1980 MOOSE LAKE CONNECTED TO THE PROVINCIAL POWER SYSTEM. The diesel generating station which for 15 years served the northern community located southeast of The Pas was retired. A 66-kV line from the provincial power system brought residents unrestricted use of electricity for the first time. The changeover to the main provincial power system would save about 450,000 litres of diesel fuel annually.

THE 500-kV WINNIPEG TO MINNEAPOLIS INTERCONNECTING TRANSMISSION LINE WAS COMPLETED, providing a third interconnection with the U.S. Operating at 500 kV, it was the highest AC voltage ever used in Manitoba. The new line more than doubled Manitoba's power exchange capability with the U.S. The northern terminus of the 500-kV line was at Manitoba Hydro's Dorsey Converter Station.

MANDAN LETTER OF INTENT WAS SIGNED by Manitoba Hydro and the Nebraska Public Power District of Columbus for a proposed 500-kV transmission line between Manitoba and Nebraska. The proposed inter-connection was referred to as the MANDAN line. By the fall of 1980, a set of alternative transmission line corridors was defined, and meetings were held with interested parties to discuss corridor preferences. The project would be terminated in 1985.

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1981 THE 525-kW LAC BROCHET DIESEL GENERATING STATION was commissioned in November at the remote site 40 km south of the 59th parallel, close to the Saskatchewan border. A 350-kW diesel generating station was designed for Tadoule Lake, located at about the same latitude as Lac Brochet, with an in-service date of midsummer 1982.

VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE was installed near Churchill, Manitoba, a town located on the shores of Hudson Bay. Manitoba Hydro entered into a parallel generation agreement with the Churchill Research Centre, whereby the utility paid for power and energy received from the customer. The experimental installation was rated at 75 kW.

SIX SUPER ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOUSES were built by Manitoba Hydro in Gillam to test a variety of energy-efficient techniques in housing. The heat loss of each house was designed to be only four kilowatts, rather than the 24 kW of a conventional house of comparable size.

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1982 HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT RESEARCH CENTRE WAS WORLD'S FIRST. A complete research centre for HVDC technology opened in Winnipeg on January 15. The research centre was a consortium of five sponsoring organizations: Manitoba Hydro, the University of Manitoba, Teshmont Consultants, Federal Pioneer Electric Ltd., and the province of Manitoba.

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1983 THE PAS TO FLIN FLON 230-kV LINE was placed in service. The line and new terminal station at Flin Flon provided a reliable supply of electricity to the Flin Flon area as well as a fourth interconnecting transmission line with Saskatchewan Power Corporation, with its Island Falls Generating Station on the Churchill River. SPC contributed two-thirds of the annual costs for these facilities. The sharing of costs was based on the relative benefits to each of the two utilities.

SEVERE ICING CONDITIONS occurred in the southwestern and central parts of the province between February 27 and March 10, causing widespread service interruptions lasting up to five days for some farm customers. A workforce of up to 944 employees and volunteers toiled throughout the storm to remove ice and restore service. The storm covered a significant area of the province — from the Saskatchewan boundary to an area just east of Winnipeg, and from the U.S. border to a line running from Riding Mountain National Park to Gimli.

As a result of the storm, the Rural Underground Distribution program was implemented in some areas in an attempt to minimize power outages caused by ice storms. Underground power lines were installed between Manitou and Darlingford, replacing 13 km of overhead power lines.

BLOODVEIN CONNECTED TO PROVINCIAL POWER SYSTEM in March. The Bloodvein Indian Reserve on the east side of Lake Winnipeg was the first of a number of native communities that switched from diesel generation to the provincial power system - part of Manitoba Hydro's east of Lake Winnipeg project.

REHABILITATION WORK AT SEVEN SISTERS GENERATING STATION COMPLETED below budget, at a total cost of $22 million. The rehabilitation program, spanning five consecutive years, was expected to extend the life of Seven Sisters by another 50 years.

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1984 HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT REACHED A MILESTONE when the first successful addition of solid state equipment at Henday and Dorsey converter stations was achieved. It enabled Manitoba Hydro's HVDC system to bring an additional 450 MW of power from generating stations located on the Nelson River to southern Manitoba.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL WAS INSTALLED AT SYSTEM CONTROL CENTRE in Winnipeg. The AGC/SCADA computer-based control system was installed in the centre to provide automatic generation control (AGC), and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) functions. The operators monitor Manitoba Hydro's generating stations, transmission lines, and exports to neighbouring utilities using the AGC and SCADA systems, which can automatically adjust the generation of electricity to meet customers' needs.

BERENS RIVER, PRINCESS HARBOUR, AND LOON STRAITS CONNECTED to the provincial power system in March. This was part of Manitoba Hydro's east of Lake Winnipeg project.

