New technology

In developing its transmission system, Canada has overcome the challenges of extreme terrain, severe climate and long distances. Because of these challenges, Canadian utilities have often helped to pioneer new transmission technologies.

In 1965, for example, Hydro-Québec built the world’s first 735 kilovolt transmission line in Quebec, becoming the first utility to go above 500 kilovolts for transmission. This achievement revolutionized the industry, allowing transmission lines to carry electricity at higher voltages, and made it possible to develop the hydroelectric resources of the province’s northern regions.

In 1982, with development of the Nelson River line, Manitoba Hydro introduced the world’s largest high voltage DC transmission system.

Because even higher voltages will likely be required in the future, Canadian utilities are supporting the development of transmission systems that can carry voltages greater than 1,000 kilovolts. Advanced supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and other network management systems are being built into Canadian power systems.