◊ This is part of the ‘history’ series of articles ◊
The history of electricity development in Ontario
Here is a history of significant Ontario, Canadian and international events related to development of electricity infrastructure dating back more than a century. The list of events is by no means all-inclusive due to the massive nature of the subject. Use the search to reduce the number of events displayed.
Date Event
1880 Invention of Pelton turbine which converts water flow to energy.
1884 Hydro Electric Generating Station - Hazlitt's Mill, Peterborough A dynamo machine at Hazlitt's Mill on the Otonabee River east bank near the current Quaker dam to power street lighting (ref. C. Blackett Robinson, 1884)
1884 Peterborough is the first city in Canada to have electric streetlights May 23, 1884
1891 Chaudière Falls #2 Hydro Electric Generating Station (in Ottawa) is commissioned on the Ottawa River
Capacity of 5MW
1898 Decew Falls I Hydro Electric Generating Station completed to supply power to the city of Hamilton.Built to operate at 66 2/3 Hz. Converted to 60Hz in 1951
Capacity of 22.8MW
1900 Chaudière Falls #4 Hydro Electric Generating Station (in Ottawa) is commissioned on the Ottawa River
Capacity of 7.92MW
1900 Sills Island Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 1.8MW
1902 Bracebridge Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the North Muskoka River.
2.6MW capacity
1902 Renfrew #2 Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Bonnechere River.
Capacity of 1MW
1905 Coniston Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Wahnapitae River.
Capacity of 3.77MW
1905 High Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Spanish River. There are multiple stations named High Falls.
Capacity of 19.3MW following a 1918 expansion
1905 Rankine Generating Station completed.
Hydro Electric facility on the Niagara River operating at 25Hz.
In 1927, the Canadian Niagara Power Company powerhouse was renamed the William Birch Rankine Power Station
Decommissioned in 2006.
Capacity of 100MVA
1905 Ontario Power Company Generating Station Hydro Electric facility on the Niagara River operated with 15 units at 25Hz.
Decommissioned in 1999
Capacity of 151MW
1906 The Toronto Power Generating Station completed
Hydro Electric facility on the Niagara River operated at 25Hz.
Ceased operations on February 15, 1974 as water was better used by 60Hz generators at the Sir Adam Beck station
Capacity of 103MVA
1906 Kakabeka Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Kaministiquia River.
Capacity of 24.6MW
1906 Legislative: The Hydroelectric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPCO) is established as a publicly owned utility with Adam Beck as chairperson
1907 Galetta Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mississippi River.
Capacity of 1.25MW
1907 South Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the South Muskoka River.
Capacity of 5.9MW
1909 Fort Frances Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on Rainy River.
Capacity of 12.8MW
1909 Seymour Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 5.7MW
1909 Wabageshik (Lorne) Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on Vermilion River.
Capacity of 3.74MW
1909 Nipissing Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the South River.
Capacity of 2MW
1909 Wilson's Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the North Muskoka River.
Capacity of 2.9MW
1909 Big Chute Units 1&2 Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Severn River. Unit #3 in 1911 and Unit #4 in 1919.
Capacity of 10MW
1910 Cambellford Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 4 MW
1910 Hound Chute Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Montreal River.
Capacity of 8.8MW
1910 Matabitchuan Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Montreal River.
Capacity of 9.6MW
1910 Renfrew #1 Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Bonnechere River.
Capacity of 1MW
1911 Auburn Hydro Electric Generating Station (Units 1&2) completed on the Otonabee River. Unit 3 completed 1912.
Capacity of 2MW
1911 Sidney Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 4.4MW
1911 Sandy Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Upper Mattagami River.
Capacity of 5.6MW 25Hz. Converted to 60Hz in 2010
1912 McVittie Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Wahnapitae River.
Capacity of 2.76MW
1912 Wawaitin Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Upper Mattagami River.
Capacity of 15.4MW 25Hz. Converted to 60Hz in 2010
1913 Frankford Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 3MW
1913 Healy Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed in 1911 on the Trent River.
Capacity of 18.17MW
1914 Iroquois Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Abitibi River.
Capacity of 29.7MW
1914 Fountain Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Montreal River. Date is per Robert Larocque. Site verified by Bulletin No. 46 of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, 1923.
Capacity of 2.5MW
1915 London Street Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Otonabee River. Expanded in 2016.
Note that there are conficting historical dates for completion of this station in 1884, 1902, 1915 and 1921.
Capacity of 4MW
1915 Eugenia Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Beaver River.
Capacity of 6.1MW
1915 Merrickville Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Rideau River. Second unit in 1919.
Capacity of 1.7MW
1916 Smooth Rock Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mattagami River.
Capacity of 7.4MW
1917 Calabogie Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Madawaska River.
Capacity of 4.6MW
1917 Swift Rapids Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Severn River.
Capacity of 8MW
1920 Cameron Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Nipigon River.
Capacity of 92MW
1920 High Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Ottawa River. There are multiple stations named High Falls.
Capacity of 3MW
1921 Completion of Sir Adam Beck #1 generating station at Niagara Falls. Capable of producing 1,123 MW at 25Hz it is the world's largest hydro-electric facility. Fully converted to 60Hz in 2009
1921 Crystal Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Sturgeon River.
Capacity of 8MW
1922 Ranney Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 10MW
1923 Chute Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Montreal River.
3MW after the 2nd unit completed in 1924
1923 Lower Sturgeon Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Upper Mattagami River.
Capacity of 14MW 25Hz. Converted to 60Hz in 2010
1923 Bingham Chute Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the South River.
Capacity of 1MW
1924 Meyersberg Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 5MW
1925 Hagues Reach Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 4MW
1925 Stinson Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Wahnapitae River.
Capacity of 5MW
1926 Norman Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Winnipeg River. It is a run-of-river facility. The dam was constructed in 1898 but the powerhouse was not finished until 1926.