MANITOBA SUFFERED A SERIOUS ICE STORM as heavy rains and freezing north winds struck in the southwestern and interlake parts of the province. The storm destroyed approximately 3,500 wood poles and 12 steel towers on the 230-kV transmission line between Brandon and Winnipeg.

As a direct result of two of the worst ice storms in the province's history occurring in consecutive years, both of which resulted in costly damage, Manitoba Hydro established a special ice storm task force to deal with the problem. The five-year, $25-million plan was implemented on February 15, 1985.

TORNADOES STRUCK SOUTHERN MANITOBA in July causing an estimated $250,000 worth of damage to distribution and transmission lines.

SOUTHERN INDIAN LAKE COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN'S ASSOCIATION and Manitoba Hydro signed a $2.5-million compensation agreement for damage caused by the Churchill River Diversion Project and the raising of the level of Southern Indian Lake.

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1985 MANITOBA HYDRO CREATED AN EXPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT with the intention of exporting Manitoba Hydro's expertise to other utilities and organizations, specifically in developing countries. Through the skills of its own employees, Manitoba Hydro can offer knowledge at every level of power system development.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIMESTONE GENERATING STATION RESUMED. In January, Manitoba Hydro called for tenders on the general civil contract for Limestone Generating Station. The contract was contingent upon Manitoba Hydro's obtaining approval from the National Energy Board to export power to the Northern States Power Company of Minneapolis.

In March, the National Energy Board issued a 12-year licence to MHEB for the export of firm power and energy to the Northern States Power Company of Minneapolis. The licence allows Manitoba Hydro to export a maximum of 500 MW of firm power in each 12-month period from May 1, 1993 to April 30, 2005.

Later that same month, Canadian General Electric was awarded the contract to supply the 10 turbines and generators required for Limestone Generating Station.

In June, the general civil contract for Limestone was awarded to a consortium involving Bechtel Canada Ltd. and Kumagai-Gumi Co. Ltd. The general civil contract was the largest single contract associated with the construction of Limestone.

PUKATAWAGAN AND GRANVILLE LAKE CONNECTED to the provincial power system. The 69-kV transmission line to the Pukatawagan Indian Reserve and the community of Granville Lake in northwestern Manitoba was constructed in accordance with the terms of a cost-sharing agreement between Manitoba Hydro and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

MANDAN LINE TERMINATED in March when the Board of the Nebraska Public Power District of Columbus, Nebraska, passed a resolution calling for the termination of the proposed transmission line. The main reason cited for the termination was the failure to secure a commitment for cost-sharing arrangements from the other participating U.S. utilities.

BIPOLE II REACHED FULL POWER with the completion of the third stage of Bipole II on June 17. This enabled the high voltage direct current transmission line to operate at 1,000 kV (±500 kV nominal). Bipole II added an extra 2,000 MW of capacity to the provincial power system.

CUSTOMER SERVICE SYSTEM (CSS) INTRODUCED to Manitoba Hydro's customers serviced by the Transcona District Office. They were the first to benefit from the new computerized CSS, which was established to streamline Manitoba Hydro's customer service by providing localized access to billing accounts.

MANITOBA HYDRO FIRST UTILITY IN CANADA to purchase a mobile decontamination unit for the chemical processing and removal of low-level polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from insulating oil used in electrical apparatus.

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1986 POPLAR RIVER CONNECTED TO PROVINCIAL POWER SYSTEM. Poplar River, 360 km north of Winnipeg on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, was switched from diesel generation to the provincial power system.

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF MANITOBA HYDRO was celebrated on April 1. It was in 1961 when MHEB and MPC amalgamated to become one company under the new name of Manitoba Hydro.

PINAWA GENERATING STATION SITE BECAME A PROVINCIAL HERITAGE PARK in late June through the combined efforts of the provincial Department of Natural Resources, Historical Resources, and Parks Branch, as well as the Rural Municipality and town of Lac du Bonnet, and Manitoba Hydro. Abandoned since 1951, Pinawa had served Winnipeg for over 45 years.

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1987 PAUINGASSI AND LITTLE GRAND RAPIDS WERE CONNECTED to the provincial power system, marking the successful conclusion of a five-year program to extend service to remote communities on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

138-kV GILLAM TO CHURCHILL LINE ENERGIZED in April. Constructed over three winters, the 270-km transmission line was jointly funded by Manitoba Hydro and the federal and provincial governments for $35.6 million.

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1988 INTERCONNECTING LINE COMPLETED BETWEEN MANITOBA HYDRO AND WINNIPEG HYDRO. The new interconnection between Manitoba Hydro's St. James substation and Winnipeg Hydro's Sherbrook substation involved the construction of a 3.5-km, 115-kV underground transmission line — the longest of its type in Manitoba. It increased the capacity and reliability of interconnections between the two utilities.

