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Home > In Your Community > New Projects > Transmission System Projects
July 25, 2008 — Biodiversity Workshop Summary
On June 25, 2008 Hydro One held a workshop with environmental agencies,
interest groups and First Nations to discuss the development of a biodiversity
initiative for the project. A summary
of the workshop is now available for download (PDF 980 KB).
Municipal Advisory Group Meeting
Notes
Hydro One held a second Municipal Advisory Group meeting on May 29, 2008.
These meetings are part of the consultation process that Hydro One has
undertaken to provide municipal stakeholders with project updates. A summary
of the meeting notes is available for download (PDF 288 KB).
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July 17, 2008 — Public Information
Centre #2 Report Now Available
Hydro One releases
Round Two PIC Report (PDF 733 KB) with Appendices
(PDF 7.5 MB).
May 28, 2008 — Bruce to Milton Connection
Newsletter #4
Read the latest issue of the project
newsletter, including information about the OEB Leave to Construct
Hearing, the environmental assessment process and Hydro One's
land acquisition compensation principles (PDF 2.8 MB).
May 20, 2008 — Upcoming Public Information
Centres
Hydro One will be holding Public Information Centres
starting May 26 to June 9, 2008. Read the newspaper Notice
(PDF 1.6 MB) for more information, or download the PIC
Panels (PDF 4.8 MB).
April 28, 2008 — Land Acquisition
Compensation Principles
This booklet
(PDF 1.0 MB) sets out the land acquisition compensation principles
for the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project. A main
consideration in developing the compensation principles was providing
property owner choices, flexibility and ensuring fair market value.
It is intended to inform property owners directly affected by the
proposed widened transmission corridor about their choices regarding
the land interests required by the Project. For more information
about this document, property owners should read our Frequently
Asked Questions (PDF 4.7 MB) or contact their assigned Hydro
One Property Agent.
April 14, 2008 — Bruce to Milton
Connection Newsletter #3
Read the latest issue of the project
newsletter, including a map of the revised Reference Route (PDF
4.9 MB).
April 4, 2008 — MOE Approves
Revised Terms of Reference (ToR)
On April 4, 2008, Hydro One received the Minister of the Environment’s
approval of the Amended Terms of Reference (Version 3) for the preparation
of the environmental assessment (EA) of the Bruce to Milton Transmission
Reinforcement Project. Hydro One is proceeding with the EA in accordance
with the approved Terms of Reference. Read the Minister’s letter
to Hydro One, as well as the Notice
of Approval (PDF 1.1 MB).
March 14, 2008 — Route Refinement
Recommendation Report
As part of the consultation undertaken by Hydro One on the refinement
options identified to date in the Bruce to Milton project, three
potential refinement areas were considered. The report
available for download below explains the analysis undertaken by
our study team to assess those refinements, that incorporated the
feedback received from landowners and other stakeholders, and the
recommendations made:
March 13, 2008 — Route Refinement
PIC Report
Route Refinement PIC
Report (PDF 200 KB) with Appendices
(PDF 4.1 MB) for the route refinement PICs held in Hanover and Acton
on November 19 and 21, 2007, respectively.
February 25, 2008 — Agency/Municipality
Workshop
As part of the consultation undertaken by Hydro One on the refinement
options identified to date in the Bruce to Milton project, agencies
and municipalities were invited to a workshop to confirm existing
information and help determine the criteria that would be used to
evaluate the reference route and potential local route refinements.
The workshop was held on January 29, 2008. A summary of the workshop
report is available for download below:
February 21, 2008 — Landowner Workshop
Hydro One has made a commitment to involve landowners at every stage
of the Bruce to Milton project. To meet this commitment, potentially
affected property owners living along the reference route and/or
within the refinement areas were invited to workshops to confirm
existing information and to help determine the criteria that would
be used to evaluate the reference route and potential local route
refinements. Workshops were held in Halton Hills on January 26 and
Hanover on February 2, 2008. A summary of these workshops is available
for download below:
February 13, 2008 — Amended
Terms of Reference
After the completion of the review period on the Amended Terms of
Reference (ToR) and consideration of the comments received, Hydro
One submitted the final Amended ToR, Version 3 to the Ministry of
the Environment for the Minister's consideration. The ToR and the
Record of Consultation are available for download below:
January 11, 2008 — Hydro
One's Environmental
Assessment Amended Terms of Reference - Revision 2, was posted
to this website on December 21, 2007 (PDF - 4.9 MB). The updated
Amended Record of Consultation is now available for download below:
December 6, 2007 — Hydro
One submitted a second Entry
onto Land application (Section 98) with the OEB for the areas
of Camp Creek and Halton Hills (Reference number EB-2007-0920).
