History Hydro-Québec's electricity transmission system

hydro-québec s first logo (1944–1960)

the first hydroelectric stations in québec built private entrepreneurs in late 1800s. in 1903 first long distance high-voltage transmission line in north america built, 50 kv line connecting shawinigan powerstation montréal, 135 km away. in first half of 1900s, market dominated regional monopolies, service publicly criticised. in response, in 1944 provincial government created hydro quebec expropriated montreal light, heat & power

in 1963 hydro-québec purchased shares of remaining privately owned electrical utilities operating in québec , undertook construction of manicouagan-outardes hydroelectric complex. transmit complex s annual production of 30 billion kwh on distance of 700 km, hydro-québec had innovate. led jean-jacques archambault, became first utility in world transmit electricity @ 735 kv, rather 300–400 kv world standard @ time. in 1962, hydro-québec proceeded construction of first 735 kv power line in world. line, stretching manic-outardes dam levis substation, brought service on 29 november 1965.

over next twenty years, 1965 1985, quebec underwent massive expansion of 735 kv power grid , hydroelectric generating capacity. hydro-québec Équipement, division of hydro-québec, , société d’énergie de la baie james built these transmission lines, electrical substations, , generating stations. constructing transmission system la grande phase one, part of james bay project, took 12,500 towers, 13 electrical substations, 10,000 kilometres (6,000 mi) of ground wire, , 60,000 kilometres (40,000 mi) of electrical conductor @ cost of c$3.1 billion alone. in less 4 decades, hydro-québec s generating capacity went 3,000 mw in 1963 33,000 mw in 2002, 25,000 mw of power sent population centers on 735 kv power lines.