Michigan-Ontario Intertie Delayed Due to Equipment Problems

- Hydro One Inc.'s expansion of Ontario's intertie with Michigan's power system has been delayed due to equipment problems, a company spokesman said, delaying the in-service target to May 2001.

The project, which was expected to be in service by June 2000, will ultimately expand Ontario's ability to import power from Michigan by 900 megawatts, to a total of 2,080 MW, Hydro One spokesman Al Manchee said. Export ability to Michigan will increase by 300 MW to 2,250 MW of power.

The two phase shifters, being installed at the Sarnia intertie by Hydro One, are designed to control "loop flows," where power flows into Ontario through the province's connection with New York at Niagara Falls and exits through the Michigan connection at Sarnia. The loop flows consume available capacity out of Niagara, leaving virtually no room to use the import capacity in that region, the company said in a recent regulatory filing.

The C$60 million project includes work on the Michigan side by DTE Energy Co. (DTE). About C$33 million of the cost will be borne by Hydro One.

One of the phase shifters has been installed, Manchee said, but the second had to be sent back to the manufacturer and likely won't be shipped back until December, he said.

Since the summer peak for power demand is over, the two phase shifters on the Ontario side now won't be brought into service until the spring, Manchee said.