2015 Achievements
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Our activities to operate, maintain and upgrade electricity distribution equipment help ensure power reliability for our customers. In addition to the work illustrated above, preventative maintenance helps identify and address problems before they occur.
Visual Inspection
A total of 1,433 poles and related equipment were visually inspected in the Kingston Hydro distribution area south of Princess Street and east of Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard. Inspection results are assessed and used to help prioritize capital works.
Infrared Detection
Infrared scanning to proactively detect faulting electrical equipment was again performed on the entire 44 kV overhead sub-transmission network, one-third of the 5 kV overhead distribution network, 28 underground transformer vaults and at all 17 substations.
This preventative program has proven to be an efficient method to address problems before equipment fails and leads to unplanned outages.
A total of 89 defects were identified in 2015. The findings assist with prioritizing operation and maintenance works.
Municipal Substation 1 and the heritage building that houses it are being refurbished to ensure continued power reliability to the downtown area.
Regulation and Legislation
Like all other local distribution companies, Kingston Hydro is required by law to keep up-to-date with code requirements established by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB, the regulator of Ontario’s electricity distribution industry).
Adherence to these requirements helps ensure the safety and reliability of the electricity infrastructure.
High Scores on Performance Targets
In 2015, Kingston Hydro’s 2014 performance has, again, received high scores via the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) – the second year the energy regulator has issued a scorecard. The scorecard confirms that Kingston Hydro continues to perform strongly against provincial targets. Download the Kingston Hydro Scorecard, for the year 2014 .
Kingston Hydro Rates from 2016 to 2020 Approved in OEB Decision
On June 1, 2015, Kingston Hydro submitted to the Ontario Energy Board its five-year electricity distribution plan to determine the company’s electricity distribution rates effective January 1, 2016 through to 2020. The resulting Decision and Rate Order issued on November 26, 2015 is available from the OEB website.
View this video to learn about three major areas of focus between 2016 and 2020 that will improve the safety and reliability of the Kingston Hydro electricity distribution system, while reducing the number of power outages to customers in central Kingston.
The rates approved in the Decision are set based on the OEB’s determination of the revenue required to cover the cost of operating and maintaining Kingston Hydro’s distribution system at a level of service that meets the needs of its customers.
Tree Trimming
To reduce outages that can occur from weather events, ensure worker and public health and safety, and to meet regulatory requirements, we trim the trees in the entire distribution area over a three-year period.
Trees are important to the beauty, comfort, health and safety of our community. For example, they play a role in providing quality tap water by slowing storm water and reducing run-off pollution that otherwise ends up in Lake Ontario, Kingston’s source of drinking water.
Utilities Kingston aims to reduce the environmental impact of delivering utility services. When the right tree is planted in the right place, it helps to ensure the safety and reliability of gas, water, wastewater and electricity infrastructure, while protecting the trees themselves. For every municipally-owned tree removed under this program, we fund replacement with two trees.
Audits
Audits are conducted by third parties to ensure work being conducted by Utilities Kingston for Kingston Hydro is in accordance with construction and safety standards established through regulation. Each year, mandated external audits are conducted on our compliance with the Ontario Electrical Distribution Safety Regulation 22/04. Once again, staff did an outstanding job as we achieved full compliance.
Power Outages
Providing reliable electricity services to customers is important to us. When the power goes out unexpectedly, we work to restore power as safely and efficiently as possible.
Causes of Unplanned Power Outages
Throughout the year, five events (totaling 14 outages) were attributed to a loss of supply, making it the most significant in terms of total customer-hours of interruption.
Kingston Hydro receives electricity for distribution through two main transformer stations: Frontenac (located on Division Street at John Counter Boulevard) and Gardiners Road.
On October 27, a failure on the 115 kV transmission feed into Frontenac Transformer Station contributed to almost 26,000 customer-hours of interruption, affecting approximately half of our customers. Many residents served by Hydro One in the east side of the city were also affected.
Utilities Kingston staff worked diligently to find means to back power in to affected residents and businesses, developing a solution that allowed power to be restored through the Kingston Hydro system to those served by Hydro One.
Excluding these loss of supply events, defective (failing) equipment caused 33 (over half) of forced/unplanned and 30 planned outages, and about 60 per cent of the total customer-hours of interruption. This illustrates the importance of infrastructure renewal.
The number of power outages from trees making contacting with live hydro wires was similar to the previous year, with 13 outages. Although the region did experience an ice storm and surrounding areas were affected, we did not have any resulting outages in the Kingston Hydro electricity distribution area. Continuing with our more stringent tree trimming operations remains key to keeping these types of outages to a minimum.
Check out our webpage on conservation to learn about our customers’ accomplishments in saving electricity.