Hydro One is now the official electricity provider for the Town of Chapleau.
The utility announced the $2.3-million acquisition of Hydro Chapleau last fall and the deal received approval from the provincial regulator this past spring. It officially came into effect on Aug. 1.
“We are thrilled to serve the Township of Chapleau and to energize the lives of our new customers, employees, and the community,” Aimee Oabel, Hydro One’s vice-president of forestry and integration services, said in a news release.
“This is an exciting milestone in our long-term partnership, and we’d like to thank Mayor Ryan Bignucolo and the Chapleau Hydro team for their support and dedication.”
Previous to the agreement, Chapleau Hydro, the municipally owned utility, served roughly 1,200 customers.
Proceeds from the sale of Chapleau Hydro’s assets are expected to be invested in critical core community services, including the township’s water plant, fire services, and the airport, according to the release.
Chapleau Mayor Bignucolo called Hydro One a “valued partner” of the township.
“Significant investment and modernization are required within our local electricity system, and we are excited to partner with Hydro One to help us prepare for the future,” he said in the release. “We are thankful to the Ontario Energy Board for their swift approval of the sale.”
As the town’s new provider, Hydro One said customers will benefit from advanced customer engagement tools, 24/7 service, outage management systems, energy-efficient programs, flexible payment options and community development initiatives.
Hydro One noted it’s active in the communities it serves. This past May, it provided $25,000 to Chapleau Cree First Nation to build an accessible playground via its Energizing Life Community Fund.