Capacity of 5.5MW
1926 Hanna Chute Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Muskoka River.
Capacity of 1MW
1928 Lakefield Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Trent River.
Capacity of 2MW
1929 Elliot Chute Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the South River.
Capacity of 2MW
1929 Trethewey Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Muskoka River.
Capacity of 2MW
1930 Alexander Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Nipigon River.
Capacity of 69MW
1930 Ear Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the English River.
Capacity of 17MW after Unit #2 in 1937, Unit #3 in 1940 and Unit #4 in 1948
1930 Decew Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station is purchased by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission from Dominion Power and Transmission Company. The 66 ? frequency output is converted to 60Hz in 1951
1931 Smoky Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mattagami River.
Capacity of 267MW
1931 Chats Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station four units in service on the Ottawa River. Another 4 units in 1932
Capacity of 192MW 25Hz
1932 Upper Notch Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Montreal River. Date is approximate per Robert Larocque. Site verified by the fact that the Government of Canada collected hydrometric data from the site '02JD008' from 1930 to 1971. Also, The Engineering Institute of Canada ENGINEERING HISTORY PAPER #96 "The Many Sides of Robert F. Legget" by Doug VanDine August 2020
Capacity - 9.7MW 25Hz
1933 Abitibi Canyon Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Abitibi River with two units in service. Three additional units placed in service by spring 1936. 25Hz
Capacity of 349MW
1938 Ragged Rapids Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Muskoka River.
Capacity of 8MW
1941 Big Eddy Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Muskoka River.
Capacity of 8MW
1942 Barrett Chute Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Madawaska River.
Capacity of 176MW
1943 Decew Falls II Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Welland River.
Capacity of 144MW 25Hz. Converted to 60Hz in 1951
1948 Aguasabon Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Aguasabon River.
Capacity of 45MW
1948 Stewartville Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Madawaska River. Units 4&5 completed in 1969.
Capacity of 182MW
1950 Pine Portage Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Nipigon River.
Capacity of 144W
1950 Chenaux Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Ottawa River.
Capacity of 144MW
1950 Des Joachims Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Ottawa River.
Capacity of 429MW
1950 G.W.Rayner Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mississagi River.
Capacity of 46MW
1951 Richard Hearn (R.L. Hearn) is Canada's first coal-fired generating station to utilize a 100MW turbine. Two units in service for 188MW, one at 88MW, 25Hz and one at 100MW, 60Hz. It was expanded in 1953 to 4 units by adding a 25Hz and a 60Hz unit for 376MW. Expanded using 4 x 200MW 60Hz units in 1961 for 1,200 MW plant output. Converted to Natural gas in 1971 and closed in 1983.
1952 Otto Holden Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Ottawa River.
Capacity of 243MW
1953 J. Clark Keith coal fired generating station built in Windsor
1953 Richard Hearn (R.L. Hearn) coal-fired generating station expanded to 4 units for 376MW output. Two 25Hz units and two 60Hz units
1954 Sir Adam Beck II Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Niagara River.
Capacity of 1,499MW
1956 Manitou Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the English River.
Capacity of 73MW
1957 Sir Adam Beck Pump Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Niagara River.
Capacity of 174MW
1957 Development begins on NPD-2 the first Candu nuclear reactor
1958 Sir Adam Beck #2 generating station at Niagara Falls. Capable of producing 1,328 MW
1958 R.H. Saunders Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall. Capacity of 1,045MW
1958 Caribou Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the English River.
Capacity of 91MW
1958 Whitedog Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Winnipeg River.
Capacity of 68MW
1959 Silver Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Kaministiquia River.
Capacity of 48MW
1960 Red Rock Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mississagi River.
Capacity of 41MW
1960 Construction begins on the first Candu nuclear reactor at Douglas Point
1961 Otter Rapids Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Abitibi River.
Capacity of 182MW
1961 Richard Hearn (R.L. Hearn) coal-fired generating station expanded to 8 units by adding 4 x 200MW units for 1,200MW plant total output.
1962 Lakeview coal-fired generating station built in Mississauga. Capacity is 300 MW - largest in Canada. Later expanded to 1,140 MW
1962 NPD-2 Candu nuclear reactor reaches full power
1963 Thunder Bay coal-fired generating station is complete with a 310 MW capacity
1963 Little Long Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mattagami River.
Capacity of 205MW
1965 Construction begins on Candu nuclear reactors Pickering A units 1&2 each with 515 MW capacity
1965 Harmon Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mattagami River.
Capacity of 220MW
1965 Blackout -Tuesday, November 9, 1965, the northeast suffered a major disruption supply of electricity
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_1965
1966 Kipling Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mattagami River.
Capacity of 232MW
1967 Mountain Chute Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Madawaska River.
Capacity of 170MW
1967 Douglas Point Candu nuclear reactor generates electricity for the first time
1967 Construction begins on Candu Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station Unit 3 with 515 MW capacity
1968 Construction begins on Candu Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station Unit 4 with 515 MW capacity
1969 Lambton Coal-Fired Generating Station built with 1,975 MW capacity
1969 Aubrey Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mississagi River.
Capacity of 162MW
1969 Wells Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Mississagi River.
Capacity of 239MW
1970 Construction begins on Bruce 2 Candu Nuclear Reactor near Kincardine. The site will eventually house two facilities - Bruce A and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Stations each with 4 generators. Bruce A capacity is 4 times 825 MW and Bruce B is 4 times 840 MW
1971 Richard Hearn (R.L. Hearn) 1,200MW coal-fired generating station is converted to Natural Gas
1971 First Unit at Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station Goes into Service
The other three units are in service by 1973
1971 Lower Notch Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Montreal River.
Capacity of 274MW
1971 Fountain Falls Hydro Electric Generating Station decommissioned on the Montreal River. Date is approximate per Robert Larocque. Site was flooded by the construction of Lower Notch GS.
