Hydro-Québec hosts open house on Coulonge substation project
William Dale
Local Journalism Initiative
May 27, 2025
Published in the Pontiac Journal on June 4, 2025.
FORT-COULONGE – Hydro-Québec has begun a major public consultation process as part of its plan to build a new electrical substation—Poste de Coulonge—and a 120 kV transmission line stretching over 30 kilometers from the existing Cadieux Substation in Bryson to a new site in the Coulonge area. This large-scale infrastructure project aims to strengthen the region’s power grid, improve reliability, and support future growth in electricity demand.
The consultation process, which began earlier this year with municipalities in the Pontiac MRC, has now entered a broader public phase. An open house event on May 27 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fort-Coulonge invited residents to learn about the project,
ask questions, and provide feedback.
“What we’re doing today is part of a comprehensive and ongoing consultation,” Caroline Milliard, a Hydro-Québec spokesperson, explained. “We began meeting with municipal stakeholders early in 2025 and are now inviting the general public to engage with the proposed plan.”
Why the project is needed
The Coulonge substation and transmission line are key to modernizing the aging infrastructure in the region and increasing power system capacity. The existing Cadieux substation, originally built in 1964, has reached its limits.
“This investment will reduce outages and shorten their duration while supporting economic development and the electrification of transportation,” Caroline added.
The new infrastructure will bring high-voltage transmission lines farther north into underserved areas like Fort-Coulonge, Chichester, and Sheenboro—regions that have faced longstanding challenges with power reliability.
Proposed project details
- Substation location: The new substation will be located somewhere within a defined study zone in the Coulonge area. Criteria for site selection include distance from residential areas, flat and well-drained land, minimal visual impact, and low environmental sensitivity.
- Transmission line: A new 120 kV line will run from Cadieux in Bryson to the Coulonge area. Hydro-Québec is assessing potential routes based on land use, environmental concerns, and impacts to local landowners and industries such as maple syrup producers.
Consultation timeline and construction
The project is still in its preliminary study phase. No final route or substation location
has been selected, but preliminary proposals are expected by fall 2025.
From 2026 to 2028, Hydro-Québec will focus on:
- Finalizing the route and lot selection
- Continuing environmental and geological assessments
- Securing required government authorizations
- Negotiating with impacted landowners
If all goes according to plan, construction is expected to begin in 2028 and continue through to 2030–2031, when the new infrastructure is scheduled to be commissioned.
Additional upgrades
This project is also tied to upgrades at the Cadieux substation, which will be modernized
to support the new line. While the land is already owned by Hydro-Québec, additional regulatory approvals may still be required to proceed.
Community involvement
Hydro-Québec emphasized its commitment to community engagement throughout the process. Over 4,000 letters were sent to residents in the study area, and turnout for the open house included local mayors and citizens from surrounding municipalities.
“We understand our equipment isn’t invisible. But our goal is to do this with the people,
not despite them,” said Milliard. “We want to minimize the impact while maximizing the benefits to residents.”
More information, including maps, press releases, and public notices, can be found
on Hydro-Québec’s dedicated project website: hydroquebec.com/coulongesubstation.
Photo – Hydro-Quebec Spokesperson Caroline Milliard goes over a map of the study
area for the new Coulonge substation project. (WD)
