electricity transmission system electricity transmission system international power transmission system centred quebec canada system pioneered use high voltage alternating current power lines link population centers montreal distant hydroelectric power stations like northwestern quebec system contains kilometres lines electrical managed division crown corporation systems ontario new_brunswick import capacity export capacity major expansion network began commissioning power line november need electricity transmission vast distances north southern quebec quebec population served power lines contributed severity power following north american ice storm extent duration generated criticism transmission system controversy concerning use hydroelectric dams history hydroelectric stations built private late 1800s long distance high voltage transmission line north_america built line connecting away half 1900s market dominated regional service publicly criticised response provincial government created montreal light heat power purchased shares nearly remaining privately owned electrical utilities operating undertook construction hydroelectric complex transmit complex annual production billion distance nearly led utility world transmit electricity world standard time proceeded construction power line world line stretching dam brought service november years quebec underwent massive expansion power grid hydroelectric generating capacity division james built transmission lines electrical generating stations constructing transmission system took towers electrical kilometres ground wire kilometres electrical conductor cost billion decades generating capacity went nearly power sent population centers power lines source electricity electricity generated comes hydroelectric dams located far load centres montreal electrical power generated comes hydroelectric dams generation capacity comes hydroelectric generation centers james bay project encompasses project located river tributaries northwestern quebec project built phases phase lasted years second phase lasted present time hydroelectric dams produce electric power robert station generating total project cost billion construct power stations river area region consists hydroelectric facilities located principal rivers west east single plant named located east river facilities located region constructed period decades total generation capacity power stations hydroelectric power station generating station lower north shore connected main quebec grid single underground generation station located near town constructed period years corporation generators installed major construction completed single generation facility cost million construct produced power initially generating units installed station upgrade raised generating capacity owns interest company constructed generating plant rights power station produces year power purchase agreement electricity transmission system features system contains kilometres lines electrical managed division crown corporation systems ontario new_brunswick import capacity export capacity system transmission lines reaching power generation facilities located kilometres away population centers reason uses voltage transmit distribute electrical power produced dams total value entire electricity transmission system billion reasons considered world leader power transmission power lines onwards power line integral power transmission backbone system consists high voltage power lines totaling kilometres equipment voltage transmission system milestone physical size transmission lines north_america utility companies region contain line power system significant mileage power lines kilometres line traversing broad transmission system system contains mileage united_states electrical company kilometres line contained single direct power line said environmental impact power lines single power line operating voltage carries electric power power lines require right way wider metres metres width required single line line capable electric power distance kilometres entire grid carry power power transmission losses grid range varying temperature operating situations des named power line system technological innovation 20th century quebec wake ice storm installed began testing routes system consists set lines running montreal set lines power stations south shore region montreal saint lawrence river montreal contain power line loops rings james bay hydroelectric dam complex contains relatively short power lines send electricity principal ordered west east power lines traverse vast forest clear cut stretches land shows clearly aerial photos terrain power lines cross mountainous smooth lakes generally lines runs pairs run solo single lines run pair intermediate power lines north south connect power lines path southern quebec lines continue south sets transmission lines eastern set heads connects power lines power line loops region western set heads montreal forms ring power lines city linking power loops region section power grid contains power line power stations power generated power station sent montreal population centers kilometres away starting generation station power lines span distance metres gorge run generally south southwest kilometres power lines cleared right way width metres head southwest forest lines generally traverse flat smooth rolling hills lines cross quebec border known point delivery direction lines south head accessible airport adjacent lone line stems heading open pit kilometres northwest terrain crossed power lines hilly mountainous south border lines reach metres elevation descending lines continue heading south reach lines parallel gulf narrows southwest saint lawrence river discharge mouth northernmost power line connect power stations located lines near northern power line power lines lines paralleled power line distance north span saint lawrence river south shore region lines form loops encompassing saint lawrence river south shore loops connected ring power lines montreal power lines running south electricity quebec transmission system contains variety electrical depending era voltage level older designs tend consume material newer higher voltage level larger tower uses different types electricity support power lines single circuit meaning carries power line electrical separated bundle phase current earliest type tower massive self supporting delta waist consumed tonnes steel kilometre line type power line power stations load centre montreal significant variations delta longer suspended shaped shorter outside hung vertical string middle bundle hung shaped years researchers engineered new type tower reduced materials consumption tonnes steel kilometre power line type tower includes variation longer hung shaped shorter middle bundle hangs vertical strings construction transmission system cross rope suspension tower invented type tower features tower legs similar tower legs don converge tower base case cross rope suspension tower tower legs spread apart different foundations addition replaced series suspension cables vertical strings support allows design consume tonnes steel kilometre line design known little necklace uses level angle towers structures power lines change direction line switch position conductor delta leg towers angle towers referred voltage levels uses combination double circuit level single circuit delta suspend electrical high voltage direct current line power grid uses shaped tower pole support direct current power line uses poles wider self supporting structure angle towers usually uses tall large cross large bodies water like lakes rivers towers said prominent tallest power grid function tallest located near tracy power station shore saint lawrence river carrying circuit tracy largest kind canada metres tall height montreal olympic stadium slightly larger united_states feet strength designed handle millimetres ice accumulation failure raised standards response ice storms ottawa december montreal february left millimetres ice led belief electrical despite times higher canadian standard millimetres ice tolerance ice storm deposited millimetres ice north_america electricity transmission systems wide area suppliers legally required follow reliability standards transmission system recognized neighboring systems consequently able develop reliability standards needed apply addition relevant north american standards north_america following systems neighboring provinces states new_york connections capacity import export ontario connections import export new_england connections import export new_brunswick connections import export maximum simultaneous delivery export common new_york ontario high voltage direct current addition power lines stem seventh power line constructed kilometres northward extension existing high voltage direct current line connecting quebec new_england power line expansion completed result direct current power line unique multiple static stations kilometres long power line line world power line transmit hydroelectric power montreal route beginning station line heads south roughly parallels power lines distance west traverses type terrain lines land lakes wetlands forested rolling hills gradually power line turns southeast crosses power lines wires split groups power lines line follows eastern group western set away line remains overhead reaches north shore saint lawrence river near line descends underwater tunnel traversing river power line surfaces south shore near river crossing line enters terminal near northeast south terminal line heads south relatively short distance enters close leaving station power line crosses canada border passes hilly state vermont reaching elevation metres line continues heading south southeast enters state new_hampshire reaches terminal near monroe continuing southward massachusetts line reaches sandy pond terminal outside boston terminal southernmost extent line december american utilities created joint venture build new line new_hampshire segment quebec segment owned partnership estimated cost billion build projected line run existing right way adjacent line runs new_hampshire connect right way northern new_hampshire run mile line projected carry bring electricity approximately million homes features uses series compensation alter way electricity power transmission lines improves electricity transmission efficiency reduces need construct new power lines increases electric power sent population centres series compensation based technology maintain transmission system performance sets aside funds research application new technologies addition power transmission technology plans offer high speed internet transmission lines years utility started testing internet lines january major spite transmission system reputation fact quebec escaped unscathed system experienced damage service severe storms past examples include quebec prior large power storm march severe storm mass sun struck earth fluctuations magnetic field storm caused induced currents flow quebec power lines direct current instead alternating current carried power lines nature canadian shield rock directed power lines current sensitive electrical require certain voltage frequency function properly relatively nature currents voltage power grid current spikes erupted accordingly protective measures taken response save electrical equipment power grid taken commission circuit breakers quebec shut power seconds wave breaking circuits left entire transmission grid service collapsed power grid left million people rest quebec electricity hours cold night lasted hours places locations dark days storm caused million damage tens millions customers utility ice storm january january warm moist air south cold air north produced ice storm leading hours freezing rain days continuous shower freezing rain amounted millimetres water equivalent precipitation places like montreal south shore especially hard hit largely freezing rain falling heavy precipitation totals havoc regional power transmission system physical damage days freezing rain precipitation crippled power grid montreal south shore regions area kilometres transmission lines commission including major power lines quebec new england line successive waves freezing precipitation millimetres radial ice accumulated electrical ice coating adds additional weight kilograms metre conductor electrical wires withstand extra weight combined effects wind precipitation break fall designed withstand millimetres ice collapsed twisted steel failures occurred transmission lines collapse towers left row fallen damaged supporting lines towers carrying power lines collapsed region bounded montreal saint jean sur dubbed triangle darkness half overhead power grid service quebec ordered wire connections repair ones disabled storm electrical transmission electric power distribution system quebec poles electrical damaged destroyed downed electrical wires cost total million repair power transmission lines paralyzed ice quebec fell massive power cold canadian winter power restoration initiated large numbers dark height million homes customers housing million people dark private companies utilities parts canada united_states sent help undertake massive restoration task efforts complicated widespread damage power grid areas lasted days affected power seven days power fully restored locations quebec february wasn mid march power facilities service social economic damage occurred ruined food deaths resulting lack electric heating power numerous upgrades system order improve power grid examples include strengthening electrical power poles increasing power supply enable utility restore power rapidly case massive ice striking quebec stated better prepared handle ice storm magnitude tower bombing shortly president visit canada tower quebec new england transmission circuit near canada border damaged explosive charges detonated base reported message issued journal newspapers radio station stated attack carried quebec resources united_states criticism performance power grid ice storm raised questions fundamental concept vulnerability reliability grid critics noted power generation facilities located approximately away population centres lack local power stations montreal served lines addition transmission system received public media power transmission grid said concentrate power transmission lines run montreal lines montreal form loop called ring power city ring failed january roughly greater montreal power supply large ground transmission distribution system considered exposed natural disasters cost grid technology utilized grid came fire critics claimed technology improve performance safety reliability people quebec dependent power grid energy needs electricity especially hydroelectric power makes quebec energy supply dependence evidenced fact ontario farmers backup generators farmers quebec increase severity consequences grid fails january
Hydro-Québec's electricity transmission system