Ottawa's power grid races to meet AI-driven data centre demand surge

A historic surge in large-scale customers is pushing Hydro Ottawa to accelerate its work at an unprecedented pace. The demand is largely driven by data centres, as noted by the utility’s CEO, Bryce Conrad. The Canadian Press reported these developments on 25 June 2026. Data centre projects are leading the charge for grid connections across Ontario. Their cumulative demand has reached about 6,000 MW, a 70 per cent jump from just two months earlier. Artificial intelligence growth is fuelling this rise, with data centres accounting for roughly 60 per cent of all requests.

Public institutions, including hospitals and government facilities, make up the next largest share at 17 per cent. In Ottawa alone, 34 large projects in the queue have a combined demand of over 1,000 MW. This equals about 86 per cent of Hydro Ottawa’s average load.

The Independent Electricity System Operator oversees Ontario’s power grid and wholesale electricity market. It warns that connection figures can shift as projects are withdrawn, paused, or advanced. By the end of the year, total requests from large-scale projects in Ottawa may surpass the average power use of all homes and businesses in the city. Hydro Ottawa is now working to meet connection demands faster than ever before. The surge reflects both technological growth and the expanding needs of major institutions. Most of these projects aim to link to the grid within the next two years.