Improving reliability

How we're addressing the city's energy needs and challenges.

Electricity infrastructure is the trusted backbone of Toronto’s economic and social life. Our sustainable electricity future depends on new systems and new thinking. As innovative technologies and energy solutions come online to modernize grid management, we’re seizing opportunities to make smart investments that will help us improve grid strength and resiliency.

Planning and construction

We’re in the midst of a massive grid overhaul to renew our distribution equipment. We’ve invested almost $5 billion to modernize our grid since 2006 and we still have a way to go. We’re implementing smart technologies to help reduce outages and increase system responsiveness. Our capital work is replacing deteriorating equipment, helping to improve reliability and enhancing the overall customer service experience. This is a long-term investment for a smarter, better grid.

Shaping Toronto's Electricity Plan
Do we have enough electrical infrastructure to meet Toronto's needs? How much do we need to invest to maintain or improve reliability? With almost three million residents and a thriving economic centre, electricity demand in this area is one of the largest in the province and has grown steadily over the past several years.

The Toronto Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) looks at where demand for electricity is growing and how this can be managed over the next 25 years. The IRRP has been jointly developed by three organizations - the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Hydro One Networks and Toronto Hydro.

For further information about the plan and regional planning, visit IESO's Toronto Regional Planning.

Investments that directly benefit customers

Improved reliability

The duration and frequency of outages are declining, and as we integrate smarter technologies, we’re improving system resiliency and speeding up our emergency response.

Improved services

We’re getting faster at connecting new customers to our grid and exceeding industry standards for meeting scheduled appointments and answering calls

Improved dialogue

We know that price, reliability and safety are your top three priorities and we developed a five-year business plan with those in mind.

The City's public right-of-way

The public right-of-way is a piece of City-owned land. On a residential street, it's the section of the front lawn closer to the roadway. We often use this space for our equipment.

Learn more

Planned outages

Planned outages may be necessary in order to make improvements in your neighbourhood. If your home is part of planned work, we do our best to provide you with a written notice. It would include the date, time, expected duration of the outage and other project details.

Note: We use third-party contractors for a variety of projects. If planned work is being performed by one of these contractors, you may receive the written notice directly from them.

What to expect during a planned outage?

  • Traffic disruptions
  • Noise disruptions
  • Blocking of bike lanes
  • Temporary storage yards

Energy storage videos

Pole-mounted energy storage

Underwater energy storage

Community energy storage