Federal government spends $11.8M for smart grid technology in Sault Ste. Marie
High Voltage Maintenance Training Online
Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.
- Live Online
- 12 hours Instructor-led
- Group Training Available
Sault Ste. Marie Smart Grid Investment upgrades PUC Distribution infrastructure with federal funding, clean energy tech, outage reduction, customer insights, and reliability gains, creating 140 jobs and attracting industry to a resilient, efficient grid.
How It All Fits Together
A federally funded PUC Distribution project to modernize the citywide grid, cut outages, boost efficiency, and create jobs.
$11.8M federal funding announced by MP Terry Sheehan
Centralized SCADA enhances grid visibility and control
First community-wide smart grid in Canada, 140 jobs
Cuts outages, supports conservation, stable pricing
PUC Distribution Inc. in Sault Ste. Marie is receiving $11.8 million from the federal government to invest in infrastructure, as utilities nationwide have faced pandemic-related losses that underscore the need for resilient systems.
The MP for the riding, Terry Sheehan, made the announcement on Monday.
The money will go to the utility's smart grid project, where technologies like a centralized SCADA system can enhance situational awareness and control.
"This smart grid project offers a glimpse into our clean energy future and represents a new wave of economic activity for the region," Sheehan said.
"Along with job creation, new industries will be attracted to a modern grid, supported by stable electricity pricing that helps competitiveness, all while helping the environment."
His office says the investment will allow the utility to reduce outages, provide more information to customers to help make smarter electricity use choices, aligned with Ontario's energy-efficiency programs that encourage conservation, and offer more services.
"This is an innovative project that makes Sault Ste. Marie a leader," mayor Christian Provenzano said.
"We will be the first city in our country to implement a community-wide smart grid. Once it is complete, the smart grid will make our energy infrastructure more reliable, reduce energy loss and lead to a more innovative economy for our community."
The project will also create 140 new jobs.
"As a community-focused utility, we are always looking for innovative ways to help our customers save money amid concerns about hydro disconnections during winter, and reduce their carbon footprint," Rob Brewster, president and CEO of PUC Distribution said.
"The investment the government has made in our community will not only help modernize our city's electrical distribution system [as] once the project is complete, Sault Ste. Marie will have access to an electricity grid that can handle the growing demands of a city in the 21st century."