Capacity removed 2.5MW
1971 Upper Notch Hydro Electric Generating Station decommissioned on the Montreal River. Date is approximate per Robert Larocque. Site was flooded by the construction of Lower Notch GS.
Capacity - 9.7MW
1974 HEPCO becomes Ontario Hydro - a crown corporation
1976 Arnprior Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the Madawaska River.
Capacity of 82MW
1976 Lennox Thermal Generating Station Oil. Converted to dual fuel Oil and Natural Gas in 2008
Capacity of 2,100MW
1977 Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station begins operation
1978 Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning - Interim Report on Nuclear Power in Ontario. Also known as the Porter Commission. Recommendation to pursue energy storage, energy efficient co-generation, fluidized bed combustion and renewable technologies.
1979 Three Mile Island accident - the most significant accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history - a partial meltdown resulted in the release of radioactive gases and radioactive iodine into the environment
1981 Darlington Nuclear Station construction begins
1983 Richard Hearn (R.L. Hearn) natural gas fired (converted from coal) generating station is retired
1983 Pickering B Nuclear Generating Station in-service
1983 Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station Unit 2 reactor developed a 2 metre long split in pressure tube G16. This was the beginning of the annulus gas spacer spring problems which led to pressure tube and fuel channel replacement in Pickering A
1984 Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station Unit 6 begins operation
1985 Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station Unit 5 begins operation
1986 Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station Unit 7 begins operation
1986 The Chernobyl accident - Ukraine - a catastrophic nuclear accident considered the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident in history
1987 Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station Unit 8 begins operation
1990 Legislative: Power Corporation Act, 1990
1990 Darlington Nuclear Station Unit 2 on line 878MW
1992 Darlington Nuclear Station Unit 1 on line 878MW
1993 Darlington Nuclear Station Units 3 & 4 on line 878MW x 2
The final cost was $14.4 billion CAD, almost double the initial construction budget
1994 Regulatory: Electricity rates frozen at 4.3 cents/kwh by the NDP government
1994 Pickering Nuclear Generating Station Unit 7 set a world record for continuous operation (894 days) without a shutdown
1994 Pickering Nuclear Generating Station coolant spill. Said to be the most serious accident in Canadian history by The Standing Senate Committee on Energy. The Emergency Core Cooling System was used to prevent a meltdown
1996 Government releases the report "A Framework for Competition" which forms the basis for privatization and the competitive market model for Ontario
1997 Ontario Hydro "Nuclear Report Card: Ontario's Reactors are Minimally Acceptable" is released internally and leads to the shutdown of 7 reactors at Pickering A and Bruce A due to safety concerns.
1997 Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station goes into voluntary lay-up due to safety concerns
1998 Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station goes into shut down due to safety concerns
1998 Ice Storm in Eastern Ontario causes loss of power to 600,000 people in an area of 25,000 square kilometers. Within two weeks, over 90% of all affected Ontario Hydro residential and business customers had their power restored.
1998 Legislative: Electricity Act, 1998 takes effect
1998 Legislative: Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 takes effect
1998 Legislative: Energy Competition Act, 1998, Bill 35
Bill 35 formally splits up Ontario Hydro into five separate entities:
(1) the Ontario Electricity Generation Corporation (Genco);
(2) the Ontario Electric Services Corporation (Servco);
(3) the Independent Electricity Market Operator (IMO);
(4) Ontario Hydro Financial Corporation (Debtco)
(5) the Electrical Safety Authority ("ESA")
Local municipalities, who are the owners of hydro distribution assets, whether they distribute power alone or through a utility commission, will have to establish a business corporation within two years.
The role of the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) will be considerably expanded. It will license all participants in the electricity sector, including MEUs and electricity agents, brokers and marketers. It will set standards, criteria and performance targets for license holders. It will approve transmission and distribution rates for the use of Servcos and the MEUs lines. The OEB will approve construction of transmission and distribution lines, will approve amalgamations of MEUs, asset transfers and large share transfers involving distributors and transmitters of electricity. The OEB will also be responsible for implementing policy directives issued by the Minister of Energy, Science and Technology and approved by Cabinet
1999 Price Cap and Market Power Mitigation Agreement
Order in Council 600/99 requiring the OEB to implement and maintain certain conditions in the license issued to Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG), the Independent Electricity Market Operator (as it was then known) and others to address issues that arise from the market share of Ontario Power Generation Inc. in the Ontario electricity sector. (Issued under section 28 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.)
https://www.oeb.ca/oeb/_Documents/Documents/Directive_to_the_OEB_19990324.pdf
2000 Directive RP-2000-0069 issued by the Minister of Energy requiring that the OEB give primacy to the objective of protecting the interests of consumers in setting electricity distribution rates, and that the OEB invite representations from the council of the municipal corporation(s) within the service area of an electricity distributor before making an order setting that distributors distribution rates. (Issued under section 27 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.)
