What is Integrated Resource Planning (IRP)?
IRP is a comprehensive approach to natural gas system planning that considers both traditional facility and non-pipeline IRP alternatives (IRPAs) to meet a system need. These alternatives are assessed to determine whether they can reduce, defer or avoid a traditional pipeline project, while taking into consideration safety, reliability, cost-effectiveness, public policy, optimized scoping and risk management.
Non-pipeline IRP alternatives can include:
What options will regional plans explore?
Regional Integrated Resource Planning explores energy needs and the associated costs and benefits of a pipe or an alternative solution, such as:
- Conservation and demand management
- Energy options, such as compressed and renewable natural gas
- Pilot projects
Community engagement
We're gathering input from Indigenous groups and community stakeholders to help us understand what matters most. Stakeholders can include customers, intervenors, environmental groups, municipalities, government and other groups.
IRP Webinars | Stakeholder Engagement
The IRP webinars are designed to provide municipal planners, technical professionals, and regulatory stakeholders with an overview of IRP, the results of the IRP assessment on the 2026 Asset Management Plan Addendum – including a summary on projects by region – and an update on ongoing IRP pilot projects.
How the process works
Identifying needs
The first step is to identify the energy needs and the associated project.
Screening the need
Needs that require more urgent action may be excluded from the IRP. Additionally, projects may also be screened out by specific criteria that has been approved by the Ontario Energy Board.
Two-stage evaluation
Project alternatives will be evaluated based on technical and economic feasibility. During this evaluation stage, a decision to move forward with a traditional pipe project or an alternative will be made.
Periodic review
Changes, such as policies or timing, may impact the decisions made in the previous steps. Any changes will be reported annually.
