East-West Tie Leave to Construct

Case numbers: EB-2017-0182 / EB-2017-0194
Launched: October 12, 2017
Sector: Electricity
Status: Active

Details:
In 2011, the Minister of Energy asked the OEB to create a process for selecting the most qualified and cost-effective transmission company to develop the East-West Tie transmission line to connect Northeast and Northwest Ontario.

The OEB undertook a competitive designation process to select a transmitter to carry out development work for the East-West Tie transmission line.

In 2013, the OEB designated Upper Canada Transmission, Inc. as the electricity transmitter to complete development work for the East-West Tie transmission line.

The East-West Tie transmission line was identified as a priority transmission project in Ontario’s 2013 Long-Term Energy Plan. In 2016, the Minister of Energy advised the OEB that the Lieutenant Governor in Council made an order effective March 4, 2016 declaring that the construction of the East-West Tie transmission line is needed as a priority project.

Upper Canada Transmission, Inc. has now applied for approval from the OEB to construct the East-West Tie transmission line. The application requests leave to build approximately 450 kilometres of new double circuit 230 kilovolt electricity overhead transmission line on a new right of way between Thunder Bay and Wawa.

Also as part of the East-West Tie project, Hydro One Networks Inc. has applied for approval from the OEB to perform the necessary transformer station upgrades to connect the new East-West Tie transmission line.

Upper Canada Transmission, Inc. and Hydro One Networks Inc. filed separate applications with the OEB. The OEB heard these applications together. The OEB issued a Decision and Order on December 20, 2018 finding that the risks associated with the two applications are disproportionately visited upon ratepayers. In order to mitigate ratepayer risk and allow the applications to be compared on a level playing field, the OEB decided to allow each of the applicants to file a “not to exceed” price by January 31, 2019 based on OEB-stipulated conditions.
 
On January 30, 2019, the OEB was advised that the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines had, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, issued a Directive requiring the OEB to amend Upper Canada Transmission Inc.’s licence to include a requirement that Upper Canada Transmission Inc. develop and construct the East-West Tie project.

In accordance with the Directive the OEB issued, on February 11, 2019, a decision approving Upper Canada Transmission Inc.’s application to construct the East-West Tie project and a decision amending Upper Canada Transmission Inc.’s  transmission licence.

Correspondence from the Minister:

Ontario Energy Board's Notice of Hearing:

Learn more about the applications:

To see documents relating to the designation process and other background documents:

 

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