Hydro One, Ontario, Canada, is investing about $4 million to improve power delivery reliability to customers in the Timmins area. This work includes a major $3.1 million voltage conversion project that involved transferring approximately 750 customers who were supplied by the old low-voltage Vimy Distribution Station to the high-voltage Timmins Transformer Station. As part of this project Hydro One replaced about 110 poles, and five km of wire. Planned power outages were conducted in Timmins along Highway 655 so lines staff could work safely while replacing over 450 insulators. These were suspect insulators that could fail resulting in prolonged unplanned power outages.

Hydro One crews are also completing the relocation of six km of line along Highway 101 as requested by Porcupine Joint Venture. The relocation was necessary to accommodate the company's new open pit mine east of Porcupine.

"These work programs will significantly upgrade reliability to customers in the area," said Hydro One Timmins Customer Operations Manager Mark Bender. "This work is a reflection of Hydro One's commitment to investing in its power delivery system and providing a high level of service."

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.