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1990 FIRST LIMESTONE UNIT ON-LINE on September 8 — 10 weeks ahead of schedule — setting the pace for units two, three and four to follow during the fiscal year of 1990–91. Each unit had a capacity of 133 MW.
AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN MANITOBA HYDRO AND THE CHEMAWAWIN-EASTERVILLE AND MOOSE LAKE RESIDENTS in November. The residents of the two communities received $21 million in compensation for the socio-economic changes which occurred when Grand Rapids Generating Station was built in the 1960s.
CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT PLAN WAS ENDORSED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD. The PUB approved Manitoba Hydro's four-point Corporate Development Plan in December. This was the first time the utility presented its major capital plans before the PUB for public scrutiny and approval. The plans included: the sale of 1,000 MW to Ontario Hydro over a 22-year period, beginning in the year 2000; the seasonal diversity exchange agreements totalling 300 MW with two U.S. utilities; the refurbishment of Manitoba Hydro's two thermal generating stations; and a 100-MW reduction in the forecasted increase in electrical load, later changed to 285 MW due to the launch of POWER SMART programs.
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1991 WORK ON 28-km ROAD TO CONAWAPA UNDERWAY in February, when contractors began building sections of the all-weather gravel road between the town of Sundance and the site of the proposed Conawapa Generating Station.
POWER SMART CONCEPT INTRODUCED TO MANITOBA HYDRO'S CUSTOMERS. Along with other Canadian utilities, Manitoba Hydro adopted POWER SMART as the theme name for a variety of programs designed to reduce the growth in demand for electricity. The POWER SMART programs identify energy-efficient products that can be used, and provide energy-efficient guidelines that residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial customers can adopt to reduce energy use and therefore costs.
LIMESTONE GENERATING STATION OFFICIALLY OPENED on September 5. With five of 10 units in operation, the station was ahead of schedule and below budget. Over 200 guests — including construction workers, representatives of the provincial government, local aboriginal leaders, and major contractors and suppliers attended the opening celebrations. Limestone, which is 23 km downstream from Long Spruce Generating Station, dams the Nelson River, located 750 km north of Winnipeg.
CROSS LAKE WEIR CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED in the fall of 1991. The $9.5-million project was built by Cross Lake Constructors, a joint venture between Midnorth Development Corporation (the construction arm of the Cross Lake Indian Band) and Vector Construction Limited of Winnipeg. The weir created a water regime on Cross Lake that reduced or eliminated most of the adverse effects caused by the Lake Winnipeg Regulation project. Of the 108 jobs created by the project, 100 were filled by northern residents of aboriginal ancestry.
THE PAS INDIAN BAND, CORMORANT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, AND GRAND RAPIDS FIRST NATION reached settlement agreements with Manitoba Hydro to compensate the people for the impacts of the flooding that occurred when Grand Rapids Generating Station was completed.
The Pas Indian Band received $4.56 million; the Cormorant Community Association $1.198 million; and the Grand Rapids First Nation $5.05 million.
NORTHERN REGION ESTABLISHED to manage the customer service operations northwards of the 53rd parallel. Headquarters for the Northern Region was in Thompson. Previously, the operations for the northern part of the province were the responsibility of the Eastern Region headquarters in Selkirk.
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1992 HEADCOVER BOLTS OF UNIT ONE AT GRAND RAPIDS FAILED in March, temporarily putting the 472-MW generating station out of service. The headcover, a large steel plate installed above the turbine blades, prevents water from rising into the generator assembly at the top of the turbine shaft. When the headcover bolts failed, within minutes water flooded the lower portions of the powerhouse to the level of the tailrace. This was the first incident of its kind in Manitoba Hydro's history.
NORTH CENTRAL PROJECT (NCP) AGREEMENT was signed by four parties – the federal government, provincial government, local communities, and Manitoba Hydro. The electrification project will result in nine communities, each served by diesel generation, being linked to the provincial power system. The communities are Wasagamack, God's Lake, God's River, Red Sucker Lake, Garden Hill, Oxford House, St. Theresa Point, Island Lake, and God's Lake Narrows. The costs are to be shared by the federal and provincial governments and Manitoba Hydro.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF FARM ELECTRIFICATION was celebrated from April to September with special events, including the making of a new parade float to honour the occasion. The float was seen in many festivals held in the province throughout the summer. The special events culminated with a day-long program staged by retired utility employees, many of whom had worked on Farm Electrification. Attending the event was 97-year old Douglas Campbell, who served as the premier of Manitoba during the Farm Electrification era.
COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS SIGNED. The Split Lake Cree First Nation, along with the federal and provincial governments and Manitoba Hydro, signed an historic agreement to meet outstanding obligations to the Split Lake Cree under the terms of the 1977 Northern Flood Agreement. The agreement provided for total financial compensation of $47.37 million for the adverse effects of Lake Winnipeg Regulation and the Churchill River Diversion Project. Manitoba Hydro's portion of the compensation was $29.92 million.
The South Indian Lake Housing Authority and the Community Association of South Indian Lake (on behalf of the residents of South Indian Lake) received $18 million from the province of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro in compensation for adverse impacts of the Churchill River Diversion Project.
An $8-million settlement was achieved with the Cross Lake First Nation regarding their claim for loss of recreational opportunities.
Agreements were also reached with the Nelson House First Nation regarding domestic fishing, and the operation and maintenance of the Nelson House Arena.
The compensation payments assist the people in adjusting to the economic, social and cultural adverse effects of the projects, and in changing from a traditional way of life to a modern way of life.
THE NORTHERN BUSINESS INSTITUTE, a new educational facility, was established in The Pas. The intent of the facility — which received funding from Manitoba Hydro, other corporations, and the First Nations of the Swampy Cree Tribal Council — is to take an innovative and cooperative approach to business development training and education in the north.
LIMESTONE GENERATING STATION FULLY OPERATING when the 10th and final unit was placed in service. The construction project was completed ahead of schedule and about $1 billion under budget, which put the project in rare company — only two per cent of such projects worldwide are completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Credit was given to the workers for having no work stoppages, and for achieving the best safety record of its type on any previous Manitoba Hydro project.
1,000-MW SALE OF ELECTRICITY TO ONTARIO HYDRO CANCELLED. In December, Ontario Hydro terminated a 1,000-MW power sale agreement with Manitoba Hydro, resulting in the indefinite postponement of Conawapa Generating Station and its associated transmission line facilities. Ontario Hydro was liable to pay certain costs for cancelling, as outlined in the terms of the original agreement.
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1993 CONSTRUCTION OF KELSEY TO SPLIT LAKE 138-kV TRANSMISSION LINE COMPLETED. The construction project, carried out by workers of Split Lake-Comstock Joint Venture, provided employment and training opportunities for members of the Split Lake Cree First Nations. For the first time ever on a Manitoba Hydro transmission line construction project, a Community Assessment Officer was hired to monitor the environmentally sensitive aspects of the project — aspects documented during the planning and licensing stages of the project.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SITE SELECTION PROCESS BEGAN for the new Neepawa to Brandon 230-kV transmission line. The line is required to meet the forecasted growth in demand for southwestern Manitoba and to improve system reliability for the area. The 245-km, $40-million line will be routed from Dorsey Converter Station at Rosser, through Neepawa, to Cornwallis Terminal Station near Brandon.
MAJOR POWER SALE TO NORTHERN STATES POWER BEGAN in May, pushing the total export sales to over $200 million in the fiscal year of 1993–94. A 12-year sale allows Manitoba Hydro to export a maximum of 500 MW of firm power to the Minneapolis utility until 2005. The sale necessitated the beginning of the Limestone Generation Station's construction in 1985.
NO RATE INCREASE SOUGHT IN 1993 for General Consumer customers. This was made possible because of Manitoba Hydro's implementation of spending restraints, together with lower interest and inflation rates, which resulted in the costs being lower in 1993 than were previously estimated. Manitoba Hydro also took into consideration the difficult economic times that many customers were experiencing.
HERB LAKE LANDING RECEIVED ELECTRICAL SERVICE in December, becoming another northern community to be connected with the provincial power system. It was made possible as a result of a cooperative effort between Manitoba's Department of Northern Affairs, Manitoba Telephone System, and Manitoba Hydro.
LOUIE'S PLAY IT SAFE CLUB was introduced for children, its purpose being to educate children about electricity and the importance of being careful at home and at play. The club was named after Louie the Lightning Bug, a mascot adopted by Manitoba Hydro to promote safety. Initially, 3,000 children aged three to 10 signed up. By 1996, membership had grown to over 10,000.
