New Transmission Line to Support Growth in Northwestern Ontario

Nov 5, 2018

Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has asked Hydro One Inc. to start development work on a new electricity transmission line in Northwestern Ontario that will support future economic growth.

The new line will help transmit power from Thunder Bay to Atikokan and could later be extended further northwest to Dryden if electricity demand continues to increase. Hydro One is being asked to conduct development work now for the entire route.

The IESO manages the province’s power system. It plans and prepares for future electricity needs and works with its partners to guide energy efficiency efforts. Beginning development work on the line now will ensure the region is well positioned to provide reliable electricity supply to new businesses and other Ontario consumers in the northwest. A need for new electricity supply could emerge as soon as the early 2020s if there is high growth in the mining sector, including the Ring of Fire. 

“We look out over the next 20 years as part of our electricity planning,” says Leonard Kula, Vice-President of Planning, Resources and Acquisition at the IESO. “Taking action today will lay the groundwork so that communities, businesses and Indigenous peoples in the northwest have a reliable supply of electricity in the years ahead when the regional economy grows”.
Development work includes preliminary design and engineering, cost estimation, public engagement and consultation, routing and siting, as well as an Environmental Assessment.

Completion of development work will shorten project lead time, and the IESO will continue to monitor electricity demand in the region to determine if and when construction should begin.
A copy of the request is available here.

More information on the transmission line and electricity planning in the northwest is available here: http://ieso.ca/Get-Involved/Regional-Planning/Northwest-Ontario/bulk-planning