St. Catharines, ON – Alectra Utilities announced a significant investment of $7.9 million in capital renewal projects to enhance the reliability, and meet the growing energy demands, in the City of St. Catharines. As the community continues to expand, Alectra is committed to renewing and modernizing the electricity infrastructure to help ensure reliable 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 St. Catharines including:
- $2.2 million to replace aging infrastructure such as poles, transformers, and switchgear. Modernizing these elements will help minimize disruptions and improve the reliability of St. Catharines' energy grid for residential and commercial customers.
- $1.8 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.
- $500,000 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.
- $3.4 million to connect new customers and accommodate St. Catharines' growing community.
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.
For further information on Alectra's grid enhancement projects and initiatives, including an animated flyover video of our upcoming investments in Mississauga, please visit: Alectra Utilities Improving Reliability.
About Alectra Utilities
Serving more than one million homes and businesses and approximately 3 million people in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe area, Alectra Utilities is now the largest municipally-owned electric utility in Canada, based on the total number of customers served. We contribute to the economic growth and vibrancy of the 17 communities we serve by investing in essential energy infrastructure, delivering a safe and reliable supply of electricity, and providing innovative energy solutions. Our mission is to be an energy ally, helping our customers and the communities we serve to discover the possibilities of tomorrow’s energy future.
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Media Contact
Ashley Trgachef, Media Spokesperson ashley.trgachef@alectrautilities.com | Telephone: 416.402.5469 | 24/7 Media Line: 1.833.MEDIALN