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1994 MANITOBA HYDRO UNDERGOES MAJOR STAFF REDUCTIONS due to several circumstances: the termination of a major power sale with Ontario Hydro; the suspension of generation and transmission projects related to the sale; a forecast of a low load growth in the domestic market; and the objective to keep future rate increases to customers below inflation. A reduction of about 11 per cent of total staff took place, including a 40 per cent reduction at the senior executive level.
FIRST EVER SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT PUBLISHED, which guides the utility's commitment to addressing environmental issues. The report provided a comprehensive and detailed examination of the activities and events that shaped the utility's sustainable development practices in 1993. The report will be updated every two years.
CORPORATE HUMANIST AWARD PRESENTED FOR BEST PROJECT to Manitoba Hydro by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities in Ottawa. The award was in recognition of the utility's work during the construction of the 138-kV transmission line from Kelsey Generating Station to Split Lake. Environmental and local community concerns were an integral part of the project.
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1995 MANITOBA HYDRO'S CURTAILABLE SERVICE RATE PROGRAM, first established as an experimental program in 1993, was offered to large industrial customers in Manitoba. Through it, when the utility's capacity of electricity becomes constrained, Manitoba Hydro can notify customers when it needs to interrupt — or curtail — delivery of power for a period of time previously specified and agreed to by customers. In return, customers receive a discount in rates, and they are guaranteed replacement energy during an off-peak period when demands for electricity become fewer.
FUNDING APPROVAL FOR NORTH CENTRAL PROJECT (NCP) was received from the federal and provincial governments. The project — the construction of a 138-kV transmission line about 360 km in length — is to provide electrical service to nine isolated communities located on the northeastern side of Lake Winnipeg. The communities receive limited electrical service provided by diesel generation. Major activity on the project began in the summer.
ROADWAY, SENTINEL LIGHTING CONVERSION PROGRAM, one of Manitoba's first POWER SMART initiatives, was completed. In four years, about 57,000 street lights and 17,000 sentinel lights in the province were converted from mercury vapour lighting and incandescent lighting to the energy-efficient High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lighting. The new HPS lighting contributed to a reduced energy use of 10 MW.
NET RECORD EXPORT SALES, achieved for the third year in a row, boosted Manitoba Hydro's revenues. For the fiscal year of 1995–96, sales reached $253.1 million, which was 26.8 per cent of the total revenues.
YORK FACTORY FIRST NATION SETTLED with Manitoba Hydro for the outstanding issues and claims related to the Northern Flood Agreement. Key elements of the settlement were the allocation of $24 million in cash and HydroBonds, and new reserve lands. Other issues involved land and resource management.
10-YEAR FOREST ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED to improve and sustain the province's forest environment by supporting tree planting, public forest education, and innovative forest projects. Aimed at offsetting the loss of forest cover that occurs when Manitoba Hydro develops new facilities and transmission lines, the program attracted the participation of 55 non-profit, non-government groups in the first full year of the program.
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1996 MANITOBA HYDRO ENTERED INTO POWER EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME with two U.S. power marketers. As a result of changes occurring in the electrical industry — one of which is increased access to transmission systems in neighbouring jurisdictions — Manitoba Hydro has the opportunity to trade with many new utilities. This includes indirectly interconnected utilities and power marketers, such as Heartland Energy Service, and Cenerprise.
MANITOBA HYDRO BECAME FULL MEMBER OF MID-CONTINENT AREA POWER POOL in November. Previously, the utility was a liaison member of MAPP. In response to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's order pertaining to open transmission line access, MAPP was reorganized. The new MAPP has opened membership to anyone involved in the electrical industry, including power marketers.
As part of Manitoba Hydro's membership, it is obligated — under certain conditions — to provide transmission line access within Manitoba to other MAPP members. MAPP's new membership consists of 57 utilities, potentially giving access to 16 million people.
RECORDS WERE SET FOR PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION of electricity during Manitoba Hydro's fiscal year of 1995–96. With good water conditions existing in the province, generation reached 29.3 billion kWh and consumption reached 19.1 billion kWh — the highest amounts ever.
During a deep freeze period, Manitobans demanded a new record system peak of 3,588 MW on February 1, when temperatures dipped to –41 C. The total energy used that day was 81 million kWh, nearly three per cent higher than the previous record set on December 20, 1989.
