Hydro One Limited (Hydro One) operates an electricity transmission and distribution utility through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hydro One Inc.
Hydro One delivers electricity safely and reliably to approximately 1.5 million customers across the province of Ontario, including large industrial customers and municipal utilities. Through its subsidiaries, Hydro One Inc. owns and operates approximately 30,000 circuit kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines, and approximately 126,000 circuit ki...
Hydro One Limited (Hydro One) operates an electricity transmission and distribution utility through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hydro One Inc.
Hydro One delivers electricity safely and reliably to approximately 1.5 million customers across the province of Ontario, including large industrial customers and municipal utilities. Through its subsidiaries, Hydro One Inc. owns and operates approximately 30,000 circuit kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines, and approximately 126,000 circuit kilometres of primary low-voltage distribution lines.
Segments
The businesses of Hydro One comprise the following three segments:
The Transmission segment owns and operates Hydro One’s transmission system, which transmits high-voltage electricity across the province, interconnecting local distribution companies and certain large, directly connected industrial customers throughout the Ontario electricity grid. The transmission business consists of the transmission system operated by Hydro One Inc.’s rate-regulated subsidiaries, Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One Networks), Hydro One Sault Ste. Marie LP (HOSSM), and Chatham x Lakeshore Limited Partnership (CLLP), as well as an approximate 66% interest in B2M Limited Partnership (B2M LP), and an approximate 55% interest in Niagara Reinforcement Limited Partnership (NRLP).
The Distribution segment owns and operates Hydro One’s distribution system, which delivers electricity to end customers and certain other municipal electricity distributors within Ontario. The distribution business consists of the distribution systems operated by Hydro One Inc.'s rate-regulated subsidiaries, Hydro One Networks, and Hydro One Remote Communities Inc. (Hydro One Remotes).
The Other segment consists principally of Hydro One’s telecommunications business, which provides telecommunications support for the company’s transmission and distribution businesses, as well as certain corporate activities. The telecommunications business is carried out by Hydro One's wholly-owned subsidiary, Acronym Solutions Inc. (Acronym). In addition to supporting Hydro One's regulated business segments, Acronym offers a comprehensive suite of Information Communications Technology solutions. Hydro One's Other segment also includes the deferred tax asset (DTA), which arose from the revaluation of the tax bases of Hydro One’s assets to fair market value when the company transitioned from the provincial payments in lieu of tax regime to the federal tax regime at the time of the company’s initial public offering in 2015. As this DTA is not required to be shared with ratepayers, the company considers it to not be part of the regulated transmission and distribution segment assets, and it is included in the Other segment. Furthermore, Hydro One's Other segment also includes Aux Energy Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary that provides energy solutions to commercial and industrial clients, and Ontario Charging Network LP, a joint venture that owns and operates electric vehicle fast charging stations across Ontario under the Ivy Charging Network brand, as well as certain corporate activities, and is not rate-regulated.
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment in service consists of transmission, distribution, communication, and administration and service assets, as well as land easements. Property, plant, and equipment also includes future use assets, such as land, major components, and spare parts, as well as capitalized project development costs associated with deferred capital projects.
Transmission
Transmission assets include assets used for the transmission of high-voltage electricity, such as transmission lines, support structures, foundations, insulators, connecting hardware, and grounding systems, as well as assets used to step up the voltage of electricity from generating stations for transmission, and to step down voltages for distribution, including transformers, circuit breakers, and switches.
Distribution
Distribution assets include assets related to the distribution of low-voltage electricity, including lines, poles, switches, transformers, protective devices, and metering systems.
Communication
Communication assets include fibre optic and microwave radio systems, optical ground wire, towers, telephone equipment, and associated buildings.
Administration and Service
Administration and service assets include administrative buildings, personal computers, transport and work equipment, tools, and other minor assets.
Easements
Easements include a statutory easement for the use of transmission corridors and related abutting lands pursuant to Part IX.1 of the Electricity Act, 1998 (Ontario) (Electricity Act), as well as other land rights for occupation.
The company is also subject to the risk that the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) could change the regulatory treatment of certain costs which may affect the company’s accounting treatment of and ability to recover such costs.
On December 19, 2024, Hydro One Networks entered into an agreement to purchase an approximate 48% interest in the East-West Tie Limited Partnership from affiliates of OMERS Infrastructure Management Inc. (OMERS), and Enbridge Transmission Holdings Inc. (Enbridge).
History
Hydro One Limited was incorporated in 2015.