2001 Bruce Power takes over operation of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station under lease from OPG
2002 Legislative: The Electricity Pricing, Conservation and Supply Act (Bill 210) introduced.
2002 Legislative: Electricity Consumer Price Protection Fund (ECPPF) created under the Electricity Pricing, Conservation and Supply Act, 2002
2002 Legislative: The Market Power Mitigation Agreement (MPMA) rebate takes effect May 1, 2002
2002 OPG Sells off it's hydro plants on the Mississagi river to Brascan for $340 million
2002 Legislative: The Reliable Energy and Consumer Protection Act - clarified the Provinces rights to acquire, hold, transfer, dispose of or otherwise deal with securities, debt obligations of, or any other interest in, Hydro One and transferred, effective December 31, 2002, ownership of the transmission corridor lands from Hydro One to the Province in exchange for a statutory right to use the land for transmission and distribution purposes
2002 Regulatory: Electricity rates are frozen by the PC government at 4.3 cents/kwh following excessive rate increases driven by the Retail Open Market. Rebates are made retroactive to Market opening May 1, 2002. The Wholesale Market continues.
2003 Blackout - August 14, 2003, a major power disturbance originating in Ohio cascaded to surrounding jurisdictions and resulted in a blackout in much of Ontario.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_2003
2003 Bruce Nuclear Generating Unit 4 on-line following 1998 lay-up
Capacity 770 MW
2003 Pickering A Nuclear Generating Unit 4 goes back in-service following 1997 lay-up.
Capacity 515 MW
2003 Legislative: The Market Power Mitigation Agreement (MPMA) rebate finishes April 30, 2003.
Effective May 1, 2003, the MPMA rebate was replaced by the more transparent Business Protection Plan Rebate (BPPR) after the introduction of Bill 210, the Electricity Pricing, Conservation and Supply Act 2002.
2004 Legislative: Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004 received Royal Assent
- creates the Ontario Power Authority (this function was missed in the split of Ontario Hydro in 1998)
- creates the Conservation Bureau, led by the Province's first Chief Energy Conservation Officer
- sets targets for conservation, renewable energy, and the overall mix of supply sources in the electricity sector
- redefines the role for the Independent Electricity Market Operator, including its responsibility for operating the wholesale market and ensuring the reliability of the power system, and renames it the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
- concept of the Global Adjustment for generation is created
2004 Brighton Beach Combined-Cycle Natural Gas Generation Plant completed
Capacity 580 MW
2004 Bruce A Nuclear Unit 3 on-line following 1998 lay-up
Capacity 782 MW
2004 Generation Procurement:
Renewable Energy Supply Contract (Tranche 1) RESI
2004 Regulatory: Electricity Rates increase. For the first 750 kWh of electricity consumption per month by low volume and designated customers was changed to 4.7 cents per kWh and consumption in excess of that
amount was fixed at a rate of 5.5 cents per kWh
2004 Regulatory: Directive RP-2004-0196 issued by the Minister of Energy requiring the OEB to develop and provide to the Minister of Energy an implementation plan for the achievement of the Governments smart meter targets, as well as in relation to the need for and potential effectiveness of non-commodity time of use rate structures. (Issued under section 27.1 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.)
2004 Kirkland Lake Natural Gas Generating Station
Capacity 32MW
2004 Beck and Kipling Hydro Upgrades
Capacity 80MW
2005 Regulatory: The OEFC begins receiving actual contract prices for power from ratepayers for the NUG contracts signed by previous governments. The price paid for power from NUGs was higher than current rates and estimated as a $3.4 Billion dollar liability.
2005 Regulatory: Ontario Energy Board submitted its proposed implementation plan on smart meters to the Minister of Energy per Directive RP-2004-0196 issued by the Minister of Energy, the . The plan outlines a basic smart meter system in Ontario to measure how much electricity a consumer uses each hour of the day.
Target of 800,000 customers by 2007, installation of all smart meters by 2010
2005 Electricity price set - as announced by the government February 23, 2005, on April 1, 2005 the government sets an average price of 4.5 cents per kilowatt-hour on the output of OPG's regulated assets. The government also sets a new revenue limit of 4.7 cents per kilowatt-hour on most of the output from OPG's unregulated assets. This replaces the Market Power Mitigation Agreement (MPMA) implemented by the previous government.
2005 Legislative: The Ontario Power Generation Non-Prescribed Asset (ONPA) Rebate, calculation started on April 1, 2005 (runs until 2009)
2005 Regulatory: Electricity Rates increase. The OEB implements a new regulated price plan structure for low volume and designated customers (RPP). The RPP maintained the current two-tiered pricing structure, but set new prices for electricity of 5.0 cents per kWh for the first 750kWh and 5.8 cents per kWh thereafter
2005 Lakeview coal-fired generating station shut down
Capacity -1,130 MW
2005 Legislative: The Global Adjustment/Provincial Benefit is introduced (Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004)
2005 Generation Procurement:
Bruce Power Rehabilitation Implementation Agreement (BPRIA),
Accelerated Clean Energy Supply Contract (ACES),
RES II,
Early Mover Clean Energy Supply Contract (EMCES)
2005 Regulatory: Electricity Prices change. The OEB seasonal consumption thresholds for residential customers takes effect. The threshold for the second tier price rises from 750 kWh to 1,000 kWh per month through April 30, 2006 when it will lower to 600 kWh per month through October 31, 2006
2005 Pickering A Nuclear Unit 1 goes back in-service following 1997 lay-up
Capacity 515MW
2006 Regulatory: Electricity price change - Residential - first 600kWh 5.8 cents per kWh and 6.7 cents thereafter
2006 Legislative: Minister issues first supply-mix directive, which calls for renewable energy capacity of 15,700 MW by 2025, and instructs OPA to develop Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP) and maximize the contribution from renewable energy sources.