NET INCOME REACHED HIGHEST LEVEL IN HISTORY. For the fiscal year of 1995–96, Manitoba Hydro's earnings reached $70.1 million. The improved financial performance was due mainly to exceptional weather conditions during the year, but also to employees operating the system more efficiently.
MANITOBA HYDRO AND CENTRA GAS MANITOBA INC. FORMED A PARTNERSHIP when they agreed to create a jointly owned energy service that will offer opportunities to seek out new revenue opportunities. They also agreed to identify cost savings related to combining certain operations of both the gas and electricity companies. One venture already underway is joint-use trenching, whereby the utilities place their underground cables in the same trench during the construction of new buildings.
MANITOBA HYDRO ANNOUNCED A NEW CORPORATE FRAMEWORK. To prepare and position itself for a more competitive future in the electrical utility industry, Manitoba Hydro established three distinct business units — Power Supply, Transmission and Distribution, and Customer Service and Marketing. Each unit will be accountable for its own respective business plans and operations.
MANITOBA HYDRO'S WORLDWIDE WEBSITE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED in August. Web surfers around the world can visit at www.hydro.mb.ca to find customer service information, and also general information about the utility's generation and transmission of electricity, and advice on the safe and efficient use of electricity.
NELSON HOUSE FIRST NATION SETTLED with Manitoba Hydro for the outstanding issues and claims related to the Northern Flood Agreement. Key elements of the settlement were the allocation of $62.375 million in cash and Hydro Bonds, and new reserve lands. Other matters settled included land use and resource management.
CUSTOMER CALL CENTRE OPENED IN WINNIPEG to provide in the city and surrounding areas one phone number for service, plus extended hours for customers. Customers can call this one number Monday to Saturday about everything from electricity bills to POWER SMART information. The centre also provides a 24-hour emergency service during outages in the City of Winnipeg area.
NEW INDUSTRIAL LOAD RATE OPTIONS APPROVED by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) after Manitoba Hydro sought approval for changes to its industrial rate programs. The programs offer the sale of surplus interruptible energy to qualifying customers in Manitoba. The Industrial Surplus Energy rate allows the utility to supply up to 25 per cent of a customer's total new industrial load at surplus energy rates.
The PUB also approved a new rate program — known as the Surplus Energy Service to Self-Generators program — which extends most of the terms and conditions found in Manitoba Hydro's existing Dual Fuel Heating program, offered to customers who are backed-up by self-generators, such as those running on diesel fuel.
LOSS OF BIPOLE I AND II DURING LATE SUMMER STORM on September 5. Tornado-like winds crumpled 19 steel towers located in the Grosse Isle area — a few kilometres north of Dorsey Converter Station — collapsing sections of the two major HVDC transmission lines which deliver 75 per cent of the province's power from three northern generating stations. The supply of electricity was not interrupted during the five days it took to place one of the lines back in operation. In this period, all generating stations in the province were producing at maximum capacity, and power was imported from neighbouring utilities. As well, for the first time in history, Manitobans were asked to voluntarily reduce their non-essential use of electricity while restoration was in progress. They responded with an eight per cent drop in demand.
The estimates for storm damage costs were pegged at just under $10 million. Both lines were running at normal capacity by mid-September, and by October's end, permanent structures were back in place.
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1997 SEVERAL NEW RECORDS ACHIEVED IN FISCAL YEAR 1996-97. Manitoba Hydro's net income of $101 million was the highest in history — almost $40 million higher than the previous year's record. New records were also set in the production and consumption of electricity.
DUBBED “THE BLIZZARD OF '97”, a spring storm bringing winds gusting up to 96 km/h downed poles and conductors during the first weekend of April in central and eastern Manitoba. The ice and snow storm did most of its damage in a diagonal line from the Altona-Winkler-Morden area across to Letellier then Steinbach. Dozens of power outages occurred in several areas. Repair crews were often stranded as they attempted to reach these areas. Service was restored to customers in extremely challenging conditions — some within minutes or hours, the last during the early hours of Monday, April 7.
