Hydro One and First Nations To Partner And Develop Three Transmission Lines In Northeast And Eastern Ontario

The Minister of Energy has directed the Ontario Energy Board to amend Hydro One Networks Inc.'s transmission license to develop and construct three new priority transmission lines to meet growing electricity demand in northeast and eastern Ontario. The three priority transmission lines will meet the needs of new and growing industries and help attract future jobs in these regions.

Hydro One and First Nations have been collaborating on early planning and will advance the development and construction phases of the projects together. First Nations have the opportunity to invest in a 50% equity stake in the transmission line component of the projects once complete through Hydro One's Equity Partnership model. Hydro One looks forward to continuing to work together as partners to support Ontario's clean energy future.

The three priority transmission projects the government designated will support capacity constraints and growing electricity demands in sectors including transportation, mining, steel, and manufacturing. The three designated priority projects are:

• The Mississagi to Third Line – an approximately 75 km (46.6 miles), 230-kV transmission line between Mississagi Transformer Station (west of Sudbury) and Third Line Transformer Station (Sault Ste. Marie)
• The Hanmer to Mississagi Line – an approximately 205 km (127.3 miles), 500-kV transmission line between Hanmer Transformer Station (Greater Sudbury) and Mississagi Transformer Station (west of Sudbury)
• The Greater Toronto Area East Line – an approximately 50 km (31 miles), 230-kV transmission line between either Cherrywood Transformer Station (Pickering) or Clarington Transformer Station (Oshawa) and Dobbin Transformer Station (Peterborough)

To support the growing electricity demand, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has recommended that the three new transmission lines come into service no later than 2029.