The construction of the Chatham to Lakeshore transmission line has been successfully completed a year earlier than originally planned, according to reports from the province and Hydro One.

This significant infrastructure project, valued at an estimated $237 million, will provide 400 megawatts of electricity to the Windsor-Essex region. The amount of power generated is enough to meet the entire electricity demand of the City of Windsor. This new transmission line is vital to supporting the growing energy needs of the region.

The need for additional power has been driven by the anticipated increase in demand in the Windsor-Essex area, which is expected to more than double over the next two decades. According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, this rise in demand will be largely fueled by continued agricultural and industrial growth in the region, making the new transmission line crucial for ensuring reliable power distribution.

The 49-kilometre, 230-kilovolt transmission line runs between the Chatham Switching Station in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and the newly built Lakeshore Transformer Station in the Municipality of Lakeshore. Construction of the line began in the spring of 2023, and the project has since progressed at an impressive pace.

Hydro One, through efficient planning and execution, managed to complete the project ahead of schedule, resulting in a significant cost saving of approximately $30 million. This early completion not only highlights the efficiency of the project but also ensures that the Windsor-Essex region can meet its growing energy needs sooner than expected.