The need for many of the transmission projects will depend on decisions on the generation/supply options that will flow from an approved Integrated Power System Plan . While some projects will be longer-term, others will need to proceed more quickly to ensure reliable supply to Ontarians.

Public Input and Debate

In all cases there will be full opportunity for public input and debate both under the Environmental Assessment Act and also the Ontario Energy Board’s 'Leave to Construct' process .

Longer-term Projects

National East-West Power Grid

Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland have tremendous hydroelectric resources that could be developed if appropriate infrastructure were in place. Northern rivers and streams in Ontario also hold potential for electricity generation. Consequently, Ontario has been in ongoing discussions with Quebec, Newfoundland and Manitoba about reinforcing and expanding our interconnections with each other as a first step in creating a national east-west power grid. In addition to provincial interconnections, an essential component that enables the National Power Grid is the reinforcement of the transmission system between northwestern and northeastern Ontario, and between the Bruce region and southern Ontario.

Manitoba Clean Energy Transfer Initiative (CETI)

The government is committed to reaching a long-term agreement with Manitoba for the transfer of up to 3,000 megawatts of clean, green electricity to Ontario. The Ministers of Energy for Ontario and Manitoba signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the proposed Clean Energy Transfer Initiative (CETI) on October 27, 2005. As part of this initiative, the government is working with northern First Nations through the Chiefs Steering Committee on the proposed transmission corridor. The map indicates some of the possible routes for the CETI transmission corridor.

Quebec-Ontario Transmission Interconnection Project

On November 14, 2006, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Quebec’s Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife announced the signing of an agreement on a new transmission interconnect to be built east of Ottawa. This new link will:

• Provide the province with the potential to move 1,250 MW of power, or about 4% of Ontario’s installed capacity of 30,000 MW, between the two provinces
• Help meet the needs of more than 400,000 average homes in Ontario
• Reduce our need to import electricity from the United States
• Generate investments totaling $684 million for Québec and $124 million for Ontario

The first phase of the project - the new connection with Ontario - will come into service on May 1, 2009, and will have capacity of 900 MW. The second phase - the addition of a reinforcement line - will be brought into service in the spring of 2010, and will increase the connection's capacity to 1,250 MW.

Shorter-Term Projects to Ease Transmission Congestion

Some parts of the province’s transmission system face notable development and integration challenges. Among these are the Central Toronto and Western Greater Toronto Area, Bruce/Southwestern Ontario, Niagara Reinforcement and the North/South Transmission Corridor.

Central Toronto

At present, all of the power consumed in Toronto is generated outside the city. Under peak conditions, the capacity of the transmission wires is not sufficient to meet demand. Part of the solution is new local generation supply, in the form of the Portlands Energy Centre , currently being built on Toronto’s waterfront. Completion of the John Transformer Station (TS) to Esplanade TS link by Hydro One will also enhance reliability to central Toronto by increasing the capability to transfer some loads from their normal supply east of the city, to an alternate supply from the west, and vice versa.

The Ontario government also annoucned general conservation measures to help reduce demand. All three measures - supply, transmission and conservation - are required to meet the city's future energy needs.

Western Greater Toronto Area

The most notable area of concern in the western part of the GTA is the strain on transformers that deliver power from generation outside the area into the local transmission grid serving the GTA. As with central Toronto, new generation – in the form of the 860 MW Goreway Station project and the 683 MW Halton Hills project – aims to address these transformer issues.

Also of concern is the amount of electricity supplied by a transmission line serving demand in Mississauga and Brampton. To provide relief to this transmission line, Hydro One has begun work on transmission reinforcements involving a new station and lines in south Brampton. This work is expected to be completed in 2009.

Capacity to Deliver Increased Generation from the Bruce Region

By 2009, the existing electricity transmission system will be unable to fully accommodate new supply from clean renewable wind generators and from re-furbished nuclear units in the Bruce Peninsula. New high voltage (500kV) transmission out of the Bruce Peninsula is required to ensure that electricity customers in the rest of the Province benefit from the committed wind and nuclear resources in the area. A new line will also enable the development of significant additional wind resources in the Peninsula.

Niagara Reinforcement

The Niagara Reinforcement project involves upgrading existing transmission lines in the Niagara Peninsula between Niagara Falls and Middleport, south of Hamilton. (link to Map) (PDF 2.3 MB). The reinforcement project includes replacing an existing double circuit 115 kV transmission line with a double circuit 230 kV transmission line between Allanburg TS located in Thorold and Caledonia TS located in Caledonia and constructing a new double circuit 230 kV transmission line between Caledonia TS and Middleport TS located near Caledonia.

North-South Transmission Needs

Over the years, the transmission system’s ability to deliver additional energy from the north to the south has waned as new generation developments in Northern Ontario (including from renewable sources) absorb the available transfer capability. Power flowing south from Hanmer TS in Sudbury to Essa TS in Barrie is presently restricted to 1,400 MW. Expansion of existing hydroelectric generation stations on the Lower Mattagami River north of Kapuskasing could result in 450 MW of additional generation. A series of transmission enhancements along all segments of the north and south lines including the construction of new 500 kV transmission lines will be required to address existing congestion and achieve full availability of the additional generation.