2006 Generation Procurement:
Renewal Energy Standard Offer Program - RESOP
2006 Legislative: The Energy Conservation Responsibility Act, 2006 provides the framework for the installation by
all electricity distributors of 800,000 smart meters by December 31, 2007 and the installation of
smart meters in all homes and small businesses in Ontario by December 31, 2010. the OEB approved a monthly rate of $0.30 per residential customer, effective May 1, 2006, as initial funding for the required investment in smart meters
2006 Milestone: Record high demand of 27,005 MW
2006 Regulatory: Electricity Prices change. The OEB seasonal consumption thresholds for residential customers takes effect. The threshold for the second tier price rises from 750 kWh to 1,000 kWh per month through April 30, 2007. First 1000kWh is 5.5 cents and 6.4 cents thereafter
2006 Greater Toronto Airport Authority Natural Gas Generating Station complete
Capacity 117MW
2006 Melancthon Wind Farm (Amaranth) completed
Capacity 68MW
2006 Kingsbridge Wind Farm completed
Capacity 40MW
2006 Erie Shores Wind Farm (Port Burwell) completed
Capacity 99MW
2006 Prince Wind Farm completed
Capacity 99MW
2006 Prince II Wind Farm completed
Capacity 90MW
2007 Generation Procurement -
Hydroelectric Energy Supply Agreement (HESA),
RES III
2007 OPA submits first IPSP, designed to help achieve goals set in the June 2006 supply-mix directive, to OEB for review and approval.
2007 Abitibi Canyon (Upgrades) Hydro completed
Capacity increase 20MW
2007 Ripley Wind Farm completed
Capacity 76MW
2008 Greenfield Energy Centre Combined-Cycle Natural Gas Generating Plant (Courtright) completed
Capacity 1,153 MW
2008 Portland Energy Centre (Simple Cycle) Natural Gas Generating Plant complete
Capacity 394 MW
2008 Generation Procurement:
Combined Heat and Power (Cogeneration) - CHP I
2008 Legislative: Minister issues a new supply-mix directive, suspending OEB review and approval process of current IPSP and requiring OPA to submit a revised IPSP to OEB within six months.
2008 Umbata Falls Hydro completed
Capacity 24MW
2008 Kruger Energy Port Alma (T1) Wind Farm completed
Capacity 101MW
2008 Melancthon II (Amaranth) Wind Farm completed
Capacity 132MW
2008 Lennox Thermal Generating Station converted to dual fuel Oil and Natural Gas
Capacity of 2,100MW
2009 Legislative: The Ontario Power Generation Non-Prescribed Asset (ONPA) Rebate, expires April 30, 2009.
2009 OPA does not revise IPSP as per the September 2008 supply-mix directive, saying in a letter to OEB that it would wait before issuing revised IPSP due to significant evolution in the policy environment.
2009 Legislative: Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 is passed to accelerate significant additions of renewable energy through creation of a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program to promote renewable energy, in particular wind and solar power.
2009 Portlands Energy Centre (Combined Cycle) Natural Gas Generating Plant completed
Capacity 246 MW
2009 St. Clair Energy Centre Generating Natural Gas Plant completed
Capacity 678 MW
2009 Goreway Station Natural Gas Generating Plant completed
Capacity 942 MW
2009 Enbridge Ontario Wind Farm (Underwood) Natural Gas Generating Plant completed
Capacity 182 MW
2009 Wolfe Island Wind Farm completed
Capacity 198 MW
2009 Lac Seul Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on the English River.
Capacity of 12MW
2009 Generation Procurement:
CHP III, Hydroelectric Contract Initiative (HCI),
Feed-in Tariff Program (FIT 1)
micro Feed-in Tariff Program (microFIT )
2009 Legislative: Green Energy Act, 2009
2009 Legislative: Minister issues a directive requiring OPA to develop the FIT program.
2009 East Windsor Cogeneration Natural Gas Plant completed
Capacity 100MW
2009 Sir Adam Beck Unit 7 Conversion to 60hz Hydro completed
Capacity 69MW
2009 Sir Adam Beck 2 Hydro upgrades complete
Capacity 68MW
2010 Regulatory: Directive EB-2010-0216 issued by the Minister of Energy requiring the OEB to establish electricity conservation and demand management (CDM) targets to be met by licensed electricity distributors and to issue a code pertaining to CDM. (Issued under sections 27.1 and 27.2 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.)
2010 OPA Board of Directors notes that a new IPSP is likely needed due to significant changes that have occurred since original IPSP was filed in 2007.
