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Hydro One investing about $5 million improving reliability in Clarence-Rockland

June 21, 2006 — Hydro One is investing approximately $5 million to keep pace with substantial local growth and to improve power delivery reliability to customers in the Clarence-Rockland area. A major part of this work involves replacing an old section of line with 22 kilometres of higher voltage line including 150 new poles along Highway 17 west of Rockland. The work is underway now, and should be completed by September.

"This project will significantly upgrade overall reliability in the area," said Hydro One Customer Operations Manager John Durant. "Not only will customers have the benefit of brand new equipment (poles, insulators, wire) but having the line run along the highway instead of in farmers' fields will improve access for our crews and restoration speed if there is damage that needs repair. This work is a reflection of Hydro One's commitment to investing in its power delivery system and providing a high level of service."

Durant said the new line will also improve reliability in Cumberland by providing a backup feed from Rockland. "We are continually assessing the condition of our system, and making improvements and upgrading equipment where necessary," he explained.

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.

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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.