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Transmission System Projects

Supply to Essex County

What's New July 2008 - Hydro One has completed the round of public and stakeholder consultation and information gathering for its Class Environmental Assessment (EA) project and has identified a preferred transmission reinforcement plan for Essex County and Windsor. Transmission Alternative #2, as described below, has been selected as the preferred alternative based on an analysis of technical, environmental, social and cost factors, and public and stakeholder feedback.

Hydro One and the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) first introduced its preferred alternative and outlined the next steps in the Class EA process at the municipal council meetings on July 7 and July 8 in the Municipality of Leamington, Town of Kingsville, Town of Lakeshore, and Town of Tecumseh. See the presentations made by the OPA (PDF 567 KB) and Hydro One (PDF 409 KB).

As part of the next steps, Hydro One is holding a second series of Public Information Centres (PICs) on July 23 in Leamington and July 24 in Tecumseh to discuss the project and next steps in the Class EA process. A flyer and PIC invitation is also being delivered to all residents/occupants and businesses within 500 metres of the proposed new facilities. Read the Notice of Public Information Centres #2 (PDF 1.5 MB) and review the panels (PDF 3.2 MB) to be presented at the upcoming PICs.

Project Description
Hydro One has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to reinforce the electricity transmission system that supplies Essex County and Windsor to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for the future. While this Class EA project focuses mainly on addressing identified needs in the eastern part of the County, investments in new and/or upgraded facilities in this area would benefit the county as a whole. The transmission options and facilities under consideration are described below in further detail.

Hydro One is seeking input on the following two alternative transmission options described below and shown on the map. Both alternatives are technically feasible, satisfy the identified electricity system needs, and can be constructed and put into service by the target date of Spring 2011.

Alternative 1 (shown in blue on the map above) Construct a new 230 kilovolt (kV) to 115 kV transformer station and associated "tap" line in the Woodslee area in the Town of Lakeshore; Upgrade the capacity of the conductor (wires) on the existing 115 kV transmission line between the proposed station and Kingsville Transformer Station, and replace the wood pole structure on this existing right-of-way.		Alternative 2 (shown in red on the map above) Construct a new 230 kV to 27.6 kV transformer station north of Leamington; Construct a new 230 kV transmission line on a new right-of-way to connect the proposed station to Hydro One's existing 230 kV transmission line which runs east-west, south of Hwy 401; Construct a new 230 kV transmission line on the existing Hydro One-owned right-of-way between Sandwich Junction and Lauzon Transformer Station in the Town of Tecumseh.
(Click map to enlarge)		(Click map to enlarge)

The Need for Transmission System Reinforcement
The Ontario Power Authority (OPA), established by the Government of Ontario in 2004, is responsible for ensuring a long-term supply of electricity for Ontario. As part of its mandate, the OPA recommends investments in new electricity supply resources including transmission facilities.

In the August 2007, the OPA submitted its first Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP) to the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), the regulator of Ontario's electricity and natural gas industries. In preparing the IPSP, the OPA analyzed future electricity needs in the Windsor-Essex area, and in consultation with local distribution companies and Hydro One, confirmed the need for new transmission system investments in this area. Given the confirmed near-term need for new facilities in Essex County, the OPA has indicated to the OEB that Hydro One's Supply to Essex County Class EA should be initiated at this time and precede the OEB's public review process for the IPSP.

To learn more about the OPA and its mandate, visit: www.powerauthority.on.ca, and to review the OPA's analysis of the electricity needs in the Windsor-Essex area, go directly to: www.powerauthoriy.on.ca/WindsorEssex.

Hydro One's Role in Transmission System Planning
Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One) owns, operates and maintains 97% of Ontario extensive high-voltage electricity transmission system which supplies wholesale power to major industrial customers and large local distribution companies across the province.