MANITOBA HYDRO'S OPERATIONS STAFF HEADED SOUTH ON A RESCUE MISSION. The same April weekend, an ice and snow storm in Manitoba also hit the province's U.S. neighbour, North Dakota, badly. For about 40 hours Manitoba Hydro was the only power source available to supply Minnkota Power in Grand Forks. In addition, because the U.S. utility needed help to rebuild over 500 poles and 99 towers damaged by the storm, Manitoba Hydro sent 110 pole and line staff, and over 100 pieces of equipment to assist in the restoration of service.
FLOOD OF THE CENTURY HITS MANITOBA. With two to three times the average amount of snow falling south of the Manitoba border during the 1996–97 winter, followed by the severe April storm, the resulting quantity of water in the Red River in Manitoba spilled over its banks as it made its way from the U.S. border to the river's outlet at Lake Winnipeg. Manitoba Hydro staff worked alongside provincial, municipal and City of Winnipeg officials, as well as thousands of members of Canada's military forces, to assist wherever necessary to ensure the safety of people living and working in flooded areas. And, in southern Manitoba — primarily the hardest hit area — in addition to protecting the utility's facilities with dikes, conducting line patrols in boats, turning off power at flooded buildings, or removing meters threatened by rising water, staff also delivered sandbags to beleaguered communities, supplied equipment and vehicles needed to fight the flood, or helped to build dikes.
PIKWITONEI AND THICKET PORTAGE RECEIVE FULL ELECTRICITY SERVICE FOR FIRST TIME. These two communities were linked to the provincial power system in early summer when a new 95-km long, 25-kV transmission line was completed. Previously, the residents received only 15-amp service.
MANITOBA HYDRO AND THE TOWN OF CHURCHILL signed a settlement agreement in July to address low water levels in the Churchill River upstream from the town. The settlement related to the adverse effects of the 1970's Churchill River Diversion, the project which diverted water from the Churchill River to generating stations on the Nelson River, thus reducing flows on the Lower Churchill River. Components of the $26-million settlement included financial compensation to the town, the construction of a 10-km long weir that raises water levels to enhance recreational use of the river and to improve aquatic life, and a trust fund to address unmitigated adverse effects.
50 YEARS OF LINEMEN TRAINING WAS CELEBRATED in August in Brandon by about 450 linemen, those both formerly and currently employed in Manitoba. The lineman training program was developed in 1947 during the years of the Farm Electrification program. During the three-day reunion, they watched demonstrations featuring the changes in tools, equipment, and line building methods over the 50 years.
NORTHERN COMMUNITIES CONNECTED TO PROVINCIAL POWER SYSTEM. The First Nation communities of Oxford House, God's Lake Narrows, and God's River, and the non-reserve community of God's Lake — all located in a remote area northeast of Lake Winnipeg — received full electricity service in 1997 as part of the North Central Project. Previously, the residents received only a 15-amp supply of electricity produced at their community-based diesel generating stations. Four more communities affected by the project will be connected in 1998.
Following the completion of the North Central Project, only four communities in Manitoba will be supplied with electricity produced by diesel fuel: Brochet, Lac Bochet, Shamattawa, and Tadoule Lake.
MANITOBA HYDRO ANNOUNCED NO CHANGE IN ELECTRICITY RATES for the fiscal year of 1998–89. The utility decided it could still achieve its long term financial goals without increasing the 1997 rates charged to Manitobans. Good water conditions during previous years, coupled with a continuing strong market for electricity export sales, allowed Manitoba Hydro to achieve higher-than-forecast net incomes.
CHANGES TO THE MANITOBA HYDRO ACT WERE INTRODUCED and passed in the Manitoba legislature in June. The revisions to the Act primarily focused on two major areas. One, providing for wholesale competition in the electrical energy market in Manitoba. Two, allowing the Corporation to offer new products and services and to create subsidiaries, joint ventures, and business alliances.
NORWAY HOUSE SIGNED HISTORIC AGREEMENT. A comprehensive agreement, effective December 31, to implement the northern Flood Agreement (NFA) was signed by Manitoba Hydro, the Norway House Cree Nation, and the governments of Canada and Manitoba. The agreement settled claims and other outstanding issues that arose under the NFA, which was signed by Norway House and four other bands in 1977.
Key features of the agreement included payment of approximately $78.9 million in cash and Hydro bonds, about 24,300 hectares of new reserve lands, and the creation of a resource co-management board with the province.
