The new capacity maps offer EV charging providers a clear view of available grid capacity and help streamline infrastructure projects

Ever wonder if your neighbourhood has enough capacity to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure?

Some utilities in Ontario are making it easier to find out by offering interactive grid capacity maps that provide a high-level overview of the available electrical load capacity across the city.

Toronto Hydro is the largest utility in the province to launch the new tool that may serve as inspiration and a blueprint for other jurisdictions in Canada looking to bring more visibility to the grid.

“The map helps provide more visibility into distribution system capacity for those looking to understand how their connection assessment may vary based on their project specifications and geographical location,” write Lauren Harris, spokesperson for Toronto Hydro, in an email statement to Electric Autonomy.

The publication of utility maps is part of an Ontario Energy Board initiative announced last year. The OEB is requiring all licensed provincial electricity distributors (LDCs) to provide customers with access to electricity distribution capacity information at both station and feeder levels. The overarching goal of the regulations is to enhance transparency for customers and support the growing electricity demand in Ontario.

Around 61 LDCs operate across Ontario. At least 15 are now offering capacity maps.

Uses and limitations

Toronto Hydro’s capacity map uses a colour-coded system to visualize availability.

Green represents areas with high grid capacity, while red highlights zones signal limited capacity or potential grid upgrades.

It will be updated quarterly to reflect any new infrastructure projects and potential increases in capacity over time.

Harris highlights how EV charging providers assessing multiple sites for non-residential charging points can leverage the map to streamline their planning process and “help reduce the number of capacity assessment requests [charging providers] send to Toronto Hydro because they will now have better visibility into what’s possible.”

And, so far, the map is getting “very positive feedback from the electricity and energy efficiency industry,” says Harris.

And while the map is a useful planning tool in the initial stages of a project, “Customers and contractors pursuing a new service connection or upgrades…still need to submit a service connection request after they consult the map so Toronto Hydro can provide more detailed connection assessment information, cost estimates and the necessary approvals before beginning work on their project.”

Additionally, the map isn’t designed for generation projects, as those require a separate analysis to determine hosting capacity.

Other utilities offering capacity maps

Following the OEB’s regulations, Alectra Utilities officially launched its interactive capacity map earlier this month.

“This new tool will support customers exploring grid connections and help guide contractors, developers, and other businesses in their project planning,” an Alectra spokesperson told Electric Autonomy in an email statement.

Elsewhere across Ontario, Hydro One, Enwin, Milton Hydro, Oakville Power, Entegrus Powerlines, and Halton Hills Hydro Inc also all offer interactive distribution load capacity maps for the areas they serve. Meanwhile, smaller utilities like London Hydro, Lakeland Power Distribution Limited, Canadian Niagara Power, Niagara Peninsula Energy, Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro,  Oshawa Power, NT Power, and Eastern Ontario Power provide PDF versions of estimated load capacity within their respective service areas.

In the coming months, the OEB will require utilities to “provide advanced and consistent capacity information maps” as part of a second phase of the initiative.

“The objective of Phase 2 is to provide customers with easy access to consistent and more detailed system capacity information across all distributors’ service areas,” writes the OEB in a letter about the capacity map regulations. “OEB staff expects to explore various approaches, including the possibility of a centralized platform to ensure cost-effective implementation of capacity maps across the province.”

In Alberta, Calgary’s Enmax introduced its load capacity map in 2020. Fortis Alberta and Atco have also published interactive capacity maps.

As for BC Hydro, a spokesperson told Electric Autonomy exclusively that while they don’t have a public map yet, they are “working on something to share publicly that [they] expect will be available next year.”

Hydro-Québec does not currently have any similar capacity map tool for its customers, confirms a spokesperson to Electric Autonomy.