2010 Nanticoke and Lambton coal-fired generating plant shut down decommissioned
Capacity -1,985 MW
2010 Generation Procurement:
Atikokan Biomass Energy Supply Agreement (ABESA),
Combined Heat and Power Standard Offer Program (CHPSOP)
2010 Legislative: Ontario Clean Energy Benefit Act, 2010 (ends December 31, 2015)
2010 Legislative: Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010. Implemented in January 2011
2010 Legislative: Ontario Regulation 398/10 comes into effect which creates two customer classes for calculation of the Global Adjustment. Class A customers pay lower GA with the discount shifted to Class B customers. Class A are large industrial and Class B includes all others.
2010 Legislative: Ministry releases Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP), a high-level document highlighting Ontarios energy goals and supply-mix to 2030.
2010 Legislative: The Ministry of Energy issued a directive (MC-2010-2459) to negotiate new contracts with the owners or operators of non-utility generators (NUGs) that were awarded lucrative contracts in the 1990's. Renewals allowed only where these would have cost and reliability benefits to Ontario electricity consumers
2010 Thorold Cogeneration Natural Gas
Capacity 287MW
2010 Halton Hills Generating Station Natural Gas
Capacity 705MW
2010 Conversion of Fort Frances to Biomass
Capacity 47MW
2010 Talbot Wind Farm (Spence) completed
Capacity 99MW
2010 Kruger Energy Chatham Wind Farm Port Alma (T3) completed
Capacity 101MW
2011 Legislative: Introduction of Ontario Clean Energy Benefit 2010 (OCEB), takes effect, which provides a 10 per cent rebate on electricity bills for residential, farm and small business customers. The OCEB is projected to cost $1.1 billion in 201112. In place until December 31, 2015.
2011 Legislative: Minister issues a new supply-mix directive, which calls for renewable energy capacity of 19,700 MW by 2018, and instructs OPA to develop a new IPSP based on the Ministrys LTEP.
2011 The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster Japan
2011 Pickering Nuclear Station leaks 73 cubic meters of demineralized water into Lake Ontario due to a failed pump seal.
2011 Nanticoke coal-fired generating Units 1 and 2 shut down decommissioned
Capacity -980 MW
2011 Milestone: Ontario reaches 3,600,000 customers billing on Time of Use (ToU) rates
2011 Generation Procurement:
microFIT,
Green Energy Investment Agreement Power Purchase (GEIA)
2011 Greenwich Wind Farm completed
Capacity 99MW
2011 Gosfield Wind Farm completed
Capacity 50MW
2011 Raleigh Wind Energy Centre (Dillon) Wind Farm completed
Capacity 78MW
2012 Transmission: 500 kilovolt (kV) line which stretches 180-kilometres from Bruce Powers facility in Kincardine to Hydro Ones switching station in Milton carries power. It has 3,000 MW capacity. Removes restriction on wind and solar projects in the Bruce region.
2012 York Energy Centre Natural Gas peaking generating plant comes on-line
Capacity 438 MW
2012 Legislative: Ontario Trillium Benefit introduced as a tax benefit to low-income residents
2012 Ontario Power Authority merged with the IESO
2012 Atikokan coal-fired generating unit shut down decommissioned
Capacity -211 MW
2012 Bruce Nuclear Generating Units 1 and 2 on-line
Capacity 1,552 MW
2012 IESO selects two energy storage proponents to provide alternative sources of regulation 6 MW
2012 Generation Procurement:
FIT 2/microFIT program review
2012 Government releases "Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services" known as "The Drummond Report" recommends consolidation of Ontarios 80 local distribution companies (LDCs) along regional lines to create economies of scale.
Reducing the price offered to FIT program generators
Make regulated prices more reflective of wholesale prices by increasing the on-peak to off-peak price ratio of time-of-use pricing and by making critical peak pricing available on an opt-in basis
2012 The Report of the Ontario Distribution Sector Review Panel - recommends amalgamation of Local Distribution Companies to improve efficiencies. Chaired by Murray Elston
2013 Lambton Coal-fired Generating Plant shut down Decommissioned
Capacity -1,016 MW
2013 Nanticoke Coal-Fired Generating Plant shut down decommissioned
Capacity -1,985 MW
2013 Generation Procurement:
Hydroelectric Standard Offer Program (HESOP),
Non-Utility Generator (NUG)
2013 Severe floods resulted in a demand drop of approximately 3,800 MW as thousands of customers lost electricity service across the GTA.
2013 IESO implementation of wind generation dispatch
2013 Comber Wind
Capacity 166MW
2013 Pointe Aux Roches Wind Farm (Paroches) completed
Capacity 49MW
2013 Government: Minister of Energy releases 2013 Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP)
2013 OPG completes the 10.2kM Niagara tunnel to provide additional water to the Sir Adam Beck generating stations
2014 Regulatory: Directive requiring the OEB to amend the licenses of electricity distributors regarding CDM activities for the period January 2015 to December 2020 and to develop a DSM policy framework for natural gas distributors for the same period. (Issued under sections 27.1 and 27.2 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998)
Ref EB-2015-0117
Note: Amended by directive issued on October 26, 2017
2014 Low-Income Assistance Strategy Review
Letter from the Minister requiring the OEB to report on developing and implementing an appropriate electricity rate-affordability program for low-income electricity consumers. Ref. EB-2014-0227
(1) This letter was issued under section 35 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, and is not in the nature of a Cabinet-approved directive to the OEB.