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1998 MANITOBA HYDRO ADOPTED THE CANADIAN ELECTRICITY ASSOCIATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM (ECR). The ECR program created a framework for evaluating and reporting the electric utility industry's environmental performance as a whole. To ensure credible and standardized reporting, the ECR program required utilities to implement an Environmental Management System based on standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for managing the processes that have an impact on the environment. The standards are known as ISO 14,001.
SELKIRK GENERATING STATION SUFFERED FIRE DAMAGE in March when a fire started on the conveyor system, near the top of the powerhouse. Over $100,000 in damages occurred. The generating station was shut down for repairs for approximately one month.
AT HERITAGE CEREMONIES IN NELSON HOUSE, Manitoba Hydro, the Museum of Man and Nature, and the provincial Historic Resources branch were honoured for their involvement in the recovery, analysis, replication and return of heritage artifacts to the Nisichawayasihk (Nelson House) Cree First Nation of northern Manitoba. Surveys revealed evidence of large communities situated along the Churchill River and other streams and lakes, indicating that northerners had as rich and advanced a culture as southerners.
NEW STANDARDIZED MANITOBA HYDRO LOGO DESIGNED. The new logo would replace those used on vehicles, signs, print applications and other materials that publicly identify Manitoba Hydro. The m-h graphic symbol was retained, but a new typeface and placement of the company name was used.
NEW SYSTEM CONTROL CENTRE. Control of Manitoba Hydro's generation, transmission and distribution system was transferred from the old facility at 820 Taylor Avenue to a $67 million stand-alone centre. The new centre was a product of Manitoba Hydro's decision in the mid-1990s to replace the computer system that was used to oversee the province's power grid. Originally adopted in the 1970s, the existing system was not Year 2000 compliant and could no longer handle some of the new applications, such as operator training simulations, made necessary by changes in the electrical utility industry.
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1999 MANITOBA HYDRO SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT WITH WESTCOAST ENERGY INC. OF VANCOUVER to acquire Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. In March, Manitoba Hydro announced plans to become a world class energy provider by combining two key sources of energy — electricity and natural gas. The purchase followed the trend of electrical and natural gas utilities around the globe to provide one-stop energy services. The purchase of Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. for $245 million was finalized in July 1999 following approval by the Public Utilities Board.
NORTH CENTRAL PROJECT COMPLETED in April, when the last of nine remote northern communities received full electrical service for the first time. Previously, most of the residents had only 15-amp electrical service, produced by local diesel-fueled generating stations. The $154 million project involved the construction of four substations and over 500 km of transmission and distribution lines. The cost was undertaken by the federal and provincial governments and Manitoba Hydro. Oxford House was first to be linked to the provincial power system in 1997, followed over the next few years by God's Lake Narrows, God's River, God's Lake, Red Sucker Lake, Garden Hill, Wasagamack, St. Theresa Point, and Island Lake.
CHURCHILL WEIR, MARINA, AND GOOSE CREEK ENHANCEMENT COMPLETED. By backing up river flows, the weir raised the water level 10 km upstream on the Churchill River, enhancing fish habitat, and increasing recreational and business opportunities for the community. The project was designed to resolve the water levels in the river, which dropped after construction of the Churchill River Diversion Project was completed in the 1970s.
WEST LYNNE AREA RECEIVED NATURAL GAS SERVICE during last week of September. Centra Gas Manitoba Inc., the Town of Emerson, and individual residents contributed about $125,000 in capital costs to fund the expansion for gas service to the west side of the Red River at Emerson.
MANITOBA HYDRO RECOGNIZED FOR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENT. The Pembina Institute, a leading Canadian environmental think tank, named Manitoba Hydro the top performer among Canadian electrical utilities in the fight against climate change. As well, Canada's Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry presented the utility with a Gold Champion award for its 1999 voluntary Climate Change Action Plan Update in recognition for the highest level of achievement in the organization's Champion Reporting System. Manitoba Hydro joined the voluntary National Action Program on Climate Change for Managing Greenhouse Gas Emission in 1995. National businesses and governments were challenged to take action voluntarily to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including a commitment to regular reporting.
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Addressing the impacts of hydro development
Manitoba's rivers represent a clean and renewable source of energy — one capable of providing an abundant and affordable supply of electricity. However, the construction and operation of hydroelectric developments has had an impact on the province's waterways and the communities who use them, in particular, First Nation communities.
