All a matter of timing
One hundred years after the Town of Antigonish took ownership of the Antigonish Electric Utility, crews waited to hear the anticipated hum of a new substation coming online.
Preparations that began over five years ago and with support from the federal government demonstrate the value of determination, thoughtful planning, and following through on a great idea. What started with materials procurement, project timelines, and early coordination with Nova Scotia Power has culminated in a brand new 30/40 kV substation for the electric utility, owned by the Town of Antigonish. Lise Roy, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator and our electric utility staff have all been hard at work on this project. Now that the substation is successfully online, it's all paying off - and this is just the beginning.
Lise Roy looks on as crews coordinate the energization of the substation on October 16, 2026.
The substation will bring electricity from Nova Scotia Power's (NSP) transmission lines and redistribute it through one of two duplicate systems. To allow for system reliability and account for peak demand, this substation has two, fully redundant (or "back up") transformers that are ready to be connected to the Town's electric grid. They function independently, but could also be used together to distribute more electricity as the utility grows.
Power enters our substation from the three transmission lines to the left of the image, and energized our transformers as of October 16, 2026.
From Reliance to Resilience
Councillor Jack Sullivan, chair of the Infrastructure Committee and Councillor Juanita Pelly were able to visit the substation prior to its energization. They spoke with engineer Ray Sampson, project manager about what this change means for the Town of Antigonish and our customers.
The biggest change that we'll see take place with this new substation is that the Town can now channel electricity from NSP's larger transmission lines. The electric utility buys approximately 60% of its electricity from NSP. These lines have had much lower down-times historically, which benefits customers utility-wide. The lines also carry 40% of our renewable energy from our collectively owned Ellershouse Windfarm, a project that brings us closer to our goal of 80% renewable energy by 2030. Right now the EU is at approximately 64% renenwable energy including NSP's renewables.
This substation allows the Town of Antigonish Electric Utility to convert to 25 kV power - a major step towards energy and climate resilience.
To read the finer details on the scope of the Grid Modernization project, click here.
Engineer Ray Sampson pointing out key locations in the electric utility's distribution map to councillors on October 15, 2026.
Heating and Transportation
Heating and transportation present two of the largest energy costs for customers, where the reliance remains on fossil fuels. The modernization of our grid provides reliable, cleaner, and affordable options to electrify such as with heat pumps and electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Costs to power those electric options, paid to our municipally owned electric utility, get reinvested in our community.
Electric vehicle charging stations available around Antigonish are visible on this interactive map.
Partners like those with the Smart Grid Innovation Network have enabled the Town to make connections with other utility providers and industry experts that have helped move this and other Utility projects through key milestones. Locally, the Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance has been a resource of collaboration and shared opportunities.
Crews make final preparations on the three-circuit transmission line that feed into the new substation, October 15 2026.
Empowering Antigonish
Now that the substation is online, there is a planned waiting period while the transformers are fully energized. Before the winter, the plan is to connect customers near to the substation and continue with the rest of the Town's electric utility grid over the coming years.
Customers will experience brief power outages as we shift to the new grid, but customers will also see grid modernization upgrades taking place in the meantime that will limit down times once connections happen. This is in the form of new pole-top transformers. Some have been installed in neighbourhoods already by our electric utility crew, and more are ready for installation.
Pole-top transformers along Hawthorne Street
If you have any questions or concerns for our electric utility, visit our Contact Page for the email address and after-hours emergency phone number.
