August 14, 2026 Hon. Stephen Lecce, MPP Minister of Energy and Mines 10th Floor, 77 Grenville St. Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C1 Re: Actioning Affordability & Reliability in the Energy Sector
Dear Minister Lecce,
On behalf of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and our Energy Policy Council members, we are writing to share key insights from our recent discussions with system stakeholders and industry leaders, and to provide recommendations on Ontario’s energy future at a time of unprecedented demand, growth, and economic opportunity. Ontario is entering a period of significant energy system expansion. The Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) latest Annual Planning Outlook forecasts electricity demand to grow at least 65 per cent by 2050.1 As highlighted by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce in a recent report, meeting this demand requires governments to coordinate support for key strategic sectors such as critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, petroleum refining and fuel distribution, artificial intelligence and data centres. We need similar collaboration to ensure Ontario has the local electricity distribution infrastructure to enable housing, industrial expansion, and other energyintensive investments.2 Infrastructure expansion carries high costs: IESO projections indicate market electricity prices could increase by as much as 165 per cent over the next three years. However, even now, affordability remains a pressing concern. Continued geopolitical uncertainty and rising energy prices are squeezing businesses and households, and without action, these cost pressures pose a direct risk to jobs, investment, and industrial output.
Annual Planning Outlook https://vaughanchamber.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026-Energy-Report-Vaughan-Chamber-ofCommerce.pdf, Vaughan Chamber of Commerce. June 2026. 1 2
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