Heather Wright/The Independent

Hydro One has made some changes to its proposed second transmission line in Dawn-Euphemia Township.

But the mayor is still concerned about the power line’s impact on the township’s bottom line.
The utility is already working on two transmission line projects, one in St. Clair and another from Strathroy to Lakeshore. It hopes to have it in service by 2030.

But with the Independent Energy Supply Operator estimating demand for power in the southwest quadrupling by 2035, the provincial government asked Hydro One to look at building a second transmission line at the same time.

In February, Hydro One released three preferred routes and several residents in Dawn-Euphemia were shocked to find the route ran directly over their homes.

Two were along the same corridor as existing routes, the other makes its way through the southern portion of Dawn-Euphemia around Cairo Road (formerly Highway 79), Fansher Road and Bilton Line.
In some cases, homeowners were sure they would have to leave there home.

But Monday, Mayor Al Broad says he received a visit from a Hydro One representative in advance of public meetings planned for this month. Broad says the representative told him the utility was shifting the line so it would not be directly over the homes. It would still run beside them.

Hydro One’s interactive maps show a number of changes. It’s abandoned plans for one route which would have cut through an “active oil resource area” a new agricultural facility and was too close to an airport.

Hydro One changed the third route because of a heron nesting site and because of a municipal pumping station.

“Through this engagement, we have heard about the significance of agricultural operations, the value of unique environmental features, and nearby homes, businesses and communities. There is also interest in understanding how the project might affect these areas during construction, and once operational,” says Hydro One in a statement at the project’s website.

While Broad was glad to hear about the changes, he’s still worried about property values in the area.
“I was just very clear that I do not want this hydro line that they’re trying to run through Dawn-Euphemia to the cost us, the taxpayers of Dawn-Euphemia money.

“We know that these properties that are involved in there, if you’ve got a hydro line running over your property or over top of your house, we know the assessment is going to drop,” the mayor said. That would mean a drop in tax revenue to the municipality.

“They just need to make sure the compensation provided to the township covers that, because once we lose that assessment, it’s gone forever.

“It shouldn’t cost Dawn-Euphemia taxpayers to put this hydro line through.”

Hydro One plans a number of public meetings to explain the changes. The nearest meeting is Nov. 28 from 3 to 7 pm at The Brunner Center in Thamesville. Hydro One is expecting to announce its final route in early to mid 2025.