November 30, 2007 — Hydro
One submitted an amended Leave
to Construct application (Section 92) with the OEB due to the
potential route refinements (Reference number EB-2007-0050).
November 19, 2007 — Download
Panels
(PDF 16.5 MB - high-speed internet required) from the Public Information
Centre meeting on potential route refinements, as well as detailed
maps:
Potential Route Refinement Maps
November 5, 2007 —
Hydro One will be holding additional Public
Information Centre meetings in Hanover and Acton this November
to present potential refinements to the Bruce to Milton reference
route. Read the newspaper Notice
(PDF 1.2 MB).
November 2, 2007 —
The proposed EA Terms of Reference (“ToR”) for the
Bruce to Milton Project was submitted to the Ministry of the Environment
on August 4, 2007. Hydro One has amended the ToR to address public
and stakeholder comments received during the review period and on
October 30, 2007, resubmitted a revised ToR to the Ministry of the
Environment for final review. We expect a decision on the ToR before
the end of this year. Terms of Reference and Record of Consultation
documents are available for download below:
Amended ToR
with supporting
documents (PDF)
Amended
Record of Consultation (PDF 1.62 MB), with Appendices:
September 10, 2007 —
Meeting notes from the July 25-26, 2007 Agency and Municipal
Review Group Meetings are available for download below.
August 23, 2007 — On August 20,
2007, the Ontario Energy Board issued a Decision granting Hydro
One Networks Inc. (“Hydro One”) early access to the lands
proposed for the Bruce to Milton transmission line. The decision
with conditions allows Hydro One access to land until April 1, 2009
to conduct certain survey, testing, appraisal and investigative
activities. Read the OEB
Decision and news
release.
August 3, 2007 — On August 3,
2007, Hydro One submitted its proposed
Terms of Reference ("ToR") to the Ministry of Environment
for the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project Environmental
Assessment. This officially begins the Ministry of Environment's
30-day public review period for the Terms of Reference. Interested
stakeholders should provide their written comments about the proposed
Terms of Reference to the Ministry of Environment by September 4,
2007. Comments should be directed to:
Catherine McLennon
Special Project Officer (A)
Ministry of the Environment
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12 A
Toronto, ON M4V 1L5
Tel: 416-314-7222/1-800-461-6290
Fax: 416-314-8452
The Ministry of Environment will forward all comments to Hydro
One for response. The Minister of the Environment will then make
a decision on whether to approve the Terms of Reference, or where
substantive issues are identified, may ask for revisions to the
document, or may reject it. If approved, the project will continue
onto the Environmental Assessment phase. All Terms of Reference
and Record of Consultation documents are available for download
below:
Proposed Terms
of Reference (ToR) (PDF 3.4 MB) and Supporting
Documentation (PDF 552 KB)
Supporting Documentation
2 Record of Consultation (PDF 1.8 MB), with Appendices:
August 1, 2007 — Download the
Bruce to Milton Keeping
You Informed (PDF 1.0 MB) and Notice
of Submission (PDF 1.0 MB) newspaper advertisements. Also available
are aerial photo maps of the proposed
Bruce to Milton line (Adobe Reader required).
July 25-26, 2007
— Agency and Municipal Review Group Meetings
As part of Hydro One's ongoing consultation activities on the draft
EA ToR document, meetings were held at Hockley Valley Resort in
Orangeville. The purpose of the meetings was to gather information
from the agencies and municipal stakeholders that may be affected
by the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project. Agencies
and conservation authorities were invited to participate at the
July 25th, 2007 meeting, while municipal planners and elected officials
were invited to participate in the July 26th, 2007 meeting.
