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Southern Georgian Bay Transmission Reinforcement

Update: Notice of Construction

In January 2007, Hydro One Networks obtained “leave to construct” approval for the Southern Georgian Bay Transmission Reinforcement Project, under section 92 of the Ontario Energy Board Act. Construction will commence in May 2007. Public Information Centres have been held, and directly affected land owners have been contacted. A notice of construction was advertised in local newspapers to announce the start of construction.

For more information, read the Newspaper Advertisement (PDF 1.7 MB) and OEB Decision and Order (PDF 50 KB).

The Need for New Facilities
Hydro One's electricity transmission facilities serving communities in the southern Georgian Bay area, including the Towns of Collingwood and Wasaga Beach and the Townships of Clearview, Springwater and Essa, are now operating at or above their capacity. As local electricity needs continue to grow, Hydro One and Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) agree that upgrading the capacity of area transmission facilities is needed to ensure a reliable and adequate supply of electricity in this area.

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has also assessed the area supply needs and examined alternative options for meeting them, including new generation (wind, gas and small hydro or biomass), conservation and demand management initiatives, and upgrades to local electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. The OPA concluded that while many of these options can play a role in helping to meet future electricity needs in this area, the preferred option is for Hydro One to proceed with upgrades to its existing high-voltage transmission facilities.

Project Details

The project involves upgrading the existing 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between Essa TS and Stayner TS and increasing capacity at both of these transformer stations.

Specifically, the following new facilities are required:

1. Upgrade 115 kV transmission line to 230 kV
   
   - replace the existing single circuit 115 kV transmission line between Essa TS and Stayner TS with a double circuit 230 kV line
   - replace two existing 230 kV double circuit towers with four circuit towers on the existing transmission right-of-way immediately west of Essa TS
   - no additional property easements are required for this transmission line upgrade. Ontario Hydro acquired necessary land rights in the early 1990s following completion of the Supply to Collingwood Environment Study Report, 1991 (See "Approvals process" below).
    
2. Convert Stayner TS from 115 kV to 230 kV within existing station property
   
   - add a 230/115 kV auto-transformer
   - replace existing step-down transformers with higher capacity transformers.
    
3. Equipment Upgrades at Essa TS within existing station property
   
   - add new equipment to accommodate the new 230 kV line.

Approvals Process
This project requires a "Leave to Construct" approval from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) under Section 92 of the OEB Act. Hydro One is planning to file its application at the end of October 2006. Pending the necessary approvals, construction could start as early as March 2007, enabling the new transmission facilities to be placed in service by spring 2009.

In 1991, Ontario Hydro (now Hydro One) undertook a study under the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Minor Transmission Facilities with a view to upgrading electrical facilities between Essa TS and Collingwood. (See Supply to Collingwood Environmental Study Report, 1991 PDF - 34 MB - High-speed connection required). Hydro One is in the process of updating environmental, technical and community information from the study, and will now proceed with the currently required elements of the proposed reinforcement project, as outlined above.

Public & Stakeholder Consultation

Stakeholder Meetings
Between August and October 2006, members of Hydro One's project team met with various municipal and provincial government officials, conservation authority staff and local distribution companies (LDCs) to brief them on the project need, outline the proposed facilities, and solicit their comments. To view Hydro One and OPA presentations and our consultation report, please see below:

Download Ontario Power Authority presentation (PPT - 505 KB)
Download Hydro One presentation (PDF - 2.9 MB)

Public Information Centres

Tuesday, October 10, 2006
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion
George Duff Memorial Branch #516
County Road 9, New Lowell

Wednesday, October 11, 2006
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Grenfel Community Centre
1989 Sunnidale Road, Grenfel

Thursday, October 12, 2006
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Stayner Community Centre & Arena
Regina Street, Stayner

Download Public Information Centre (PIC) newspaper advertisement (PDF - 535 KB)
Download PIC invitation mailed to residents in the project area (PDF - 536 KB)
Download PIC maps (PDF - 2 MB): East to West, Essa to Stayner - 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13
Download PIC display panels (PDF - 844 KB)

For more information, please contact:

Construction Contact:
Dave Willson, Project Manager
Telephone: 416-458-3085
Or call toll-free at: 1-877-354-6799
E-mail: Community.Relations@HydroOne.com