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HYDRO ONE INVESTING $170 MILLION REINFORCING GREATER TORONTO AREA TRANSMISSION GRID -
PROJECT ON TIME AND ON BUDGET

Dec. 15, 2004 - Hydro One recently passed a significant milestone with a $170 million project upgrading the high voltage power transmission system serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The upgrades include construction of the Parkway Transformer Station (TS) on a 170 acre site near Warden Avenue and Highway 407, and new 230,000 volt transmission circuits from Markham to Richmond Hill along the Parkway Belt corridor. This will allow movement of more power into the GTA to meet growing demand. Recently "taps" (short connecting lines) were completed linking 500,000 volt circuits on the corridor to the TS in preparation for installation of the first of two new transformers next March.

As well, new capacitor banks have been installed at transformer stations in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington to ensure adequate voltage support. This voltage support is comparable to an amplifier boosting the audio signal on a stereo system, or booster pump on a municipal water system to increase sagging pressure in the pipe from pumping station to end-users (or in this case to accommodate high summer electricity demand). Without this equipment the transmission system would not be able to maintain sufficient voltage to support electricity demand in the GTA.

This work is being performed by about 200 Hydro One staff including project management and engineering personnel, and trades construction workers. Most of the work is scheduled to be complete by March 2005, with all the new equipment operational by December 2005.

"Hydro One staff continue to deliver projects on time and on budget," explained Hydro One President Tom Parkinson. "This investment, and the speed and quality of work on this project are reflections of Hydro One's commitment to maintain high levels of reliability on its transmission system serving the GTA."

Hydro One owns and operates Ontario's 28,400 kilometre high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 122,000 kilometre low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.2 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Ontario Government.

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For more information and to make arrangements for photography, contact Hydro One Media Relations at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868. Our Web site is www.HydroOne.com.