Ontario is putting its chips on nuclear power and natural gas to meet its growing energy demand while directing IESO to incorporate gas distributors and the province’s economic development goals in its system planning.

Ontario’s newly released integrated energy plan includes a long "to do" list for grid operator IESO.

IESO is scheduled to launch its new nodal market May 1, a change it says will save Ontario $700 million over the next decade through reduced out-of-market payments and increased efficiency.

IESO has 37.2 GW of installed capacity and 18,640 miles of transmission, both ranked seventh among the nine organized markets in the U.S. and Canada.