Hydro reliable, looking to the future in Brandon
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Manitoba Hydro would like to clear up some incorrect information and misconceptions in the column “Hurtling toward a power shortage” by Deveryn Ross on Saturday, March 8.
The province is not facing the prospect of “blackouts.” Manitoba Hydro only expects to need additional capacity to meet peak winter loads by 2029-30. Our 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, which will be published this fall, will identify what resources will be required to meet that demand.
Manitoba Hydro will soon be asking for expressions of interest to eventually purchase up to 600 megawatts of electricity from majority Indigenous-owned wind suppliers, an initiative announced in the province’s Affordable Energy Plan last fall. This will be included in the Integrated Resource Plan.
The riverbank on the Assiniboine River curves in front of the Brandon Generating Station of Manitoba Hydro. (File)
To be clear, no one has said Manitoba Hydro’s existing 280-megawatt natural gas generating station at Brandon is being decommissioned in the near future. This critical plant is run as needed to help meet demand peaks, provide voltage support as required for the growing Westman region, and provide additional generation capacity in an emergency. The Integrated Resource Plan will also detail the future role of the Brandon GS in Manitoba’s energy profile.
The new 100-megawatt transmission line Mr. Ross mentioned is not replacing the Brandon GS. It is strengthening the connection between Brandon-area customers and the reliable hydroelectric transmission and distribution infrastructure across western Manitoba.
Manitoba Hydro has numerous contracts in place with utilities in the U.S. and Canada, a summary of which is available on our website. While some of these contracts are for providing “firm power,” some — including the contracts that Mr. Ross references — are also “diversity exchanges.” These exchanges allow utilities whose peak loads occur in different seasons of the year to share surplus generating capacity during off-peak seasons. This reduces the need for more generating facilities, saving customers money.
We think it critical for our customers in Westman to get the real facts about Manitoba Hydro and our plans to continue providing Energy for Life not just today, but well into the future.
PETER CHURA, media relations officer
Manitoba Hydro