Page Description - Information and Content -
IESO
Company Descriptions:
- IESO - Ontario Independent Electricity
Systems Operator - The Independent Electricity System
Operator (IESO) works at the heart of Ontario's power system, connecting all
participants - generators that produce electricity, transmitters that send it
across the province, retailers that buy and sell it, industries and businesses
that use it in large quantities and local distribution companies that deliver it
to people's homes. Every five minutes, the IESO forecasts consumption throughout
the province and collects the best offers from generators to provide the
required amount of electricity. This allows customers to see prices fluctuate
based on supply and demand. As a result, they can shift consumption away from
peaks in demand to times when the price is lower. The IESO monitors the system
and identifies what is required to maintain reliability in the future, reporting
on these recommendations through regular publications. In its quarterly 18-month
forecasts of the growth in demand for electricity, the IESO assesses whether
there will be adequate generation and transmission facilities. In addition, the
IESO prepares the semi-annual Ontario Reliability Outlook, which reports on the
progress of interrelated generation, transmission and demand-side projects
underway to meet Ontario's reliability requirements. The IESO co-ordinates
emergency preparedness for the province's electricity system and played a key
role in managing the restoration of power following the August 2003 blackout.
The IESO continues to work with other stakeholders to evolve the market for the
benefit of all. Further enhancements will strengthen the market, enhance
reliability and provide Ontarians with greater access to information about their
power system. Location - Headquarters - Toronto,
Ontario Company website -
http://www.ieso.ca/
Board Of Directors:
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Company site link to Board OF Directors -
http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/governance/board_of_directors.asp
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Governance - The Independent Electricity System Operator is a not-for-profit
corporate entity established in 1998 by the Electricity Act of Ontario. It
is governed by an independent Board whose Chair and Directors are appointed
by the Government of Ontario. Its fees and licenses to operate are set by
the Ontario Energy Board and it operates independently of all other
participants in the electricity market. The IESO has full statute-based
authority for establishing, monitoring and enforcing reliability standards
in the province. All the companies that make up the power system in Ontario
must meet the IESO's standards. An audit by the North American Electricity
Reliability Council cited the IESO as a model for system operators, while a
peer review showed that its practices in enforcing reliability are
exemplary.
Locations:
- Location - Headquarters - Toronto,
Ontario
Management:
People - Campbell, Bruce; VP of Resource
Integration -
People - Finkbeiner, Darren; Manager-
Market Development and Resource Integration -
People - Murphy, Paul; CEO
- Paul Murphy (paul.murphy@ieso.ca);
- Mr. Murphy was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Independent Electricity System Operator in October 2006. Under Mr. Murphy,
Ontario's IESO is responsible for overseeing the safe and reliable operation of
Ontario's bulk electrical system - one of the most diversified, reliable and
efficient in the world. The organization also oversees the IESO-administered
wholesale electricity markets. Prior to his appointment as President, Mr. Murphy
was the Chief Operating Officer for the Independent Electricity System Operator
since 2000. In that role, he was responsible for managing the operation of
Ontario's competitive wholesale electricity market and for directing the
operation of the IESO Controlled Grid; forecasting and assessing resource and
transmission adequacy; developing and administering contracts and operating
agreements and for settling market transactions. Mr. Murphy is past chair of
IESO's Technical Panel; the panel of market participant representatives that
recommend market rule changes to the IESO Board. He has worked in the integrated
operation of Ontario's electrical system for over 25 years and in the
development and operation of competitive markets for the last ten. Mr. Murphy
has been the Vice Chair of NPCC’s Reliability Coordinating Committee and
represents Independent System Operators on NERC’s Member Representatives
Committee. Paul Murphy has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Queen's University
in Kingston, Ontario and is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario.
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People - Polatajko, Helen; Board Director
- Helen Polatajko is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information
Officer at CIBC Mellon and is also a member of the company's executive
committee. She is responsible for the overall strategic direction and
management of CIBC Mellon's information technology function. Ms. Polatajko
has over 30 years of experience in the technology services field and prior
to joining CIBC Mellon in 1998 as Chief Information Officer, she was CIO at
Mellon Financial's subsidiary in Houston, Texas. In 1996, she was recognized
as one of the Top 100 Women in Computing, acknowledging her achievements and
contributions to information services and technology. Since 2004, she has
served on the judging panel of the Canadian Information Productivity Awards
(ClPA) and is a founding member, and currently on the Advisory Board, of the
CIO Executive Council, established in 2005. Ms. Polatajko received her
education from The University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, attaining a
Bachelor in Science in Mathematics and Psychology degree, and graduated from
The Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.
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People - Shearer, Howard; Board Director
- Howard Lincoln Shearer is the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Hitachi Canada ltd (HCl), having joined Hitachi in October, 1984. He is also
a member of HCL's Board of Directors, a position to which he was appointed
in 1999. Prior to this, he served as Vice-President & General Manager of
HCL's Semiconductor division. Prior to joining Hitachi, Mr. Shearer was
employed in the high-tech industry by Texas Instruments as well as Murata
Erie. Mr. Shearer holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, and serves on the boards of the
following non-profit organizations: Responsible Gambling Council of Canada (RGCC),
Japan Society and the Canadian Nurse Foundation. He is a member of the
Principal's Advisory Council (PAC) at the University ofToronto as well as a
member of other professional organizations including the Energy Council of
Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Association and a Trustee of the Nature
Conservancy - Delaware.
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People - Stewart, Roy; GC & Secretary
- Roy Stewart has been IESO's General Counsel since October 2000. A
graduate of Dalhousie law School in 1984, Mr. Stewart began practicing law
in Ontario in 1986 with Fraser & Beatty, now Fraser Milner Casgain, llP, and
was a partner in the firm's Financial Services Group for the last eight
years at the firm. Mr. Stewart is also the IESO's Corporate Secretary and in
that capacity assists the IESO Board in fulfilling its governance mandate.
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Website:
