Akin to the longstanding Canadian television series “How it’s Made,” we’re about to take you on an adventure to understand the journey of electricity. There is literal and figurative power in being able to flick a switch to turn the lights on, so let’s take a look at what makes this possible.
As communities embrace electric vehicles, smart technologies and renewable energy sources, the demand for electricity continues to surge. To keep pace, Hydro Ottawa is planning to construct a new substation annually—something that we used to do every five or seven years. This proactive approach will ensure we not only meet current demands but also prepare for future growth. These new substations are an important part of the journey of electricity, integrating seamlessly into our existing infrastructure to ensure a reliable and efficient delivery of power. Join us as we explore the fascinating journey of electricity from generation to you.
Getting started: The generation stage
In order for the journey to begin, electricity must first be generated. It is reported that Canada’s electricity generation capacity will need to double or triple to meet future electrification demands.
Ontario’s supply mix includes nuclear power, which accounts for a significant portion of the province's energy production at 50.7 per cent, followed by water power, the leading source of renewable energy, at 24.5 percent. Other renewable sources such as wind and solar also contribute to the mix. Additionally, natural gas and bioenergy play a role in meeting the province's electricity demands. This diverse supply mix helps to ensure a reliable and balanced electricity supply for Ontario.
Environmental sustainability is a central focus at the generation stage. For our part, Hydro Ottawa, through its affiliate Portate Power, has 131 megawatts (MW) of installed green generation, which is enough clean energy to power 110,000 homes annually (or one third of the city of Ottawa). This green generation infrastructure consists of 18 run-of-the-river hydroelectric facilities in Ontario, Quebec and New York State, 16 large solar installations, and two landfill gas-to-energy plants.
Oh the places we’ll go: The transmission stage
As mentioned in our substation article, electricity is generated at a relatively low voltage. In order to prevent energy losses that can happen when electricity travels across long distances, the next checkpoint in the journey is for electricity to pass through a step-up transformer substation to increase the voltage. From here, electricity travels through lines along transmission towers - tall metal towers with specialized cables designed to carry high voltage electricity over long distances. These towers keep these lines safely above human, animal and tree interaction.
Preparing for landing: The distribution stage
After transmission, electricity passes through Hydro Ottawa’s extensive distribution network, a cornerstone of our operations as Ottawa’s local distribution company (LDC). Our network spans 1,116 square kilometres and encompasses 6,268 km of underground wires and overhead power lines, 92 substations, 38,946 transformers, and 49,027 poles. This intricate web of infrastructure ensures that power reliably reaches every corner of our community, keeping homes, businesses, and essential services running smoothly.
Electricity from transmission towers arrives at a step-down transformer substation, where it is reduced to approximately 44,000 volts. This power then goes directly to large industrial customers or forwarded to distribution substations. For electricity that continues on to distribution substations, it is further stepped down to below 44,000 volts. From there, it runs through distribution lines, serving approximately 364,000 residential, commercial, and small and medium industrial customers.
The end of the journey: your home or business
Yet again, the electricity must be stepped down to a much lower voltage (120 or 240 volts) so that it can be safely consumed through typical household and business electrical services. In order for this to happen, electricity passes through a transformer which is either mounted on a pole (diagram) for overhead distribution networks, or on a concrete pad for underground distribution networks. Transformers like these typically serve 10 or more homes.
From a distribution transformer, a wire feeds 120 or 240-volt electricity to your home or business. At the connection point, the electricity passes through a meter measuring how much electricity is consumed and then it goes through an electrical panel containing breakers and fuses that protect internal wiring from becoming overloaded.
As a GPS would say, “You have reached your destination.” The journey is complete and your electricity has arrived! Now, you can freely turn on switches and plug in your devices to your heart’s delight. Feeling fired up about this adventure? We invite you to go and flick a switch on and off right now, just to celebrate that all of this is possible. We also invite you to learn more about the energy-transition journey of tomorrow by visiting our eco-home page to see what’s coming next.