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Hydro One spending $1.5 million improving reliability to Arthur and area

March 23, 2006 - Hydro One is spending about $1.5 million to improve power delivery reliability to Arthur and surrounding area. The project involves replacing about 10 kilometres of old 44,000 volt line along Highway 9 between Grand Valley and Arthur.

The existing line has a very limited capacity because of its small size, and condition of a number of poles on this line has deteriorated. Hydro One has had difficulties in the past when trying to backfeed the area when there are problems with the normal feed. In addition the new line will also provide options for Hydro One in performing critical maintenance activities without interrupting customers.

Work on the replacement line began in February and is scheduled for completion by the end of July.

It involves installation of about 180 new 60 foot high poles, 2,000 insulators, and 60 kilometres of new conductor. A total of 15 staff are working on this job, including 1st, 2nd and 4th year apprentices and supervisors.

"This project will significantly upgrade overall reliability in the area," said Hydro One Lines Manager Terry Bateman. "It's a reflection of Hydro One's commitment to investing in its power delivery system and providing a high level of service to customers."

Over the past five years Hydro One has invested about $4.5 billion in capital projects and maintenance to sustain and upgrade its high-voltage transmission and low-voltage distribution systems throughout the province. It plans to invest an additional $5.5 billion in system maintenance and upgrades over the next five years.

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 28,400 kilometre high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 125,000 kilometre low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 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 24 hours a day at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868. Our Web site is www.HydroOne.com.