Ontario plans to import electricity from the United States this winter, as announced by the province’s independent electricity operator. This comes just months after Premier Doug Ford suggested cutting power exports to the U. S. amid ongoing trade tensions.
According to a news release from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) on Oct. 1, the contract will provide additional short-term capacity for winter while “facility maintenance” is carried out.
The six-month agreement with U. S.-based Alpha Generation involves 600 megawatts and will begin on Nov. 1, IESO stated.
While IESO didn’t specify what maintenance work is happening, it’s worth noting that the province kicked off a multi-year refurbishment project at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in September.
Lewis Krashinsky, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University who studies U. S.-Canada relations, pointed out that this contract contradicts recent claims made by Ford’s government.
IESO operates independently and manages Ontario’s electric grid without ties to provincial governance. Nevertheless, Krashinsky remarked that this contract undermines Ford’s approach of leveraging electricity in negotiations with the U. S.
Ontario is exporting seven times more electricity to neighboring jurisdictions than it did in 2025, according to an emailed statement from IESO. (Colin Butler/CBC)
“For all the tough talk, I think it doesn’t look at all that good for Doug Ford,” he noted.
Back in August, Ford expressed willingness to stop supplying electricity and critical minerals to the U. S. as trade conflicts continued. Currently, Ontario provides power to around 1.5 million residents in Michigan, New York, and Minnesota.
“The best [Ford] can hope for is that this story doesn’t hit too many American outlets,” Krashinsky added.
“[If it reaches] the ears of senior American leaders, they’re going to just say, ‘Great, we’re cancelling this contract or we’re not taking you seriously because you still need our energy too.'”
Contract part of ‘normal’ planning: IESO
Despite bringing in imported power through this new contract, IESO emphasized that Ontario remains a “net-exporter of power.” Their mission includes ensuring a reliable and cost-effective supply of electricity for residents of Ontario.
As reported by IESO, Ontario has been exporting seven times more electricity than it imported back in 2025 to neighboring areas such as Quebec and New York.
The deal with Alpha Generation represents standard system planning aimed at securing extra short-term capacity while managing “system-wide maintenance needs” during peak demand throughout winter months according to IESO.
reached out to Alpha Generation for further details about the agreement.
However, no response was received from the province regarding inquiries about the deal; they redirected questions back to IESO instead.WATCH | Construction at Pickering nuclear plant began in September:
Construction started recently on a project meant for upgrading Pickering’s nuclear facility involving four reactor refurbishments. As CBC’s Rochelle Raveendran shares insights into this undertaking says it’ll create thousands of jobs but didn’t clarify any potential impacts on household energy costs.
Province needs to invest in clean energy: expert
Keith Brooks serves as programs director at Environmental Defence Canada and believes Ontario could have entirely avoided importing power from America had there been more focus on clean energy solutions over recent years.
Brooks pointed out that since taking office early on; The Ford government scrapped several clean energy initiatives while also getting rid of long-term energy planning requirements altogether when they assumed control over provincial affairs“The government has mismanaged this file,” he stated adding how much dependency exists upon nuclear & gas systems which are costly & have been kept active “much longer than originally intended.” p >“In reality we’ve increasingly relied upon burning gas here since we haven’t invested enough into building sustainable sources,” he went on. p >During Summer time , specifically June twelfth twenty twenty five was when The Ford government unveiled its inaugural integrated plan targeting Energy security across generations moving forward ; announcing ambitions including commitments towards nuclear usage aiming for ninety-nine percent zero emissions generation by two thousand fifty. p >According To Brooks , threats stemming from withholding said energies fall flat given most sourced gaseous supply stems directly via imports coming right alongside their required use needed within these provinces themselves. p >“[They could easily cut off providing us fuel access”, thus leaving local consumption stranded whilst hindering potential profits related selling excess surpluses abroad ]” , he explained. p >Brooks emphasized investing decisively into cleaner alternatives like solar panels & wind turbines since homegrown renewables would outperform reliance existing solely outside borders showing considerable advantages overall. pp >“We don’t necessarily need support coming externally whether concerning natural gas or renewable supplies -there’s plenty capability available here locally.” , concluded him
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