Hydro-Québec enhances Outaouais power reliability

Tashi Farmilo

Hydro-Québec is embarking on a substantial initiative to enhance the electricity service quality in the Outaouais region, with a focus on a distribution line that serves the municipalities of La Pêche, Low, and Alleyn-et-Cawood. This effort, aimed at benefitting 1,973 customers, is slated for execution in 2024 and 2025 and comes with a budget allocation of $9.5 million.

The upgrade plan involves several critical interventions designed to bolster the reliability and efficiency of the electrical distribution network. Key components of this project include the replacement of around 100 wooden poles with more resilient composite poles and the installation of conductor covers to safeguard against environmental elements. Additionally, Hydro-Québec intends to partially bury parts of the distribution system using a direct, or "light," burial method to further protect it from external disruptions. The plan also encompasses the integration of remotely controlled equipment and the undertaking of clearing and preventive pruning efforts aimed at trees that pose a risk to the integrity of power lines.

To ensure the safety of both workers and residents, certain operations will necessitate the temporary de-energization of power lines. Hydro-Québec has committed to minimizing both the frequency and duration of these power interruptions, with a promise to notify affected customers well in advance through voice messages.

Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux of La Pêche expressed strong support for the initiative, noting its promise to enhance the reliability of our electricity service. "We've encountered frequent power outages, largely due to interactions between vegetation and power lines during storms,” he said. “I'm hopeful our community will back the essential vegetation management efforts."

"Enhancing the quality of our service aligns with the top five objectives laid out in Hydro-Québec's Action Plan 2035 – Towards a Decarbonized and Prosperous Québec," stated Maryse Dalpé, Senior Director – Operations and Maintenance at Hydro-Québec. "By committing to an annual investment of $4 to $5 billion, we aim to secure the grid's functionality for the long haul and achieve a 35% reduction in outage incidents within the next seven to 10 years. Projects like this are vital steps toward realizing our objectives."

Photo captions: Hydro-Québec is launching a major project to improve electricity service in the Outaouais region, targeting a distribution line that supplies power to the municipalities of La Pêche, Low, and Alleyn-et-Cawood.

Photo credit: Tashi Farmilo