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Community Investment Opportunity with Hydro One

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HomeInside City HallMajor ProjectsCommunity Investment Opportunity with Hydro One

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 Ontario Grid Control Centre

Project Summary  
Location: Horne Business Park in West Orillia (corner of University Avenue and Old Barrie Road)

 

Budget: N/A
Timeline:  To be determined

Current Status:  On September 1, 2020, Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One) acquired Orillia Power Distribution Corporation (OPDC), and beginning on June 1, 2021, electricity customers in Orillia will start to receive their power from Hydro One.  For more details on the transition, visit HydroOne.com/Orillia or read the news release issued by Hydro One on June 1, 2021. For more details regarding Hydro One's Community Investment in Orillia, see the Details section of this page.

Project Contact: Chief Administrative Office, 705-325-2108, rzanussi@orillia.ca 
Details

Update - June 1, 2021

On June 1, electricity customers in Orillia will start to receive their power from Hydro One.

If you’re enrolled in any of the following services or programs, they have been seamlessly transitioned to Hydro One:

  • AutoPay (previously Pre-authorized Payment)
  • Paperless Billing (previously e-billing)
  • Budget Billing (previously Equal Payment Plan)
  • Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

Please pay your last Orillia Power bill by the due date. All outstanding balances will be transferred to Hydro One.

Get in touch with Hydro One, using the information below:

Customer Care Centre: 1.888.664.9376, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET

Emergencies and Power Outages: 1.800.434.1235, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Hydro One is committed to providing customers in Orillia with great service. To learn more about being a Hydro One customer, please visit: HydroOne.com/Orillia. 

News Release - June 1, 2021

 

Update - May 6, 2021

On September 1, 2020, Hydro One Inc. acquired Orillia Power Distribution Corporation (OPDC), and beginning in June, Orillia Power customers will start to receive electricity service and statements from Hydro One Networks Inc. (“Hydro One”).

Your last Orillia Power bill includes information on the transition. There is no action required from customers at this time, unless there are historical account records on your online electricity accounts that need to be saved. Access to these accounts will no longer be available after May 31, 2021.

If you’re enrolled in any of the following services or programs, they’ll be seamlessly transitioned to Hydro One:

  • Pre-authorized payment
  • E-billing
  • Equal Payment Plan
  • Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

Between now and May 31, 2021, please continue to contact Orillia Power at 705-326-7315 or e-mail info@orilliapower.ca to discuss your electricity service or report a power outage.

Hydro One is committed to providing customers in the City of Orillia with great service. To learn more about the transition to Hydro One, please visit: HydroOne.com/Orillia. 

 

Update - Sept. 1, 2020

The sale of the Orillia Power Distribution Corporation (OPDC) to Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One) officially closed on Sept. 1, 2020. 

The City of Orillia is retaining complete ownership of the Orillia Power Generation Corporation, whose rich heritage, innovation and success in generating electricity continues to thrive.

The closing of the deal marks the start of a transition period where Hydro One and OPDC are brought together. Starting with September electricity use, Orillia residents will receive a one per cent reduction to the base distribution rate of the bill. During the transition period of approximately one year, Orillia hydro bills will still come from OPDC and customers will receive updates from Hydro One regarding the transition throughout the process.

The sale includes the purchase of all shares of Orillia Power Distribution Corporation for $26.35 million and the assumption of approximately $14.9 million of debt, for a total transaction value of $41.3 million, subject to closing adjustments. 

News Release - September 1, 2020 - Sale of Orillia Power Distribution Corporation to Hydro One closes

 

Highlights:

    • Economic Impact: Three new facilities being built on the Horne Business Park in West Orillia.
      • Primary Ontario Grid Control Centre (currently under construction)
      • Provincial Warehouse
      • Regional Operations Centre
    • Orillia Power Distribution sold: $26.35 million cash purchase by Hydro One.
    • Horne Business Park land sale: Hydro One has purchased 16.41 acres of the land required for the Ontario Grid Control portion of the development for approximately $3 million – validated as fair market value by a third-party valuator. Hydro One intends to make further land purchases for the two additional facilities after the deal closes.
    • Orillia consumers protected: Current Orillia Power customers will benefit from a one per cent reduction in base distribution rates. Distribution rates account for approximately 20 per cent of the overall bill (the remainder is set based on market costs at the provincial level). These reduced rates will be frozen for five years, with increases less than inflation from years six to 10. Distribution rates after year 10 would need to be reviewed and approved by the Ontario Energy Board.
    • OPDC jobs protected: OPDC employees are moving to Hydro One with comparable pay, benefits and pension, along with a one-year location guarantee.
    • Orillia Power Generation Corporation: City retains complete ownership, along with annual dividend which accounts for approximately 78 per cent of the overall Orillia Power Corporation dividend.
    • Orillia Legacy Fund: City to deposit approximately $36 million from the deal to an Orillia Legacy Fund, which will likely generate investment income in excess of the existing OPDC portion of the annual dividend.
    • Philanthropic investment: Hydro One has committed $250,000 through its community investment program to benefit the community. The City and Hydro One will work together to determine funding partnership opportunities. Hydro One has already demonstrated its strong commitment to the community through financial support of the Ontario Winter Games and the Mariposa Folk Festival

News Release - September 1, 2020 - Sale of Orillia Power Distribution Corporation to Hydro One closes

Backgrounder: Sale of OPDC to Hydro One Closes Sept. 1, 2020

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Background
In 2016, the City was in negotiations exploring opportunities with Hydro One.

