News Energy
New hydro line to spur agricultural growth in Windsor-Essex

A new transmission line between Hydro One’s Lambton transformer station and its Chatham switching station is anticipated to provide electricity to support rapid agricultural growth in the Windsor–Essex and Chatham areas.

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has requested that Hydro One continue to expand electricity infrastructure in southwestern Ontario by building the 230 kilovolt double circuit transmission line, which, if approved by the Ontario Energy Board, would be in service by 2028.

“This transmission line is another step in a multi-faceted planning approach to ensuring electricity is available now and into the future for Ontario’s fastest-growing region in terms of electricity demand,” said Terry Young, interim president and CEO of the IESO. “Over the last number of years, we have engaged with communities in the region, seeking their input so we can better understand how to develop cost-effective solutions to meet their energy needs.”

“We are committed to powering the growing economy in southwestern Ontario while we continue to work with local Indigenous communities and the broader community to plan, design and build a grid for the future,” said Mark Poweska, President and CEO, Hydro One. “By working alongside the IESO, Hydro One will energize life for southwestern Ontario and ensure a robust high-voltage electricity grid is there to meet the needs of our customers now and into the future.”

As a result of extensive planning, analysis and community engagement, the IESO is expecting agricultural electricity demand in the Windsor–Essex and Chatham areas to grow from roughly 500 MW today to about 2,000 MW by 2035 – equivalent to adding a city the size of Ottawa to the grid. The IESO’s studies also concluded that a Hydro One transmission line is the most cost-effective and timely next step to supply the region.

The IESO has been engaging with local and regional stakeholders, and feedback has shown there is strong community interest in an integrated solution of both traditional infrastructure and innovative options to meet electricity needs.

Further action will be required to address the pace of demand growth in the area and additional steps will be identified in IESO studies to be released this spring.

Given the rate of growth in the region, implementation of a variety of solutions to address growth is already underway:

• As recommended by the IESO in 2019, Hydro One is currently developing the new transmission line between Chatham and Lakeshore, expected to increase the amount of available power in southwestern Ontario by approximately 400 megawatts.
• Hydro One has recently energized two new transmission stations in Leamington and is currently building two additional transmission stations in the region.
• The IESO has invested $5.5 million in conservation programs in the region. These programs have helped reduce peak demand by 10 megawatts while enabling businesses in the area to save on their energy bills.
• The IESO has supported several innovative pilot projects with an investment of up to $2.5 million. These pilot projects will test new technologies and processes to reduce peak demand and alleviate the region’s load growth.

Before going to the Ontario Energy Board for approval, Hydro One will need to complete an environmental assessment and a detailed design of the transmission line, which takes anywhere from one to three years.

All in all, it takes roughly five to seven years to develop and construct a transmission line including the necessary approvals.