The meetings included presentations on various aspects of the project
by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), Hydro One and a Ministry of
the Environment representative. In addition to the presentations,
discussions took place around the questions, concerns and issues
that were raised by the participants. Hydro One considered the information
it received and the concerns voiced during those meetings when we
prepared the Proposed ToR that was submitted to the MOE on August
3, 2007.
A summary of the proceedings of each of the meeting days is available
for download below:
July 13, 2007 — Download the Bruce
to Milton Newsletter Issue #2 (PDF 1.7 MB) and Environmental
Assessment Fact Sheet (PDF 680 KB).
Commenting on the draft ToR is just one way you can participate
in the Environmental Assessment process for the Bruce to Milton
Transmission Reinforcement Project. We will consider your comments,
update the draft ToR and then submit a Proposed ToR on August 3,
2007 for approval by the Minister of the Environment.
To ensure your comments are incorporated into the ToR submitted
to the Ministry of Environment (MOE), comments should be directed
to: BrucetoMilton@Dillon.ca
or by mail by July 27, 2007 to BRUCE TO MILTON PROJECT c/o
Dillon Consulting Limited, 235 Yorkland Blvd., Suite 800, Toronto
ON M2J 4Y8.
The MOE will then initiate its own public review and you can also
comment on the proposed ToR during this review period. A formal
notice will be published in newspapers advising that the document
has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and the process
for providing comments. Learn more about the environmental
assessment process.
June 25, 2007 — Hydro One releases
Round
One PIC Report (PDF 1.6 MB) with Appendices
(PDF 18 MB - High-speed connection required).
April 30, 2007 — Hydro One begins
Public Information Centres (PICs) across Ontario.
Download PIC Panels: Portrait
(PDF 5.3 MB) and Landscape
(PDF 7.0 MB).
April 18, 2007 — Hydro One announces
the start of Environmental Assessment and Public Information Centres:
Notice
of Commencement Newspaper Advertisement (PDF 1.3 MB).
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The Bruce to Milton transmission line is one of several projects
that Hydro One is undertaking to meet Ontario’s needs for the 21st century.
As our population and economy continue to grow, we need to ensure we have the
power to light our homes and businesses in the future. The Bruce to Milton Project
supports the Province’s climate change and clean air initiatives by providing
transmission capability to reliably and safely deliver an additional 3,000 megawatts
(MW) of energy from clean and renewable sources – enough power for Milton,
London, Guelph, Chatham, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton and St. Catharines, combined.
 The
Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has recommended Hydro One begin the approvals process
required to build the new transmission line that would deliver power from clean
renewable and nuclear sources in the Bruce area to Ontario’s electricity
consumers. To provide the necessary transmission capability, Hydro One is proposing
to build a new 180 kilometre double-circuit 500,000 volt (500 kV) transmission
line from the Bruce Power facility in Kincardine to Hydro One’s Milton Switching
Station in the Town of Milton. The earliest in-service date for the new line is
the end of 2011. Read
the OPA's letter to Hydro One (PDF 1.8 MB) or visit their project
web page.
 Before
this project can be built, a number of approvals are required, including Ontario
Energy Board (OEB) and Environmental Assessment (EA) approvals. This is an exciting
time in the development of Ontario’s transmission infrastructure. As we move
forward on the clean energy corridor, Hydro One is committed to working with residents,
businesses, Aboriginal groups and the communities we serve in an open, fair and
transparent manner, providing consultation opportunities throughout the process
to ensure we continue to deliver reliable and affordable electricity across Ontario.
Read
Hydro One's News Release
Read
the OPA's News Release
Read our Frequently Asked Questions
Read
the Project Newsletter: Bruce to Milton Connection - March 2007 (PDF 2.9 MB)
Read
the Project Newsletter: Bruce to Milton Connection - July 2007 (PDF 1.7 MB)
Read
the Project Newsletter: Bruce to Milton Connection - April 2008 (PDF 4.9 MB)
Read
the Project Newsletter: Bruce to Milton Connection - June 2008 (PDF 2.7 MB)
Read media
coverage: Toronto
Star, Canadian
Press, Kitchener
Record
Watch a fly-over video of sections of the proposed line:
| | The
Ontario Power Authority (OPA) was established by the Government of Ontario
in 2004. Its role is to ensure a long-term supply of electricity for the Province.