Leading to the OESP EB-2015-0148
2014 IESO - Phase 1 of a new competitive energy storage procurement announced 34 megawatts
2014 Generation Procurement:
Thunder Bay Biomass Energy Supply Agreement (TBESA),
FIT 3
2014 Erieau Wind Farm completed
Capacity 99MW
2014 Port Dover and Nanticoke Wind Farm completed
Capacity 105MW
2014 Third Unit at Little Long Hydro added
Capacity 67MW
2014 Liskeard 1,3 and 4 Solar Farm completed
Capacity 30MW
2014 Thunder Bay Units 2 and 3 Coal decommissioned
Capacity -306MW
2014 New Third Unit at Harmon Hydro added
Capacity 78MW
2014 South Kent Wind Farm (Railbed) completed
Capacity 270MW
2014 McLean's Mountain Wind Farm completed
Capacity 60MW
2014 Bluewater Wind Energy Centre (Blake) Wind Farm completed
Capacity 60MW
2014 East Lake St. Clair Wind Farm completed
Capacity 99MW
2014 Summerhaven Wind Energy Centre Wind Farm completed
Capacity 125MW
2014 Atikokan Converted to burn Biomass
Capacity no change
2015 The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) merge into a single organization
2015 Regulatory: A Report of the Ontario Energy Board on the Effectiveness of Part II of the Energy Consumer Protection Act, 2010 - EB-2014-0158
2015 Legislative: The Electricity Act is revised for the sale of Hydro One.
The majority of Hydro One is sold to private investors
2015 Generation Procurement: IESO - Phase 2 of a new competitive energy storage procurement announced 17 megawatts
2015 Thunder Bay Unit Converted to Burn Biomass
Capacity 153MW
2015 Grand Renewable Energy Park Solar Farm completed (Grand SF)
Capacity 100MW
2015 Jericho Wind Energy Centre Wind Farm completed
Capacity 150MW
2015 Adelaide Wind Power (Landon) Wind Farm completed
Capacity 40MW
2015 Dufferin Wind Power (Shannon) Wind Farm completed
Capacity 91.3MW
2015 Goshen Wind Energy Center Wind Farm completed
Capacity 102MW
2015 Grand Renewable Energy Park Wind (Grand WF) Wind Farm completed
Capacity 149MW
2015 Goulais Wind Farm completed
Capacity 25MW
2015 K2 Wind Project Wind Farm completed
Capacity 270MW
2015 Bornish Wind Energy Centre Wind Farm completed
74MW
2015 Adelaide Wind Energy Centre Wind Farm completed
Capacity 60MW
2015 Nuclear Upgrade at the Bruce Power Plant
Capacity 31MW
2015 Kingston Solar Project Farm completed
Capacity 100MW
2015 Thunder Bay Condensing Turbine Project Biomass
Capacity 40MW
2015 Old Smoky Falls Units Hydro decommissioned
Capacity -53MW
2015 Legislative: Ontario Clean Energy Benefit Act, 2010 ends December 31, 2015 (Implemented in January 2011)
2016 Legislative: Ontario Regulation 398/10 comes into effect which changes the calculation for settlement of contracted generators. This reduced the amount that generators were paid resulting in a law suit Iroquois Falls Power Corporation v. Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation. The OEFC lost the case and is required to pay out the full contract amount in 2016/2017. An additional $260 million dollars went into the Global Adjustment.
2016 London Street Hydro Electric Generating Station expansion completed on the Otonabee River. Two 3MW generators added to the original 4MW capacity.
Capacity of 10MW
2016 Regulatory: the Ontario Energy Board put in place the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP). Ref EB-2015-0148
2016 Generation Procurement:
Amended and Restated Bruce Power Rehabilitation Implementation Agreement (ABPRIA),
Chaudière Falls Contract (CFC),
Large Renewable Procurement Program (Tranche 1) (LRP I),
FIT 4
2016 Legislative: Ontario Rebate for Electricity Consumers Act, 2016
2016 Regulatory: Letter from the Minister requiring the OEB to report on an appropriate electricity rate (or rate assistance) for on-reserve First Nations electricity consumers.
(1) This letter was issued under section 35 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, and is not in the nature of a Cabinet-approved directive to the OEB.
Ref EB-2016-0274
2016 Darlington Nuclear Station refurbishment project begins.
Refurbishment of all four of Darlingtons reactors estimated $12.8 billion.
Scheduled completion in 2026
2016 Grand Bend Wind Farm (Zurich) completed
Capacity of 99MW
2016 Northland Power Solar Empire Farm completed
Capacity of 10MW
2016 Northland Power Solar Abitibi Farm completed
Capacity of 10MW
2016 Northland Power Solar Martin's Meadow Farm completed
Capacity of 10MW
2016 Northland Power Solar Long Lake Farm completed
Capacity of 10MW
2016 Grand Valley Wind Farm (Phase 3) completed
Capacity of 40MW
2016 Armow Wind Farm
Capacity of 180MW
2016 Cedar Point Wind Power Project Phase II Wind Farm completed
Capacity of 100MW
2017 Peter Sutherland Sr. Hydro Electric Generating Station completed on New Post Creek.
Capacity 29MW
2017 Legislative: Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=4875&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill
2017 Regulatory: Directive requiring the OEB to annually review and publish the verified results of measures to maximize the efficiency of distribution infrastructure (Issued under sections 27.1 and 27.1 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998. This directive amends the March 26, 2014 CDM directive).
2017 Regulatory: Directive requiring the OEB to submit an implementation plan in respect of the governments 2017 Long-Term Energy Plan (Issued under section 25.30 of the Electricity Act, 1998).
