Major Transformer Station Upgrades Planned Under Hydro One Grid Expansion Program
Hydro One Networks Inc. has filed two leave-to-construct applications with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) for major transmission projects valued at approximately $3 billion, with significant implications for Ontario’s transformer station infrastructure.
The projects—the Northeast Power Line and the Longwood to Lakeshore Transmission Line—are designed to operate at 500 kV and will directly connect several key transformer stations, reinforcing their role as critical nodes in the provincial grid.
The Northeast Power Line will link the Hanmer Transformer Station in Greater Sudbury with the Mississagi Transformer Station, increasing transfer capability by approximately 900 MW. The project is scheduled for completion in 2029.
In southwestern Ontario, the Longwood to Lakeshore Transmission Line will connect the Longwood Transformer Station in Strathroy-Caradoc with the Lakeshore Transformer Station, adding about 550 MW of capacity and supporting rising demand from industrial and agricultural users. Completion is expected in 2030.
These upgrades place transformer stations at the centre of Ontario’s transmission expansion strategy, as they serve as critical interface points between ultra-high-voltage transmission networks and regional distribution systems.
According to Ryan Docherty, “Electricity demand in Ontario is increasing. These lines are part of one of the largest transmission line infrastructure investment portfolios in Canada that we are advancing together with First Nations.”
The projects also include participation opportunities for nearby First Nations through Hydro One’s equity partnership model, alongside ongoing planning and development work across all affected transmission and transformer station sites.
Source: ontarioconstructionnews.com
