energy map
OPG’s role in Ontario’s electricity system
At OPG we generate more than half of all of Ontario’s electricity.
We help the system in the following ways:
- Supply baseload demand using nuclear and hydroelectric
- Supply peak demand using gas-fired, other hydroelectric stations, biomass, and solar
Find out more about OPG’s generating stations by clicking each icon below.
Power generation and more
Learn more about OPG’s family of companies and partnerships below.
Our commitment
We all need a steady, reliable low-emitting supply of electricity to power our lives. The key players of Ontario’s electricity grid work seamlessly together to provide you with the supply you need when you need it. As a generator of more than half of Ontario’s electricity, OPG plays a huge role. OPG’s energy mix is one of the most diverse in the world. It’s also one of the cleanest.
With the demand for electricity expected to double by 2050, the key players of Ontario’s electricity system are already getting ready to supply the electricity you’ll need in the future. That’s our commitment to generation for generations.
Learn more check out IESO’s Pathways to Decarbonization
A cleaner mix supports the path to net-zero
So what did you learn?Â