In the 1990s, Manitoba Hydro made a concerted effort to work with affected communities to find resolutions for past effects and to build cooperative relationships for the future. During the decade, Manitoba Hydro signed a total of 14 agreements, with some of the largest settlements falling under the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA), which provides the framework for resolving issues with five First Nations regarding the effects of the hydroelectric projects on the Churchill and Nelson rivers.
When development of Manitoba's northern rivers was first considered in earnest in the 1960s, proposals and plans were drawn up with little community consultation. Construction was already underway in 1974 when five affected First Nations formed the Northern Flood Committee to negotiate commitments from the governments of Canada and Manitoba, along with Manitoba Hydro to provide compensation and take steps to limit the impact of development.
The result of that effort was the Northern Flood Agreement, signed in 1977 by Cross Lake, Nelson House, Norway House, Split Lake and York Landing, together with the governments of Canada and Manitoba, and Manitoba Hydro.
The NFA provided for mitigation works, compensation, training, employment and for community planning. But, by the mid-1980s, it was apparent the arbitration process set out in the NFA was an inefficient mechanism to resolve outstanding issues.
At the initiative of First Nations, negotiations to achieve implementation agreements began in the mid-1980s. During the 1990s, the First Nations and Manitoba Hydro signed Implementation Agreements in four of five NFA communities; Split Lake in 1992, York Factory in 1995, Nelson House in 1996, and Norway House in 1997.
The four comprehensive implementation agreements provided significant financial resources, land in exchange for reserve land lost to hydroelectric projects (at a ratio of 16:1), and other benefits, such as resource co-management boards with the province and joint planning processes for future hydroelectric projects. The total value of the comprehensive implementation agreements amounted to $223 million.
These new agreements were a major step forward in the relationship between Manitoba Hydro and northern First Nations. They not only compensated those bands affected monetarily, but more importantly, the First Nations were empowered to make their own decisions with regard to the use of funds and the development of their communities.
Manitoba Hydro also undertook projects to mitigate the impacts of its operations, such as the Cross Lake Weir. Completed in 1991, the $9.5 million weir was built across one of Cross Lake's four outlet channels to maintain higher summer water levels and moderate seasonal water level fluctuations. In addition, a long term fish restocking program was undertaken to return the fish population in Cross Lake to pre-development levels. Between 1992 and 1999, Manitoba Hydro arranged for 100 million whitefish from the Grand Rapids fish hatchery to be released into the lake.
Separate agreements were also reached with the communities along the Churchill River who were adversely affected by the diversion of river flows into the Nelson River system. Discussions with representatives from the community of South Indian Lake reached a successful conclusion in 1992 with a settlement of $18 million. Further downstream, the Town of Churchill signed an agreement in 1997 which included $3 million in compensation, a $2.8 million mitigation trust fund, and a $5 million capital payment to conclude Manitoba Hydro's previous ongoing obligation for the town's water supply. As part of the agreement, the town and Manitoba Hydro initiated construction of a rock weir in the Churchill River. The $15 million project created a 10 km long reservoir with fishing and boating opportunities.
Manitoba Hydro also reached settlements with communities affected by the operation of facilities on rivers in the central and southern regions of the province. In 1997, the Sagkeeng Nation agreed to a $2.5 million settlement which recognized the impact of hydroelectric developments on the Winnipeg River. In the early 1990s, five settlements were reached related to the Grand Rapids Generating Station, built on the Saskatchewan River. Agreements totalling $31.8 million were signed with Easterville/Chemawawin, Moose Lake, The Pas Indian Band, Grand Rapids First Nation, and Cormorant communities. The former residents and families of Pine Bluff who were affected by the project agreed to a settlement in 1996.
By the end of the decade, Manitoba Hydro had spent or committed approximately $400 million on comprehensive community settlements, resource sector or remedial work settlements, and settlements with individuals to remedy problems and offset losses. But, more importantly, the Corporation had forged new relationships with Manitoba's First Nation's people. The process of negotiation and discussion associated with reaching settlements produced, in many situations, a mutual understanding and respect that lay the foundation for further cooperation. These new relationships were clearly exemplified in 1997 when Manitoba Hydro began collaborating with both the Nisichawayasihk (formerly Nelson House) and Tataskweyak (formerly Split Lake) Cree Nations to evaluate potential hydroelectric sites in their resource management areas.
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