August 01, 2013 – Ontario’s Hydro One is investing $25 million to build the new Barwick Transformer Station (TS) in the Township of Chapple to improve the electricity supply and provide more capacity for communities between Rainy River and Fort Frances.

Hydro One’s Fort Frances TS is nearing end-of-life and a new station is required to serve customers west of Fort Frances, says the utility. Construction is expected to begin this month, with completion expected by August 2014.

The new station will consist of two 115,000/44,000-volt transformers and occupy a 150 x 150-m site located north of Highway 11 and west of Westover Road in the community of Barwick.

“Hydro One is committed to delivering reliable electricity to its customers and this investment to the transmission system allows us to do this,” said Arnold Brakel, project manager, Hydro One. “By building a new station in the Township of Chapple, shorter spans of 44kV powerlines will connect customers to our system, ultimately improving the reliability of their power supply.”