Replacing aging Hydro Ottawa infrastructure and assets in poor condition will help minimize unplanned service interruptions.
Aging infrastructure is a risk to our network.
The Hydro Ottawa distribution network comprises about 165,000 assets across our stations, overhead lines and underground infrastructure. Each of these systems is a potential source of risk to the uninterrupted delivery of our electricity services. As these assets age, the risk they present increases because older systems are more likely to fail.
To keep electricity flowing to Ottawa homes and businesses, we must maintain our assets and, in many cases, invest in new ones.
Our assets are getting older.
Segments of our network need attention to reduce the risk of failure:
- A significant portion of our assets — about a quarter — have reached the end of their expected service life, and 15 per cent more are expected to within the next decade. Though we continue to maintain assets past this point, the chance of failure remains higher. Replacement is the best option for any asset beyond its expected service life, which demands investment.
- Hydro Ottawa also owns around 367,000 electricity meters. More than 60 per cent are operating beyond their expected service life. Planning is underway on an initiative to replace these meters with upgraded ones, as well as to enhance data management and other supporting functions.
We start by taking a hard look at our assets.
Unfortunately, we can’t replace everything that needs replacing all at once. That’s why our investment planning process involves careful consideration of how many assets we can replace during a given period and how many we can afford to push further into the future. For instance, assets we’ve classified as being in “poor” or “very poor” condition pose a high risk of failure, making their replacement a top priority.
Greater investment means better service.
The more aging infrastructure and equipment we’re able to replace, the stronger our grid becomes.
- By replacing old stations and distribution assets, we reduce the chance of unplanned outages that can result when assets fail.
- By replacing old meters that are more prone to failure and evolving our Advanced Metering Infrastructure, we can better ensure accurate billing and customer satisfaction.
Investing in our infrastructure is an investment in our future.
A lack of investment, or delayed investments, would mean lower short-term costs to customers. It would also mean less cost certainty in the long run, which could lead to steeper rate increases later on. Delays would also negatively affect the quality of our service today — and Ottawa’s ability to innovate and grow in the future through grid modernization initiatives.
A strong, healthy grid is more important than ever before.
With increasing severe weather events and a fast-growing population, Ottawa’s power grid needs to be ready for the future.
- Proactively replacing aging assets will improve our grid’s reliability against potential sources of disruption. Without these replacements, our system remains vulnerable to extended outages during critical periods.
- Ottawa is expected to grow beyond the capacity of our existing 4kV stations, many of which are approaching or beyond their intended service life. Regions served by the 4kV system will need to be transitioned to a higher voltage infrastructure.