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ARTICLE · 18 AUGUST 2026

Ontario Launches Data Centre Playbook: Proposed Framework For Grid Access, Electricity Costs And Project Approval

McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
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Ontario's proposed Data Centre Playbook introduces a framework requiring large data centres to demonstrate economic value, data sovereignty benefits, and community investment before connecting to the provincial electricity grid. The draft policy signals a shift toward strategic assessment of data infrastructure projects, with implications for pricing, grid access, and operational requirements that developers and investors must carefully navigate.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Canadian Energy Perspectives
Canadian Energy Perspectives
Ljuba Djurdjevic
Ljuba Djurdjevic
Gwenyth Wren
Gwenyth Wren
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On August 13, 2026, the Ontario government released a draft framework for its Data Centre Playbook (Playbook), proposing an evidence-based approach to evaluating regulated data centre projects seeking connection to Ontario’s electricity grid. If implemented, access to grid capacity for regulated data centre projects may depend not only on technical feasibility, but also on a project’s contribution to economic development, data sovereignty, and local communities.

The Playbook is particularly relevant for data centre developers, investors, hyperscale operators, AI infrastructure providers, and other large electricity users considering projects in Ontario. The draft framework also signals potential changes to electricity pricing and reinforces the government's expectation that data centres bear the full cost of their electricity consumption and necessary generation and transmission upgrades associated with their operations.

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