TransÉnergie

TransÉnergie is the transmission division of Hydro-Québec, the provincially owned electric utility of Quebec, Canada. It is responsible for operating and maintaining the high-voltage electricity transmission network that carries power from Hydro-Québec's generating stations — most of them located in the northern part of the province — over very long distances to consumption centres in southern Quebec and to neighbouring markets. Its network, spanning roughly 33,058 km of high-voltage lines, is described as the largest in North America and includes 11,422 km of lines at 765 kV and 735 kV, along with 533 transformer substations. The division was created as part of Hydro-Québec's functional reorganization in the late 1990s, when the company separated its generation, transmission and distribution activities in response to the deregulation of electricity markets in the United States. TransÉnergie was the first unit to be restructured, beginning in 1997 in response to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Order 888, and the restructuring was completed in 2000 with the adoption of Bill 116, which enshrined the functional separation of generation, transmission and distribution. TransÉnergie's core mandate is to transmit electricity to serve the local load, supplying Quebec distributors — chiefly Hydro-Québec Distribution, which serves millions of customers, as well as municipal distributors and a rural electric cooperative. It also provides non-discriminatory point-to-point transmission access, allowing producers and wholesalers inside or outside Quebec to move electricity across its lines between Quebec and neighbouring networks, in line with FERC Order 890 requirements. Its Contrôle des mouvements d'énergie (CMÉ) direction coordinates the reliability of all electricity networks on Quebec territory under a bilateral agreement between the Régie de l'énergie du Québec and FERC. The network is interconnected with neighbouring systems in Ontario, New York State, New England and New Brunswick through 15 interconnections, with a maximum import capacity of 11,225 MW and export capacity of 7,974 MW. Because the Quebec network operates asynchronously with its neighbours, TransÉnergie uses back-to-back converters to import and export electricity. This characteristic allowed Hydro-Québec to maintain service during the August 14, 2003 North American blackout, when some 50 million people in neighbouring Ontario and northeastern U.S. networks lost power. TransÉnergie is regulated by the Régie de l'énergie du Québec, which sets high-voltage transmission tariffs on a cost-of-service basis and approves the company's budget, major capital projects and service conditions.

TransÉnergie's history is closely tied to the broader restructuring of Hydro-Québec in the 1990s. Like most integrated electric utilities in North America, Hydro-Québec was strongly affected by the deregulation of electricity markets initiated in the United States in the mid-1990s. The company reorganized by separating its generation, transmission and distribution functions. TransÉnergie was the first unit to be restructured, beginning in 1997 in response to Order 888 of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The restructuring was completed in 2000 with the adoption of Bill 116, an act amending the Act respecting the Régie de l'énergie and other legislative provisions, which enshrined the functional separation of generation, transmission and distribution activities. This functional separation and the adoption of a "heritage tariff" echoed a study conducted for the Bouchard government by the firm Merrill Lynch. The study, made public in January 2000, aimed to "propose avenues for deregulating electricity generation" compatible with continental trends while respecting a "Quebec social pact" that included uniform tariffs across the territory, tariff stability and the maintenance of "low electricity rates, particularly in the residential sector." Over the years, Hydro-Québec built an extensive transmission network and developed advanced technologies to carry electricity produced by its generating stations — most located in the northern zone — over very long distances to major consumption centres in southern Quebec and to neighbouring markets. Today this network is among the most extensive in North America. TransÉnergie's network is characterized by the long distances separating production centres from consumption markets. For example, the Multiterminal DC (RMCC) system carries output from James Bay generating stations to Nicolet, more than 1,100 km to the south. This 2,000-megawatt direct-current transmission line continues south to the Sandy Pond substation in Ayer, in central Massachusetts. A notable event in the network's history was the August 14, 2003 North American blackout. Because the Quebec network operates asynchronously with its neighbours, Hydro-Québec was able to maintain service — except for five Outaouais generating stations directly connected to the Ontario grid — while 50 million people in neighbouring Ontario and northeastern U.S. networks were without power. A new interconnection equipped with 1,250 MW back-to-back converters was inaugurated on September 25, 2009 at the Outaouais substation in L'Ange-Gardien, near the Ontario border. The interconnection and a new 315 kV transmission line built as part of the project entered service in 2010.

• 2010

  The new interconnection and a new 315 kV transmission line enter service.

• 2009

  New interconnection with 1,250 MW back-to-back converters inaugurated on September 25 at the Outaouais substation in L'Ange-Gardien.

• 2003

  Hydro-Québec maintains service during the August 14 North American blackout thanks to the asynchronous nature of the Quebec network.

• 2000

  Restructuring completed with the adoption of Bill 116, enshrining the functional separation of generation, transmission and distribution.

• 2000

  Merrill Lynch study for the Bouchard government made public in January, proposing deregulation avenues while respecting a Quebec social pact.

• 1997

  TransÉnergie becomes the first Hydro-Québec unit to be restructured, in response to FERC Order 888.

Recognized as a world leader in the construction and operation of very-high-voltage transmission networks, providing reliable, non-discriminatory transmission access.

• High-voltage transmission network

  33,058 km of high-voltage lines, including 11,422 km at 765 kV and 735 kV, with 533 transformer substations.

• Point-to-point transmission service

  Non-discriminatory access allowing producers or wholesalers to move electricity between Quebec and neighbouring networks.

• Reliability coordination (CMÉ)

  Mandate to coordinate the reliability of all electricity networks on Quebec territory under a bilateral agreement between the Régie de l'énergie du Québec and FERC.

• Interconnections

  15 interconnections with neighbouring networks, with maximum import capacity of 11,225 MW and export capacity of 7,974 MW.

1. 1Hydro‑Québec Transénergie et équipementhydroquebec.com
2. 2À propos d’Hydro-Québechydroquebec.com
3. 3TransÉnergie (Wikidata)wikidata.org
4. 4TransÉnergie (Wikipédia en français)fr.wikipedia.org