Toronto Hydro has launched a new pilot program to help multiplex builders electrify housing projects without costly and complex service upgrades. As a division of Toronto Hydro, The Multiplex PowerPlay pilot will support up to six projects across Toronto and help shape the future of electrified housing in the city.
Multiplex housing is playing a growing role in Toronto’s housing supply. At the same time, more builders are adding electric technologies like heat pumps and EV chargers. These upgrades can push buildings beyond their electrical limits, triggering the need for major service upgrades.
Through Multiplex PowerPlay, Toronto Hydro will help fund smart energy load management systems that monitor building electricity use in real time. These systems balance power demand and prevent electrical panels from becoming overloaded. This allows new electric equipment to operate safely within existing capacity.
Toronto Hydro will provide up to $50,000 per project toward the purchase and installation of the technology. By avoiding large service upgrades, builders can save money, reduce planning and construction time, and keep projects moving forward.
The utility will select six projects for the pilot. Participants will test new ways to manage energy and help shape future programs. Dan Smart, Toronto Hydro’s Interim Chief Operating Officer talks about innovation’s role at Toronto Hydro.
"Toronto has always been a place where innovation takes root. A big part of readying ourselves for our energy future is taking advantage of exciting energy–saving technologies today, and the Multiplex PowerPlay Pilot is helping us do exactly that. By working with builders to manage energy in new and different ways, this frees up opportunities for exploring additional ways of using power," said Smart.
The program is open to four to six unit multiplex developments in Toronto that focus on electrification and would otherwise require a 400 amp or larger service upgrade. Builders and developers can submit an expression of interest by May 31, 2026.
This pilot is the latest in a series of Toronto Hydro announcements in 2026 focused on modernizing the grid and supporting electrification across the city. Earlier this year, Toronto Hydro introduced new tools to improve outage communications, launched a major investment with the City of Toronto to upgrade streetlighting using energy‑efficient LED technology, and advanced other initiatives to prepare the system for growing electricity demand. Together, these efforts show how Toronto Hydro is taking practical steps to build a more reliable, modern, and electric‑ready city.