Hydro One launches $17-billion investment plan to improve reliability for customers
On Friday, Hydro One announced its $17 billion investment plan which will consist of building more reliable electrical systems across the province, including here in northern Ontario.
The announcement was made in Sudbury where officials say this five-year investment plan is focused on improving reliability for customers and reducing the number of power outages.
“We’re predicting that we expect to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in outages for our rural customers on the distribution network,” said Hydro One COO David Lebeter.
“We are making investments in a grid resilience to address climate change, and we’re making investments to address the customers desire for making a future proof system so we’re able to meet their needs today and in the future,”
Hydro One says it will be upgrading equipment on the distribution system and that includes replacing approximately 65,000 wooden poles.
Lebeter says the Greater Sudbury area is very different than southern Ontario, and the geography makes restoring service after a power interruption quite challenging at times.
“This population is spread out…there’s lots of forest and lots of waterways. What that means is we have to run a lot more kilometres of conductor and use more poles,” said Lebeter.
“It makes it more difficult to restore power during an outage which is unfortunate for our customers so we’re putting investments in place which are going to reduce the duration of those outages and reduce the number of outages.”
Officials with the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce say this will give all Hydro One customers some peace of mind knowing that they will have more reliable service.
“Certainly for the businesses that rely on hydro one,” said Chamber president Debbi Nicholson.
“They can be assured that they are going to have a reliant source of hydro going into the future and for the residents that are hydro one customers, they will know to that they can be assured that they won’t have brown out and black outs and things like that.”
Officials say the improvements will completed by 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Follow live: Notorious killer Paul Bernardo seeks parole
Paul Bernardo, one of Canada’s most notorious killers, is seeking parole at the medium security La Macaza Institution in Quebec. He was transferred there from an Ontario maximum-security prison last year, to significant public outcry.
DEVELOPING Trudeau, cabinet to face fresh questions about Trump's major Canadian tariff threat
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet are expected to face fresh questions today about Donald Trump vowing to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico on his first day in office, if border issues aren’t addressed.
Ontario woman buys van with odometer rolled back almost 100,000 kilometres
An Ontario woman thought she got a good deal when she bought a van for $2,700, but later learned the odometer had been rolled back nearly 100,000 kilometres.
Canada Post strike update: 10 million parcels missed so far as Black Friday approaches
Canada Post says it's missed out on delivering an estimated 10 million parcels as a strike by more than 55,000 workers across the country continues ahead of Black Friday.
Toronto police charge woman in Taylor Swift ticket scam that cost victims $70,000
A Burlington, Ont. woman who allegedly sold fake tickets to Taylor Swift’s concerts in Toronto and scammed fans out of tens of thousands of dollars is facing charges, police say.
Bank of Canada says inflation will fade into background as it settles at 2 per cent
The Bank of Canada on Tuesday said inflation, which has been the center of attention and unhappiness for years amid rising prices, should fade into the background again as the annual rate settled back at 2 per cent.
Notorious killer Paul Bernardo appearing before Parole Board of Canada
Notorious killer Paul Bernardo is appearing before the Parole Board of Canada today for a hearing.
'Be vigilant': 24 arsons in south Edmonton under police investigation
The Edmonton Police Service now says it is investigating 24 suspicious fires in south Edmonton.
Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie
If life imitates art, a vandal may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come for smashing a tombstone that marked the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge in the English countryside.