Alectra utilities

Throughout 2021, Alectra maintained a high level of service quality and reliability in Aurora with strategic replacement of switchgear, poles, and transformers, with new automated switches installed. These switches will provide grid flexibility and transfer capability in the event of outages.

Alectra continued to support system expansion and growth in Barrie throughout 2021, where reliability issues were mainly caused by adverse weather events and lightning storms. To support storm hardening, we rebuilt and reinforced specific sections of the overhead system to withstand storms and high winds. In addition to investments in overhead system renewal, we installed six new system automation units to provide grid flexibility and transfer capability in the event of outages.

In 2021, Alectra invested:

• $2.2 million to replace deteriorating underground cables in the areas of Dunlop Street West and Miller Drive and Ferndale Drive North and Benson Drive, reducing outage impacts for approximately 275 commercial and residential customers.
• $2.5 million to relocate assets at Anne Street and Highway 400 in support of bridge infrastructure construction.

Throughout 2021, Alectra maintained a high level of service quality and reliability in Bradford West Gwillimbury with strategic replacements of switchgear, poles, and transformers, with new automated switches installed. These switches will provide grid flexibility and transfer capability in the event of outages.

Alectra continued to support system expansion in Brampton by investing in the replacement of aged and deteriorated infrastructure.

In 2021, Alectra invested:

• $2.3 million to rehabilitate underground cable using cable injection in various areas across the city, reducing outage impacts for approximately 3,000 residential customers.
• $3.3 million to replace deteriorating underground cable in the Bramalea area, reducing outage impacts for approximately 20 commercial customers.

Alectra continued to ensure high levels of reliability and service quality in Guelph by investing in underground and overhead infrastructure.

Alectra invested in several significant distribution system upgrades across Guelph in 2021, including:

• $700,000 to rebuild the underground distribution system in the Rhonda Road community, upgrading the electricity supply of approximately 95 customers.
• $900,000 to upgrade and renew the overhead systems on Bagot Street and on Islington Drive.

Alectra continued to invest in system renewal and improving reliability in Hamilton for 2021. The leading contributors of reliability issues in Hamilton include failing equipment, adverse weather, and interference events caused by vehicle accidents and animal contacts. To address these issues Alectra increased system renewal investment, began constructing additional feeders and accelerated feeder automation deployment.

Alectra invested in significant capital renewal projects in Hamilton in 2021, including:

• $5.5 million to convert systems on Celtic Drive, Markland Street and St. James Place, increasing distribution voltages for approximately 1,600 customers.
• $2.7 million to extend infrastructure in Waterdown, providing contingency capacity for approximately 1,000 customers.
• $2.2 million for underground cable replacement on Stonechurch and Upper Paradise Roads, reducing outage impacts for approximately 640 customers.
• $3.9 million to install 12 additional automated switches to improve power restoration for 500-1,000 customers.

In 2021, Alectra continued to invest in system reliability and service quality in Markham, where deteriorating underground cable is the leading contributor to reliability issues. We have not experienced outages related to rear-lot services over the last two years, but we are watching the situation and will continue to address problems on a case-by-case basis.

Alectra’s capital investments in 2021 included:

• $1.4 million to upgrade and rebuild overhead infrastructure on Woodbine Avenue, reducing outage impacts for approximately 360 customers.
• $3.1 million to rehabilitate underground cable using cable injection in various subdivisions throughout Markham.

Alectra continued to improve system reliability and overall service quality in Mississauga, where the main cause of reliability issues is failing underground cables. When the city was being developed in the 1970s, it was common practice for cables to be installed directly in the ground, and not within protective duct banks. These cables are now deteriorating due to corrosion and need to be replaced.

Major 2021 capital projects completed in Mississauga included:

• $12.2 million to replace underground cable on Windjammer Road, Folkway Road, and Montevideo Road, as well as in the Sigsbee Drive and Brandon Gate area, reducing outage impacts for 1,300-2,500 customers.
• Adding nine new automated switches on the system to provide enhanced flexibility and improve outage restoration.

In 2021, Alectra continued to invest in improving reliability and service quality in St. Catharines, where the main cause of reliability issues is defective equipment and interference caused by vehicle accidents and animal contacts. Our current limited supply transfer capabilities in this area can hamper restoration of service, so we are constructing additional infrastructure from substations (and transformer stations) and implementing automation on these systems to address this issue. Together, the new (can the voltage be inserted here eg 27.6 kilovolt distribution lines and automation will enable more grid flexibility and expedite restoration of service.

Completed 2021 capital renewal projects included:

• $2.3 million to extend feeder lines in the area south of Carlton, providing contingency capacity for various residential and commercial customers.
• $1.0 million to relocate assets in support of Lakeshore Road widening.
• $1.0 million to replace underground cable on Elma Street, reducing outage impacts for 262 customers.
• 39 additional automated switches installed to help improve power restoration operations.

Alectra continued to invest in system expansion to accommodate load growth in Vaughan, where the leading contributor to reliability issues is failing underground cables. Substantial city development occurred in the 1970s, when it was common practice for cables to be installed directly in the ground, and not within protective duct banks. These cables are now deteriorating due to corrosion and need to be replaced.In 2021, Alectra’s investments in capital projects in Vaughan included:

• $4.3 million to rehabilitate underground cable using cable injection in various subdivisions throughout the city.
• $7.4 million to relocate assets in support of Teston Road and Rutherford Road widening.