Increased system renewal investment, additional feeders, and accelerated feeder automation deployment will all help the company to restore power outages faster. Photo credit: Alectra Utilities
Alectra Utilities will be investing $18.6 million to upgrade Hamilton energy infrastructure.
The company spent $9.7 million in 2022 and plans another $8.9 million for 2023 to construct and renew various parts of its power grid.
The renewals and new infrastructure will help Alectra continue to meet the increasing electricity demands in Hamilton. Parts of the distribution system are reportedly at the end of their life cycle.
The work includes replacing underground cables and extending feeder lines, which transmit power along major streets. The upgrades are also expected to improve reliability.
In 2021, Alectra invested $14.3 million in extending feeder lines and adding grid operation automation to Hamilton’s system.
Alectra spokespeople say that Hamilton’s leading causes of power outages include equipment failures, adverse weather conditions, and equipment damaged by vehicle accidents.
The upgrades are expected to help address some of those issues.
Increased system renewal investment, additional feeders, and accelerated feeder automation deployment will all help the company to restore power outages faster.
Alecta renewal plans and upgrades for 2023 include:
- Renewing and replacing underground cable on Millen Road, Barton Street East, and Fruitland Road
- Replacing underground cable on Stonechurch Road West and Garth Street
- Constructing new feeder lines from Horning Transformer Station
- Converting parts of the distribution system to higher voltage on Aberdeen Avenue, Central Avenue, Deerhurst Road, and Dewitt Road
Some of the upgrades may include temporary power interruptions. Residents on Upper Sherman Avenue had their power turned off for approximately five hours in January 2023.
The company sends leaflets in the mail informing locals of their work and any power or traffic impacts it might have.
Alectra Utilities was formed in 2017 when Horizon Utilities merged with four other utility companies.
Alectra is Ontario’s second-largest electricity distribution company with its territory including Aurora, Barrie, Brampton, Guelph, Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, St. Catharines, and Vaughan, among seven other communities.
Recent press releases from the company note that Alectra also plans to spend $3.1 million to improve St. Catharines’ infrastructure and $10 million to improve Vaughan’s infrastructure in 2023.
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