MANITOBA HYDRO'S LINE AND POLE CREWS HEADED TO JAMAICA AFTER HURRICANE HIT THE ISLAND. In October and November, Manitoba Hydro and other Canadian, British, and U.S. electrical utilities sent manpower and equipment to Jamaica in order to assist in restoring the island's electrical distribution system — much of it destroyed by Hurricane Gilbert in September. The mission was an unqualified success for the line and pole crews from Manitoba Hydro, which returned from Jamaica in February. Financed by the Canadian International Development Agency, the relief effort was without precedence in Manitoba Hydro's history.

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1989 FIRST SALE OF MANITOBA HYDRO SAVINGS BONDS took place in April. HydroBonds enabled Manitobans to make an investment in their own province. The HydroBonds were designed to raise funds to meet the financial requirements of Manitoba Hydro, and to develop a sizeable new capital market in Manitoba that contributed Canadian-dollar financing to ongoing debt requirements.

SEASONAL DIVERSITY POWER EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS were signed with the Northern States Power Company of Minneapolis and the United Power Association of Elk River. The power exchange can be up to 300 MW on a seasonal basis for 20 years, beginning in 1995. The agreement included the construction of a new transmission line from Winnipeg to Winger, Minnesota, a distance of 322 km, though this line never was constructed. Instead, existing lines were upgraded to meet the requirements.

PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR UPGRADING SIX DIESEL GENERATION COMMUNITIES from 15 amps to 60 amps. When completed, residents of the communities — Tadoule Lake, Lac Brochet, Brochet, Shamattawa, Pikwitonei, and Thicket Portage — would be able to use modern household electric appliances. The first community received the improved service during Manitoba Hydro's fiscal year of 1993–94.

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Protecting the environment

Throughout its history, Manitoba Hydro has been conscious of the fact that developing hydroelectric generating stations and constructing major transmission lines to provide electricity for Manitobans may affect the way in which people use and enjoy the water and land resources.

During the 1980s, public environmental awareness and media attention increased dramatically. Through increased scientific research, it quickly became clear that as a result of industrial development, the environment was being affected in many more ways than anyone had ever conceived. Globally, increased pressure was put on individuals, governments and corporations to protect the environment. The result was that by the late 1980s, the Government of Manitoba began the environmental licensing of some of the aspects of all major construction projects in the province.

Conscious of demonstrating good stewardship of the land and water, Manitoba Hydro re-committed itself to protecting the environment. This commitment was reflected by the actions the utility took to prevent and reduce adverse environmental impacts where possible, and to assist people in adapting to any unavoidable impacts. Manitoba Hydro incorporated environmental assessments and monitoring measures into the planning, designing, and building stages of its new facilities.

The Limestone Generating Station construction project served as an example of Manitoba Hydro's commitment to respecting the environment. During the construction period, the utility's environmental inspection program and the provincial Department of Natural Resource's on-site inspection-enforcement function ensured compliance with environmental requirements and corporate commitments. Rehabilitation of the sites disturbed by project activities was ongoing, and site clean-ups and the proper disposal of debris were undertaken.

To enhance the socio-economic benefits to the people in the area, special hiring policies and training were implemented. Where qualified, northern aboriginal and other northern residents were given the first opportunity at employment. The Limestone Training and Employment Agency was established as a Crown Agency in January 1985 to provide pre-employment training to local people and to coordinate on-the-job training programs established by the contractors.

In addition, Manitoba Hydro purchased as many goods and services from northern aboriginal and northern businesses as practicable. Corporate purchasing guidelines were applied in order to provide the best possible opportunities for northern aboriginal businesses, northern businesses and Manitoba businesses respectively. Wherever it was reasonable and practical to do so, smaller tender packages were created to give northern aboriginal and other northern companies opportunities.

In addition, Manitoba Hydro purchased as many goods and services as practicable from northern and northern aboriginal businesses. Corporate purchasing guidelines were applied in order to provide the best possible opportunities for northern aboriginal businesses, northern businesses, and businesses in Manitoba respectively. Wherever it was reasonable and practical to do so, smaller tender packages were created to give opportunities to northern aboriginal and other northern companies.

During the 1980s, the utility, reflecting society as a whole, faced many challenges in adapting to a more responsible and respectful relationship with the environment. By incorporating environmental concerns, by conducting environmental monitoring and assessment, and by including public participation as a critical element in the assessment process, Manitoba Hydro undertook effective management programs to reduce the probability and seriousness of any adverse environmental and socio-economic impacts of its projects.

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