This includes a variety of responsibilities, including conservation and demand
management initiatives, preparing a long-term integrated power system plan (IPSP),
and ensuring investments in new electricity resources. www.powerauthority.on.ca |
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The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) regulates Ontario’s natural gas
and electricity industries. The OEB is responsible for ensuring construction and
operation of proposed transmission facilities are in the public interest. In carrying
out this mandate, the OEB considers the impacts that the project may have upon
consumers with respect to prices, as well as matters that concern the reliability
and quality of electricity service. When the OEB receives an application, it reviews
the material, makes the information public and provides an opportunity for stakeholder
and Aboriginal input. www.oeb.gov.on.ca |
| | The
Ministry of the Environment (MOE) works to protect, restore and enhance the
natural environment through tough legislation and enforcement, innovative programs
and initiatives, strong partnerships, and public engagement. The Ministry works
to provide all Ontarians with safe and clean air, land and water. www.ene.gov.on.ca |
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Hydro One Networks Inc. is responsible for delivering electricity safely,
reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses in the Province. We own and operate
Ontario’s 29,000 kilometre high-voltage transmission network, and our job
also includes building new transmission facilities. www.hydroonenetworks.com |
Along
with meeting the technical need to deliver the additional power, making best use
of existing infrastructure was a critical factor in the OPA’s determination
of the Bruce to Milton route. The use of existing transmission corridors before
the development of new ones is consistent with the Province’s land use policy.
Read the OPA's
letter to Hydro One (PDF 1.8 MB).
The need and rationale
for a new transmission line is discussed in more detail in the OPA’s Transmission
Discussion Paper #5 and Discussion
Paper #7, which can be downloaded from www.powerauthority.on.ca
and will be available at Public Information Centres in the
weeks to come.
The OPA has also recommended
the installation of two near-term measures and two interim measures to ensure
reliable power transmission from the Bruce area to points east until the new 500kV
line can be placed in-service in late 2011:
Near-term
Measures
- Increase the capacity of the existing 230kV lines from
Hanover to Orangeville by raising the height of the existing wires on some of
the existing towers.
- Install voltage support facilities at existing Hydro
One stations in the western GTA and southwestern Ontario. Additional voltage support
facilities beyond these may be required if the 500kV line in-service date is delayed
beyond 2011.
Interim Measures
- Expand the capability of the existing generation rejection scheme in the
Bruce area.
- Install series compensation on the existing Bruce to Longwood
and Longwood to Nanticoke 500 kV lines. Its use is subject to a delay of in-service
of the 500kV line beyond 2011, and technical acceptability that is the subject
of a due diligence study to be conducted by the OPA. Hydro One is also assisting
the OPA in this study.
The
target in-service date for these measures is 2009. The OPA has noted that the
interim measures are not alternatives to the new transmission line as a long-term
solution since they increase the risk to the security and reliability of the power
system. Aside from series compensation which requires EA approval, the other measures
do not require EA or OEB approvals.
The Bruce to Milton project requires
a widening of the existing corridor by approximately 53m - 61m. The widening will
make it necessary for Hydro One to obtain additional land rights, starting with
discussions with property owners. In parallel with these discussions, Hydro One
will also prepare to expropriate easements, and in a limited number of cases purchase
property for the widened corridor to meet the project schedule. Payment for expropriated
lands will be based on market value. Hydro One plans to install the new towers
in line with the existing ones to minimize visual impacts, subject to any environmental
and technical constraints.
