CANADA - The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has commissioned Hydro One to expand electricity infrastructure in southwestern Ontario by building a 230 kV double circuit transmission line.

The new transmission line between Hydro One's Lambton substation and its Chatham switching station would provide electricity to support rapid agricultural growth in the Windsor-Essex and Chatham areas.

"This transmission line is another step in a multi-faceted planning approach to ensuring electricity is available now and into the future for Ontario's fastest-growing region in terms of electricity demand," said Terry Young, Interim President and CEO of the IESO. "Over the last number of years, we have engaged with communities in the region, seeking their input so we can better understand how to develop cost-effective solutions to meet their energy needs."

"We are committed to powering the growing economy in southwestern Ontario while we continue to work with local Indigenous communities and the broader community to plan, design and build a grid for the future," said Mark Poweska, President and CEO, Hydro One. "By working alongside the IESO, Hydro One will energize life for southwestern Ontario and ensure a robust high-voltage electricity grid is there to meet the needs of our customers now and into the future."

The IESO and Hydro One will continue working with Indigenous communities, municipalities, and associations as this project and other electricity initiatives in the region move forward.

If approved by the Ontario Energy Board, the transmission line would be in service by 2028.

Source: Hydro One