Electrical system upgrade in Estrie

• Less than 1% of Hydro-Québec’s electric power transmission system is underground, or about 200 km out of a total of over 35,000 km of transmission lines (69 kV to 450 kV). 
• An underground line generally costs more to build than an overhead line given the high price of the insulated cable and scope of the work to be done.
• Underground projects also generate environmental impacts (construction and residual impacts) on the natural environments they cross (e.g., sensitive areas, waterways) and can require specific construction methods in less favorable environments.
• The service life of an underground line is roughly half as long as the service life of an overhead line, or about 40 to 60 years compared to 80 to 100 years.
• Undergrounding a line is the exception around the world and is only done where the distance to cover is short, such as in the downtown cores of large cities where space is lacking or an overhead line is blocked by an impassible obstacle.

Over the past 40 years, many scientific studies of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) have been conducted by organizations independent from Hydro-Québec around the world. The results of all of the studies show that exposure to EMFs does not pose any recognized health risk.

• Power lines, like roads and railways, are an integral part of our modern landscape.
• Though we understand the population’s concerns, predicting what impact the presence of a line or a substation will have on the behavior of real estate property buyers and sellers is difficult.
• Experts have found that a number of factors influence property values, including market conditions, the proximity of schools and parks, access to transportation, the neighborhood and the quality of buildings.
• Hydro-Québec’s approach involves the reduction at the source of impacts on neighboring properties and implements measures to avoid impacts as much as possible.

In order to design solutions that integrate new facilities as seamlessly as possible, Hydro-Québec will collaborate with the population and the various regional organizations involved in the Estrie regions’ land use planning and development:

• We began with a regional consultation on the entire plan to modernize the system.
• We are working in collaboration with regional stakeholders, economic groups, environmental groups, municipalities, local organizations, affected property owners and residents.
• We will tailor our approach to each project based on the needs of the environment while paying particular attention to those who are directly affected.
• We will collect feedback after each step.

The electrical system upgrade in Estrie will meet the needs of the region and make it possible to:

• Increase the capacity of the region’s system
• Ensure the reliability of the electricity service
• Support, encourage and promote regional economic and tourism development