Archives

Hydro One undertakes large forestry tree-trimming program in Kincardine to Port Elgin shoreline area to improve supply reliability

April 19, 2006 - Hydro One is spending approximately $1.2 million on a major forestry project in the shoreline area from Kincardine to Port Elgin. The project involves pruning, brush control, and tree removals on over 320 kilometres of power line to improve reliability of Hydro One's system. Much of this area suffered substantial damage during severe storms earlier this year.

Work began in the fall of 2005 when Hydro One Forestry Technicians began discussions with customers and property owners in the area to prioritize the work to be completed. This project involves over 35 Forestry regular and part-time staff and work is scheduled to be completed throughout 2006.

The work will be carried out on many power distribution lines serving the townships of Huron, Kincardine, Bruce and Saugeen.

"Trees pose a significant threat to power lines, particularly in poor weather conditions such as high winds and freezing rain, so this program should significantly reduce unplanned power outages and improve supply reliability in the area," explained Rick Monk, Forestry Front Line Manager. "We remove only those branches and hazardous trees that pose a threat to our system, and every effort will be made to leave compatible low-growing vegetation untouched."

Monk said Hydro One is investing substantially in a much more robust Forestry program. "We're spending over $100 million a year on extensive vegetation management programs along our lines throughout the province of Ontario. Our goal is to get back to a six-year clearing cycle for all our lines, and customers should see a decline in the number and frequency of tree-related outages."

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 28,000 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.

-30-

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.