Hydro One is responsible for implementing transmission solutions identified by the OPA. This involves seeking the required approvals for any proposed undertaking under the provincial Environmental Assessment Act as well as from the Ontario Energy Board, and designing and constructing the facilities, once approved. An integral part of these approvals processes is public and stakeholder consultation (see Public Consultation Section below).

Required Project Approvals and Processes
This project is subject to provincial Environmental Assessment Act approval in accordance with the Class Environmental Assessment for Minor Transmission Facilities and also requires "Leave to Construct" approval under Section 92 of the Ontario Energy Board Act. Both processes are described below.

The Class EA Process
The Class EA process has proven to be an effective way of ensuring that transmission projects with a predictable range of effects are planned and carried out in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Public consultation is an important part of the Class EA process. Following consultation on key aspects of the undertaking with member of the public, potentially affected property owners, government officials, Aboriginal organizations and other key stakeholders, Hydro One will make a draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) available for public review and comment. The draft ESR documents the alternatives considered and process followed, and presents Hydro One's recommendation for new and/or upgraded facilities and rationale for that recommendation based its analysis of environmental, socio-economic and technical considerations, as well as feedback received as part of its public consultation program.

The draft ESR is usually made available for public review for a period of 30 days. If no concerns are expressed during the review period, the project is considered to be acceptable. The final ESR is filed with the Ministry of the Environment and approval is granted.

If concerns are expressed during the 30-day review period, Hydro One will attempt to resolve them to complete the EA process. If Hydro One cannot satisfy all of the concerns, a stakeholder may submit a "bump-up" request for an Individual Environmental Assessment of the proposed undertaking. Hydro One would then consider whether a re-designation of the project is appropriate, and send its response, the draft ESR and the individual's bump-up request to the Minister of the Environment for a decision as to whether or not the project requires an Individual EA or if the project should be approved as proposed.

Ontario Energy Board Approval
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is the regulator of Ontario's natural gas and electricity industries. The OEB's role is to review a transmission project's effect on consumers with respect to price, reliability and quality of electricity service. The OEB review process also provides an opportunity for public input. For more information on the OEB, visit www.oeb.gov.on.ca.

Public Consultation
As noted earlier, public consultation is an integral component of the Class EA process. Hydro One provides early notification of proposed undertakings to government agencies, municipal officials, potentially affected property owners and other local stakeholders, and maintains a project mailing list to keep interested parties informed and engaged throughout the study process.

Hydro One and the Ontario Power Authority held a briefing for municipal officials in the project study area and local distribution companies serving Essex County on March 4, 2008 to review with them the proposed undertaking, approvals processes and public consultation plan.

• Download OPA's March 4, 2008 presentation (PDF 1.0 MB)
• Download Hydro One's March 4, 2008 presentation (PDF 1.8 MB)
  

Public Information Centres
To facilitate discussion with the public and seek input on proposed transmission projects, Hydro One also holds Public Information Centres (PICs) at key stages of the Class EA process. The information collected at the PICs helps Hydro One's project team determine preferred routes and/or sites for new or upgraded facilities and to address any issues or concerns associated with a proposed undertaking.

The first series of public information centres for this project is scheduled for:

Download Newspaper Advertisement (PDF - English)
Download Newspaper Advertisement (PDF - French)
Download Flyer/Maps distributed to property owners/tenants in the project study area (PDF - English only)

Download PIC #1 Panels (PDF 453 KB)
Download Env Features Map - Sandwich Jct to Lauzon TS (PDF 1.6 MB)
Download Env Features Map - Woodslee Area to Kingsville TS (PDF 979 KB)
Download Env Features Map - Leamington Area (PDF 1.2 MB)
Download PIC Comment Form (MS Word 116 KB)

The second series of public information centres for this project is scheduled for:

Download Newspaper Advertisement (PDF - English only)
Download Flyer/Maps distributed to property owners/tenants in the project study area (PDF - English only)
Download PIC #2 Panels (PDF 3.2 MB)

For more information, please contact:

Carrie-Lynn Ognibene
Community Relations
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