We appreciate that acquiring property rights
can be inconvenient and disruptive to owners. Hydro One will deal with every affected
land owner in a fair, open and consistent manner. In summer 2007, a Hydro One
property agent will be contacting directly affected property owners to discuss
the land acquisition process and answer questions about the project. In the meantime,
you can contact us toll
free at 1-877-345-6799 or at Community.Relations@HydroOne.com. Click on a letter along the chosen route below
to see the proposed tower design and specifications (in PDF format): 
This project is subject to the requirements
of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) and an Individual Environmental
Assessment will be completed. There are four key phases of the EA process:
- EA Terms of Reference Preparation
- EA Terms of Reference
Review and Approval
- EA Study Preparation
- EA Study Review and Approval
A
Terms of Reference establishes the framework for the preparation and review of
the EA. It outlines how the EA will be conducted and helps ensure that the public,
Aboriginal peoples and government agencies know what will be considered. The Terms
of Reference is subject to approval by the Minister of the Environment. We
are currently at the beginning of Phase 1 of the EA
process: the preparation of the EA Terms of Reference. Public and Aboriginal
input will be collected during the development of the Terms of Reference. The
MOE will also initiate a formal public and agency comment period on the Terms
of Reference once it is submitted. This EA Study will focus on the transmission
route from Bruce to Milton. It will consider design alternatives (e.g., tower
types and locations on the corridor and access route locations), measures to avoid
and minimize effects and identify advantages, disadvantages, and net effects of
the project. Information specifically related to the EA process may
be found on the following pages of the MOE website:
In
March 2007, Hydro One filed two applications with the OEB related to the Bruce
to Milton Project:
Leave to Construct
Approval
The project is also subject to "Leave to Construct"
approval under Section 92 of the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) Act. The OEB
review of Hydro One's application for leave to construct approval also includes
provision for public consultation. Download a copy of the application
filed with the OEB on Thursday, March 29, 2007. Read the OEB
letter to landowners clarifying their role in the process (sent May 25, 2007).
Early Access to Land
Early access would allow Hydro One employees and
representatives to access properties along the proposed line to undertake a limited
number of activities (including field and legal surveys and soil testing) during
2007. If you are an affected property owner, Hydro One will communicate with you
before entering onto your land. Download a copy of the application
(filed with the OEB on Friday, March 30, 2007). Read the OEB
letter to landowners clarifying their role in the process (sent May 25, 2007).
To learn more about the OEB's role in approving the construction of transmission
lines, including information on provisions for public consultation, please visit
their
website. To view OEB Applications related to the Bruce to Milton project,
visit http://www.oeb.gov.on.ca/html/en/industryrelations/ongoingprojects_bruce_milton.htm. 
Download stakeholder presentations
and notices by Hydro One below: - May 27, 2008 - Public
Information Centre Panels (PDF 4.8 MB)
- May 20, 2008 - Notice
of Public Information Centres (PDF 1.6 MB)
- November
19, 2007 - Public
Information Centre Panels (PDF 16.5 MB - high-speed internet connection required)
- April
30, 2007 - Public
Information Centre Panels 01 (PDF 5.3 MB - Portrait)
- April 30,
2007 - Public
Information Centre Panels 02 (PDF 7.0 MB - Landscape)
- April 18,
2007 - Notice
of Commencement Newspaper Advertisement (PDF 1.3 MB)
- April 10,
2007 - The Township
of East Garafraxa Council Presentation, Hydro One (PDF 3.2 MB)
- April
10, 2007 - The Township
of East Garafraxa Council Presentation, OPA (PDF 550 KB)
Monday, May 26, 2008
4:00 - 8:00
p.m.
Grand Valley and District Community Centre
Grand River Room
90
Main Street North, Grand Valley
| Tuesday, May 27, 2008
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
East Garafraxa Public School
063066 County Road 3, Orton
| Monday, June 2, 2008
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Best
Western Governor’s Inn
791 Durham Street, Kincardine
| Tuesday,
June 3, 2008
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Hanover Regional Aquatic Centre, Auditorium
269 7th Avenue, Hanover
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Wednesday, June 4, 2008
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Egremont
Optimist Centre
392137 Grey Road 109, Holstein
| Thursday,
June 5, 2008
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Erin Community Centre
Erin Centre
2000, Shamrock Room
14 Boland Drive, Erin
| Monday,
June 9, 2008
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 197
15 Wright Avenue, Acton
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For more information, please contact: Enza Cancilla, Manager, Public
Affairs
Hydro One Networks Inc.
483 Bay Street, 8th Floor, South Tower
Toronto, ON M5G 2P5 Tel: 1-877-345-6799 or 416-345-6799
Fax: 416-345-6984
E-mail: Community.Relations@HydroOne.com 
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