NEWS RELEASE
ALECTRA
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Alectra Utilities announced a substantial investment of $22.4 million in capital renewal projects aimed at enhancing the reliability and meeting the growing energy needs of Hamilton. With the city's continued expansion, Alectra is focused on upgrading and modernizing the electricity infrastructure to help ensure dependable service for both residential and commercial customers.
"The safety and reliability of electricity delivery to our customers remains our top priority," said Chris Hudson, Senior Vice President of Operations, Alectra. "Our commitment extends to investing in innovative technologies that mitigate power outages and reduce environmental footprints, all while providing a cost-effective solution for our valued customers."
Alectra set an exceptional reliability record in 2023, with customers experiencing approximately one outage per year on average and less than one hour without power annually. This places Alectra among the leaders in reliability among Ontario’s Local Distribution Companies (LDCs).
In 2024, Alectra plans to continue investing in several key projects in Hamilton, including:
- $10.4 million to replace aging infrastructure such as poles, transformers, and switchgear. Modernizing these elements will help minimize disruptions and improve the reliability of Hamilton's energy grid for residential and commercial customers.
- $960,000 to replace and rehabilitate underground cables through a process called cable injection. This technology will extend the life of underground cables, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help prevent outages.
- $3.6 million to deploy new automated devices, enabling a swift response to grid disturbances, optimizing performance, and minimizing the impact of potential disruptions on the community.
- $1.4 million to replace and upgrade substations within Hamilton, aiding in faster restoration efforts in the event of disruptions.
- $6 million to connect new customers and accommodate growth and development in Hamilton.
Alectra has allocated approximately $297 million in 2024 for capital improvements across its 17 communities to renew aging equipment and install new infrastructure to handle growing demand.
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