Bruce Power’s Unit 3 helped meet Ontario’s peak summer electricity demand after returning to service more than seven months ahead of schedule following its Major Component Replacement outage, demonstrating strong post-refurbishment reliability while delivering significant value for ratepayers.
As summer comes to a close, we reflect on the performance that made Unit 3’s output available just in time to meet the province’s needs during peak demand for air conditioners in homes, hospitals and businesses, highlighting Bruce Power’s proven track record of delivering nuclear refurbishments on time, on budget and with quality by a skilled workforce, industry partners and a robust Made-in-Canada supply chain.
Bruce Power’s Unit 3 was successfully synchronized to the Ontario electricity grid June 4 following its three-year refurbishment outage, more than seven months ahead of schedule and well ahead of budget.
Since returning Unit 3 to service, Bruce Power generation was 740,000 megawatt hours ahead of plan, enough to power as many as 300,000 homes during the summer months. With its life extended by more than three decades, Unit 3 itself will provide enough clean, reliable electricity to power a city the size of Brampton for years to come while supporting growing demand for electricity across the province.
“There are a few things you can count on during an Ontario summer: Heat, humidity, the refreshment of a dip in our Great Lakes, and the reliability of baseload nuclear generation,” said Pat Dalzell, Bruce Power’s Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Market Development. “When our skilled workers brought Unit 3 back to service early, ahead of budget and with high quality, they helped to make sure Ontario’s electricity grid was able to meet peak demand over the summer season.”
As a result of the strong performance in its Unit 3 Major Component Replacement (MCR) outage, Bruce Power was able to return approximately $150 million to Ontario ratepayers through the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), demonstrating the strength of the province’s nuclear refurbishment model and Bruce Power’s commitment to delivering value for families and businesses. Provisions built into the Bruce Power refurbishment agreement with the IESO ensure that the people of Ontario benefit from savings realized during the Life-Extension Program and operation of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station.
Bruce Power’s first refurbishment outage in Unit 6 was completed ahead of schedule and cost in 2023 with $52 million delivered back to Ontario ratepayers. Since then, the renewed Unit 6 has shown excellent performance in powering the province.
The Unit 4 MCR outage is tracking ahead of the Unit 3 MCR and represents the midway point for Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program to renew Units 3-8 by 2033 in support of Ontario’s energy security, economic growth, and climate goals.
Several innovations in the Unit 3 MCR, including the first time robotic tools were used on a reactor face to rebuild a Candu reactor and a Candu refurbishment record for calandria tube removal, have paved the way for performance improvements in Unit 4 and successive MCR outages.
Bruce Power directly and indirectly supports approximately 22,000 jobs annually and contributes billions of dollars each year to Ontario’s economy. Ninety-five per cent of Bruce Power’s total spending is in Canada.
About Bruce Power
Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable nuclear power to families and businesses across the province and cancer-fighting medical isotopes around the world. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is a Canadian-owned partnership of TC Energy, OMERS, the Power Workers’ Union and The Society of United Professionals. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.