Frequently asked Load Capacity Map questions

Our Load Capacity Map provides a high-level overview of available electrical load capacity in areas across our service territory. Customers and contractors can refer to the Load Capacity Map early on in their project planning to help inform their preliminary site selection(s).

Note: The Load Capacity Map does not contain information on costs (or estimates of costs) that it would take to initiate and complete a connection. All customers and contractors pursuing a new service connection or upgrades to their existing service are still required to submit a service connection request in order to obtain more detailed connection assessment information, cost estimates and the necessary approvals before beginning work on their project.

The estimated load capacity is calculated by subtracting the feeder/substation’s annual peak load at the feeder/bus head from its planning limit. Some areas may have other considerations that impact this calculation.

The Load Capacity Map is updated approximately once every quarter. It does not contain real-time data and serves as an illustrative tool only. It does not replace detailed engineering studies and approvals. For precise assessments, customers and contractors will need to submit a capacity assessment through our general inquiry online form or a service connection request.

No. While the Load Capacity Map provides customers and contractors with a useful starting point, you’ll still need to engage with us through our Service Connection Hub to explore your project’s feasibility and any potential infrastructure modifications that may be needed.

The colours and symbols indicate the level of available capacity based on a range of kilovolt-amperes (kVA), where red indicates the lowest level and green represents the highest level of available capacity.

Lower available capacity means a higher likelihood that Toronto Hydro will need to undertake a system enhancement and/or expansion project in order to fulfill a service connection request (subject to specific project size and details, and in accordance with our Conditions of Service).

Please submit a capacity assessment through our online general inquiry form. Our Customer Connections team can then provide you with more details about your desired area and guidance on potential solutions, such as necessary infrastructure upgrades or alternative locations.

Toronto Hydro is continually working to enhance the accuracy and integration of our data systems. In some instances, data may be unavailable due to ongoing updates or limitations in current records. If your project is in an area where information appears to be missing, please submit a capacity assessment request through our online general inquiry form.

This map captures our primary distribution system, which covers most of our service requests. At the time of publication, Local Distribution Companies (LDCs), including Toronto Hydro, were directed by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to publish capacity information for substations with nameplate ratings of 7.5 MVA or higher, and feeders operating at 8 kV or higher. To better support customers interested in connecting to our lower-voltage infrastructure, we’ve also included our 4.16 kV system.

If your desired area does not have estimated available capacity information currently displayed, please submit a capacity assessment through our online general inquiry form.

We recommend submitting a service connection request as early as possible (ideally, before finalizing your project’s civil plans), but no earlier than five years before the connection energization date requirements are due. This timing is crucial because supply configurations often have specific civil requirements that need to be incorporated into your project plans.

No. The estimated available capacity displayed on the Load Capacity Map is only illustrative of the system’s ability to connect devices that draw power from the grid, such as electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps. It does not show the system’s capability to connect generation devices, including DERs.

Please refer to our Generation and Storage Capacity Lookup Tool for information regarding which areas of our service territory are currently unable to accommodate DERs.

No, we’re providing the Load Capacity Map as a free public resource to assist customers and contractors with their preliminary project planning and help eliminate current barriers to deploying new connections, such as electric vehicle charging stations.