Survey of Local Distribution Company CEOs 2026

Ontario’s electricity sector is at a turning point. Demand is growing, capital pressures are mounting, and affordability remains a priority.

Local distribution companies (LDCs) are being asked to support economic growth, modernize infrastructure, and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment; but the rules that govern how they do so are now changing.

On October 27, 2026, the Province released the final report of the Panel for Utility Leadership and Service Excellence (PULSE). It also introduced the Building Ontario Faster Act, 2026 (Bill 140), which sets out significant reforms to LDC governance, planning, and operations.

The second annual edition of StrategyCorp’s Survey of LDC CEOs was researched and written before that announcement. Ontario LDC CEOs spoke candidly about the issues shaping their sector, including financing and growth strategies, municipal shareholder relationships, regulatory pressures, workforce challenges, and the growing role of artificial intelligence. Many also described holding back decisions on ownership, governance, and financing until the PULSE recommendations were known.

That wait has ended, and the survey now serves as a record of where the sector stood going into reform. The Province’s response takes up several of the issues CEOs raised. The question now is how LDCs and their municipal shareholders respond, and whether the policy and regulatory framework around them can keep pace with the demands placed on the sector.

Read or download the full 2026 report.