Skip to Content
transmitter lines

Newsroom

Hydro One and ITC Michigan Ensure Electricity Reliability Between Ontario and Michigan

WINDSOR, ON (Dec. 3, 2020) – Today, Hydro One and ITC Michigan (ITC), the company that owns and operates electricity transmission infrastructure in the state of Michigan, announced the completion of upgrades on an international transmission line that extends across the Detroit River from Keith Transformer Station (TS) in Windsor, Ontario to ITC’s Waterman TS in Detroit, Michigan. The companies upgraded equipment and installed optical ground wire an important component on transmission lines that helps to energize life in Ontario by protecting equipment from lightning strikes and improving communication capabilities across the electricity system.

“Our highly-skilled crews safely completed upgrades to equipment that extends across the Detroit River, so that we can continue to energize life here in Ontario,” said Andrew Spencer, Vice President, Transmission and Stations, Hydro One. “By completing these upgrades and working together with ITC, we are maintaining the reliability of the interconnected transmission system between Ontario and Michigan.”

“The line work performed by Hydro One and ITC is another example of our ongoing commitment to the operational efficiency of the greater grid,” said Simon Whitelocke, Vice President of ITC Holdings Corp. and President of ITC Michigan. “These system improvements enhance the reliability and safety of the transmission infrastructure while ensuring its ability to meet new energy demands.”

Crews used a pulley system method to safely install the optical ground wire across the Detroit River with ITC in Michigan this week, which was also dependent on local weather conditions. The river crossing is approximately 730 m with variable height between the transmission towers on either side.

Hydro One and the ITC received regulatory permits and worked together with partners including the Canadian and United States Coast Guards, RCMP and Windsor Police along with the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority, Windsor Port Authority and Transport Canada to safely complete these important upgrades. 

###

Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)
Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario’s largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued customers, approximately $27.1 billion in assets as at December 31, 2019, and annual revenues in 2019 of approximately $6.5 billion. Our team of approximately 8,800 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system, which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2019, Hydro One invested approximately $1.7 billion in its transmission and distribution networks and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.5 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association. Hydro One Limited’s common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.’s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.HydroOne.com; www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.Our website is www.HydroOne.com. Follow us on facebook.com/hydrooneofficial, twitter.com/hydroone and instagram.com/hydrooneofficial

About ITC Michigan
ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company based in Novi, Michigan, owns and operates two subsidiaries in the state: ITCTransmission and METC (collectively, ITC Michigan). The two systems comprise approximately 8,700 circuit miles of transmission line serving most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For further information visit WWW.ITC-HOLDINGS.COM. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit WWW.FORTISINC.COM.

Hydro One Media: 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868

ITC Media Contact:  Kelly Fulford, 248-496-1170KFULFORD@ITCTRANSCO.COM