The opportunity presented by Hydro One includes the acquisition of the Orillia Power Distribution Corporation (OPDC), a subsidiary of the Orillia Power Corporation (OPC). The Orillia Power Generation Corporation (OPGC), whose business includes three hydroelectric generating stations, will not be affected and will continue to be owned by the City of Orillia, including the annual dividend it provides the City.  View the Negotiations Backgrounder.

Council at a Special Meeting of Council held August 15, 2016, signed agreements with Hydro One that will see 36 acres of the 42-acre Horne Business Park in West Orillia used for an Advanced Technology Hub.

The development is anticipated to inject approximately $200 to $300-million in near-term economic impact on the community, including the construction of three facilities, the creation of a significant number of highly-skilled, knowledge-based jobs, and fibre optics upgrades within the City. 

  • NEWS RELEASE - City of Orillia will be home to Advanced Technology Hub

  • BACKGROUNDER - Community Investment Opportunity with Hydro One

  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - September 2016

  • MAYOR'S SPEECH - Aug. 15, 2017

  • PRESENTATION - Slide presentation from Public Information Sessions, Sept. 29, 2016

 

Public Consultation

Public information sessions were held: January 12, 2016, June 1, 2016  and two on September 29, 2016, at City Centre with Mayor Clarke, the Hydro One Transition Team, Orillia Power Corporation and Hydro One representatives. View the Information storyboards and Negotiations - FAQ's from the 2016 sessions.

In 2018, a public meeting was held on May 17 to provide the opportunity for the public to ask questions about the status of the sale of Orillia Power Distribution Corporation. View the presentation from the 2018 meeting.

News & Information
  • News Release - June 1, 2021 - Hydro One officially joins the Orillia community
  • News Release - January 19, 2021 - Hydro One completes purchase of additional land in Orillia’s Horne Business Park
  • News Release - September 1, 2020 - Sale of Orillia Power Distribution Corporation to Hydro One closes
  • News Release - April 30, 2020 - Ontario Energy Board approves Orillia Power Distribution Corporation sale to Hydro One 
  • News Release - Hydro One announces new Ontario grid control centre in Orillia
  • News Release - OPDC and Hydro One to refile application with OEB
  • News Release - City of Orillia and Orillia Power disappointed after OEB denies hearing appeal
  • OPDC bill insert - June 2018
  • Presentation - Slide deck from May 17, 2018 public meeting
  • News Release - Public meeting May 17 re: status of sale of Orillia Power Distribution Corporation
  • News Release - City of Orillia will review options for consideration for Hydro One
  • News Release - Hydro One purchases land and submits Site Plan Application
  • Deal too good to pass up - Municipal Monthly column by Mayor Steve Clarke
  • News Release (Hydro One) - Hydro One to acquire Orillia Distribution from City of Orillia
  • News Release - City of Orillia will be home to Hydro One Advanced Technology Hub
  • News Release - Second Hydro One public information session June 1
  • Talking Hydro with the Mayor: Sale will happen only if it's in Orillia's best interest - Municipal Monthly column by Mayor Steve Clarke
  • News Release - Follow-up from City's Hydro One information session available online - January 2016
  • Why city council goes into closed session - Municipal Monthly column by CAO Gayle Jackson
  • News Release - Hydro One to carry out site due diligences as negotiations continue
  • Advanced Technology Hub - Municipal Monthly column by Mayor Steve Clarke
  • News Release - City exploring Hydro One's investment proposal
  • Speech - Mayor Steve Clarke

2021 Media Coverage

  • Article - Feb. 1, 2021 - OrilliaMatters - Hydro One sheds light on ambitious plans for west Orillia
  • Video - Jan. 19, 2021 - CTV NEWS Barrie - Hydro One expansion to bring jobs to Orillia
     

 

    

 

For more information contact the Office of the Mayor at mayor@orillia.ca or 705-325-3662.

The City of Orillia attempts to make our website documents accessible, however some of these documents may not completely meet the AODA Accessibility requirements. 

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© City of Orillia, 50 Andrew Street South, Suite 300, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 7T5, Tel: (705) 325-1311, Fax: (705) 325-5178, Email: info@orillia.ca

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