Hydro One invests $250M in area infrastructure

Hydro One is investing $250 million in Hamilton’s electrical infrastructure, as the utility company proposes a $17-billion plan to invest in provincial infrastructure that will unfold over the next five years. During a news conference Wednesday at the Gage Avenue transmission station, Jason Fitzsimmons, chief corporate affairs and customer care officer for Hydro One, said about $100 million is being used to upgrade aging transmission stations at the Gage Avenue, as well as the Burlington Street and Kenilworth Street stations.

The $100-million investment is part of Hydro One’s $250-million infrastructure project for Hamilton that was approved in 2019. The utility also planned to refurbish a power line installed in 1915 on the west Mountain, replace 270 poles and update technology in the city. Work should be completed in 2022.

Standing in front of two new transformers, Fitzsimmons said Hydro One, the largest electricity transmission and distributor provider in Ontario, is funding new transformers, improved technology to control and protect the electricity system and autonomous machines. He said the existing grid system was build in the 1950s.

“These upgrades will improve power and reliability for residents, industries and commercial customers including the steel manufacturers,” said Fitzsimmons. “This will support a sustainable economic growth in Hamilton and region for years to come.”

He said the projects at the two transmission stations are scheduled to be completed by 2023.

Hydro One, which has about 1.4 million customers, submitted to the Ontario Energy Board in August 2020 its joint rate application that includes its $17-billion investment plan for 2023-2027. Fitzsimmons said the infrastructure upgrades are projected to reduce power outage impacts on its customers by about 25 per cent.

The funding includes installing 1,500 kilometres of high voltage power lines, replacing 129 transformers and upgrading infrastructure at 200 transmission stations.