Hydro One invests more than $845 million to improve electricity reliability in Toronto and surrounding areas

TORONTO, March 27, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, Hydro One announced it has completed more than $157 million in upgrades through ten transmission station projects across Toronto and the GTA in 2014 to improve reliability and replace aging infrastructure. In addition, the Company plans to complete over $688 million in additional improvement and replacement work between 2015-2018.

"As stewards of Ontario's transmission system, Hydro One is committed to prudently investing in its transmission system to support our province's energy needs," said Sandy Struthers, COO & EVP Strategic Planning, Hydro One. "These investments will improve electricity reliability in Toronto and the GTA today and for the future."

"Ontario is committed to building a safe, clean and reliable energy system for all," said Bob Delaney, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy. "Today's announcement will strengthen and modernize our shared energy infrastructure, ensuring efficient, affordable electricity supply for a growing population."

Through its innovative asset analytics tool, Hydro One is able to identify and monitor the condition of all of its critical assets and make more effective and prudent investment decisions. Replacing critical assets as they approach end of life is key in ensuring reliability.

Hydro One completed the following projects in 2014:
Main Transmission Station, Toronto - $9.1 million
Toronto Lakeshore Infrastructure Renewal - $53 million
Bridgman Transmission Station, Toronto - $12.3 million
Leaside Transmission Station, Toronto - $7.2 million  
Basin Transmission Station, Toronto - $7 million
Claireville Transmission Station, Woodbridge - $5.5 million
Cooksville Transmission Station, Mississauga - $32.1 million
Manby Transmission Station, Toronto - $5.8 million
Gerrard Transmission Station, Toronto $10 million
Trafalgar Transmission Station, Oakville - $15 million  

The following transmission projects are currently underway in the GTA and will be completed between 2015-2018:
New Clarington Transmission Station, Clarington -$295 million
Leaside to Bridgman Transmission Expansion (Midtown Tunnel), Toronto - $115 million
Richview Transmission Station, Toronto - $103 million
Connection of Toronto Hydro Copeland Tunnel, Toronto - $43 million
Manby Transmission Station, Toronto - $18 million
Bridgman Transmission Station, Toronto - $8.5 million
Trafalgar Transmission Station, Oakville - $4 million
Wiltshire Transmission Station, Toronto - $22 million
Gerrard Transmission Station, Toronto - $12 million
Leaside Transmission Station, Toronto - $37.5 million
Ellesmere Transmission Station, Toronto - $8.3 million
Scarboro Transmission Station, Toronto - $12.1 million
Carlaw Transmission Station, Toronto - $5.3 million
Strachan Transmission Station, Toronto - $5.2 million                                                                       

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario. It owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 123,000 km low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.

Backgrounder

Hydro One invests in Ontario's electricity future

TORONTO – Hydro One completed more than $157 million in upgrades through ten transmission projects across Toronto and the GTA in 2014 to improve reliability and replace aging infrastructure. In addition, the Company plans to complete over $688 million in additional improvement and replacement work between 2015-2018.

The ten projects completed in 2014 include the following upgrades:

Main Transmission Station, Toronto - $9.1 million
Work included the installation of high voltage breakers to prolong the service life of the equipment and increase the stations' ability to adapt to the power demand.

Toronto Lakeshore Infrastructure Renewal - $53 million
Work included the replacement of four 115 kV cables from Riverside Junction to Strachan Transmission Station, installed in the late 1950s. Two new oil free and maintenance free 230 kV cables were installed to increase reliability to Toronto Hydro.

Bridgman Transmission Station, Toronto - $12.3 million
Work included the replacement of protection and control equipment that was reaching end of life. New standard protection and control equipment was installed that enables greater operator visibility to all aspects of Bridgman Transmission Station along with better power quality to Toronto Hydro.

Leaside Transmission Station, Toronto - $7.2 million
Work included replacing twenty eight 115 kV oil circuit breakers with new SF6 breakers along with upgrading of the 115 kV bus and structures. Twenty-five 115 kV, oil filled instrument transformers were also replaced with new SF6 models. This work improves reliability to Toronto's downtown core and was the final portion of a multiyear investment totaling $20.5 million.

Basin Transmission Station, Toronto - $7 million
Work included the installation of two system stabilizers that will prolong the service life of station equipment not only at Basin Transmission Station but also at Gerard Transmission Station, Carlaw Transmission Station and Hearn Switching Station.

Claireville Transmission Station, Woodbridge - $5.5 million
Work included replacing two, 750MVA autotransformers, the transformer pressure relief system and associated equipment which had reached its end of life. The transformer pressure relief system is a state of the art system that protects the worker, environment and the station should the transformer fail. A fire separation wall was installed between each transformer to better protect the equipment. This work increases reliability for Toronto Pearson International Airport and the City's downtown core was the final portion of a multiyear investment totaling $39 million.

Cooksville Transmission Station, Mississauga - $32.1 million
Work included the replacement of all four station transformers that were originally installed in the 1950s. A fire barrier and noise barrier was also installed around each of the new transformers and a new low voltage yard was built. The upgrades and new equipment protection provide better visibility for operators and quicker response times along with increased reliability for the City of Mississauga, Enersource and other critical infrastructure.

Manby Transmission Station, Toronto - $5.8 million
Work included replacing seven 115 kV oil circuit breakers with new SF6 breakers along with uprating of the 115 kV bus and structures. The 115 kV, oil filled instrument transformer was also replaced with a new SF6 model. This work improves reliability to Toronto's downtown core.

Gerrard Transmission Station, Toronto - $10 million
This is first potion of a multiyear investment to rebuild the transmission station. The second portion of this station rebuild is scheduled for 2016. Gerrard Transmission station was built in the 1950s and the full rebuild includes replacing four transformers, switching gear, protection and control along with other critical equipment.

Trafalgar Transmission Station, Oakville - $15 million
Work included replacing a T15 transformer. Trafalgar TS has two T15 750 MVA autotransformers to transfer power from the 500 kV HV transmission system to the 230 kV HV transmission system. Additional work will be completed this year.

The following transmission projects are currently underway in the GTA and will be completed between 2015-2018:

• $295 million – new Clarington Transmission Station, Clarington 
• $115 million - Leaside to Bridgman Transmission Expansion (Midtown Tunnel), Toronto
• $103 million - Richview Transmission Station, Toronto
• $43 million – Connection of Toronto Hydro Copeland Tunnel, Toronto 
• $18 million - Manby Transmission Station, Toronto 
• $8.5 million - Bridgman Transmission Station, Toronto
• $4 million – Trafalgar Transmission Station, Oakville
• $22 million - Wiltshire Transmission Station, Toronto  
• $12 million - Gerrard Transmission Station, Toronto
• $37.5 million –Leaside Transmission Station, Toronto     
• $8.3 million – Ellesmere Transmission Station, Toronto
• $12.1 million – Scarboro Transmission Station, Toronto
• $5.3 million – Carlaw Transmission, Toronto
• $5.2 million – Strachan Transmission, Toronto

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 122,000 km low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.

SOURCE Hydro One Inc.

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