Ontario Expands Electric Transmission Network to Support Renewable Energy

The Government of Ontario is moving forward rapidly on a planned expansion to the electric power transmission network in the province.  Last September the Government asked Hydro One to immediately proceed with planning and implementing 20 major transmission projects across Ontario over the next three years, valued at $2.3 billion.  The transmission expansion is designed to improve access to green energy generation to support the province's Green Energy Act.  The projects involve six core transmission network upgrades, including North-South lines from Sudbury to Barrie to the Greater Toronto Area and an East-West line from Nipigon to Wawa. Smaller lines will also be built as part of the expansion to bring remote renewable power to the province's urban centres.

Hydro One, which is owned by the Province, owns 97% of the transmission facilities in Ontario.  The Hydro One transmission network is a 29,000 circuit-kilometre high-voltage network and includes 281 transmission stations.  The distribution network is a 123,000 circuit-kilometre low-voltage distribution system for municipalities and rural areas and includes 1,015 distribution and regulating stations. Hydro One has about 1.3 million customers serviced through 83 local distribution companies and municipal utilities.  Hydro one has deployed over 1 million smart meters and throughout 2010 and 2011 will be rolling out time-of-use pricing to its residential and business customers.