The Ontario Power Authority has announced that comprehensive consultations with Ontarians will be a cornerstone of its Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP) - an action plan to ensure the province's reliable and sustainable electricity future to 2025.

"We're creating an implementation plan that builds on the policy direction provided by the Minister of Energy," said Amir Shalaby, OPA vice president Power System Planning. "In many respects the planning process will be as important as the plan itself. While the plan will change, the process creates momentum, clarity, shared understanding and preparedness to meeting changing circumstances."

Shalaby said the consultations will be held over the summer and autumn months with consumers, community groups and other stakeholders. "When completed next year, the IPSP will be a living document, looking ahead 20 years but updated every three years."

To provide a foundation for the planning and consultation process, the OPA released today a "launch document" - Ontario's Integrated Power System Plan: Scope and Overview. The document outlines eight priority areas and challenges of the planning process and the first steps of the comprehensive stakeholder engagement process it involves. The eight priority areas and challenges are:
- Overcoming infrastructure deficit
- Maximizing benefits of conservation
- Integrating renewable resources
- Proceeding with nuclear investments
- Replacing coal
- Enhancing transmission
- Providing reliable service to growing areas of Ontario
- Exploring options for sector development

"Achieving a shared understanding of planning principles and challenges will improve the dialogue on electricity planning with Ontarians," Shalaby said. "The OPA will develop and share additional planning documents over the next several months as the basis for further active stakeholder engagement."

He noted that the IPSP will be subject to an independent regulatory review by the Ontario Energy Board. The OEB process will address both economic and environmental issues. The OPA's evidence, supporting the IPSP, is expected to be submitted to the OEB in March 2007.

Shalaby added that the stakeholder engagement will be open, transparent and comprehensive and will build on the same principles as have applied to all OPA public processes, including inclusiveness, accessibility and disciplined and fair management.