2017 Regulatory: Minister of Energy releases the 2017 Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP)
2017 Niagara Region Wind Farm completed
Capacity 230MW
2017 South Gate Solar Farm completed
Capacity 50MW
2017 Windsor Solar Farm completed
Capacity 50MW
2017 Greenfield South (Green Electron Power) Natural Gas
Capacity 334MW
2017 Bow Lake Phase 1 and 2b Wind
Capacity 60MW
2018 Regulatory: The Ontario Energy Boards Implementation Plan for the 2017 Long Term Energy Plan is released
2018 Amherst Island Wind Farm completed
Capacity 74MW
2018 North Kent Wind 1 Wind Farm completed
Capacity 991MW
2018 Belle River Wind Farm completed
Capacity 100MW
2018 Namewaminikan Hydro Plant completed
Capacity 10MW
2018 Thunder Bay Generating Station Biomass Decommissioned
Capacity -153MW
2018 Fort Frances Unit Biomass Decommissioned
Capacity -47MW
2019 Nanticoke Solar Farm completed
Capacity 44MW
2019 Yellow Falls Hydro Generating Station completed
Capacity 16MW
2020 Loyalist Solar Farm completed
Capacity 54MW
2020 Napanee Generating Station Natural Gas completed
Capacity 985MW
Derek
Derek, My Dad worked on the construction of a dam on the Nipigon River when he was with Frontier College out of Queen’s university. I don’t have the exact dates, but I thought it was around 1930, perhaps earlier. Your list has Nipigon as 1930 which aligns with that. From what I understand, he worked during the day on the site and taught basic english and math in the evening to the workers – many of whom were immigrants – I have no idea if m/any were Indigenous. There are few pictures of that era, but he spoke of being dropped off at a railway shed in the middle of he night and listening to the wolves howling and how cold it was. He was born in 1905 so would have been in his mid-20’s while there. One thing he recalled as the worst task was shaking out the bags the cement in a large building when the weather was too bad to work outside and how thick the air was in the shed. Subsequently, again with Frontier College, he went to St. John NB where they built the airport with pick and shovel and wheelbarrow – as a make work projects / work camps Bennett created during the depression.
Thanks for sharing an interesting part of the history of hydro development!
Regards
Derek
Hi Derek,
How are things? It has been a while. A Beck operator I used to work with ask if I knew the location of the control room photo at the top of your Ontario Electricity History page. I pointed him to this page https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kelenfold-power-station. Any reason you used that photo rather than one from Beck 1 (other than it is very impressive)?
A second question. Peterborough Utilities Inc. say the London Street GS #1 was built around 1915 (https://www.peterboroughutilities.ca/en/pui/waterpower.aspx) but you (and the Ontario Water Association) say it was built in 1884, which makes it perhaps the oldest ac generating station in North America. Where did you get your info? There isn’t much out there for ‘the oldest hydro station’.
Thanks,
Mark
Hi Mark!
I’m doing great thanks, and I hope you are as well!
I’ll try to answer your questions as best I can 🙂
The photo I used for the History of Significant Events was from a source that allows use of the image under Creative Commons license. My website is non monetized so I don’t post images that cost me to use them. It wasn’t until several years later that I found the National archives photos of Beck 1 and explored the copyright implications of using them. So it was just a matter of timing and I may indeed change the photo to SAB 1 at some point, especially if it would be more meaningful to readers. I do update the events list about once a year.
As for the in-service dates for the Hydro stations, I’m pretty sure I got that one from the Ontario Water Power Association along with many of the others. There are multiple reference dates for in-service dates of generating stations and I have tried to pick the most credible ones for the events listing. I’d be happy to change it if it’s inaccurate, but I’d need a solid lead on a source. Thank you for the link to Peterborough Hydro! I’ll look into it.
I think there is more than one station with claim to being the first in NA…like in Wisconsin and Michigan. They seemed to start appearing on an industrial scale around 1880, but very tricky to verify.
Cheers
Derek
Two Hydro plants that should be added, both of which are on the Montreal River in the Temiskaming District
Fountain Falls which came on line in 1914 i believe
Upper Notch which came on line in 1932 I believe
Both plants were flooded out when the Lower Notch Dam was brought on line in 1971
As a child I lived in the colonies located at both of these plants, as well as at Hound Chutes where I was born.
My dad’s father worked on the construction of the dam and plant at the matabitchuan, then served as a dam tender until he retired.
My mother’s father worked at the Matabitchuan as well from 1935 until he retired. He was the plant manager there.
Nice to see this list of plants
Thank you for the historical information Robert!
What an incredible piece of history, thanks so much for sharing!
None of my sources have information about these stations, however if I broaden the search it’s clear that they were on the Montreal River and operated for decades.
I have included them on my list with a credit to you as a source.
Regards
Derek
You certainly have I fairly detailed history of the generation aspect of the Power System in Ontario. Enjoyable read. My first job in the electricity sector was at Chaudière #2 and #4. Zero automation when I was there. You said it was near Ottawa, it is actually in Ottawa just a couple kilometres west of Parliament Hill. I have pictures if you are interested. You should also add the Blackout Aug 14, 2003.
Thanks for taking the time to read the post and provide feedback Allan!
I have revised the Chaudière entry and added references for the Ontario blackouts of 1965 and 2003.
I would be very interested in any photos you may have that you would be willing to have posted to the blog in future articles!
Regards
Derek