Opening the Doors to Hydro Ottawa's Historic Hidden Gem

OTTAWA, June 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Hydro Ottawa invites the community to come explore Canada's oldest fully functioning hydroelectric generating station this weekend, June 4 and 5, as part of Doors Open Ottawa.

For the sixth consecutive year, Hydro Ottawa is welcoming visitors to its Chaudière Falls Generating Station No. 2 for guided tours of the 125-year-old hidden gem. Throughout this two-day event, guests will not only learn more about Ottawa's history, but will be given insight into how their electricity is produced.

Doors Open Ottawa is a City of Ottawa initiative in which visitors are given the opportunity to learn more about what has been hiding in their "backyard" while exploring some of the city's most prestigious buildings and facilities.

Quick Facts

• Commissioned in 1891, Generating Station No. 2 was refurbished and fully automated in 2001.
• Generating Station No. 2 holds the distinction of Canada's oldest surviving hydroelectric station still in operation.
• Tours will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
• Limited parking available on-site and closed-toe shoes must be worn for safety reasons.
• The construction of a new 29-megawatt (MW) facility at the Chaudière Falls location is underway and scheduled to be completed in 2017.
• Hydro Ottawa is the largest municipally-owned producer of green power in Ontario.

Quotes

"This station has played an important role in Ottawa's history, and it will continue to play a vital part of its future. For more than 125 years, Chaudière's Generating Station No. 2 has been providing clean and reliable power to our community. By opening our doors, residents will get to experience first-hand a part of Ottawa's history that forever changed our city. It's where it all began."
- Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

About Hydro Ottawa

Hydro Ottawa's core businesses are delivering electricity, generating renewable power and providing energy conservation/management services. Hydro Ottawa is a community-owned, private company, delivering electricity to more than 325,000 customers in Ottawa and Casselman. It is the largest municipally-owned producer of green power in the province, with hydroelectric and landfill gas-to-energy generating facilities. Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) owns and operates two subsidiary companies, Hydro Ottawa Limited and Energy Ottawa Inc.

www.hydroottawa.com

SOURCE Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Image with caption: "View from the Chaudière Falls generating station on the Ottawa River, with Parliament of Canada in the distance. (CNW Group/Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160603_C1257_PHOTO_EN_705063.jpg

Image with caption: "Turbine at Chaudière Falls generating station. Date unknown. (CNW Group/Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160603_C1257_PHOTO_EN_705067.jpg

Image with caption: "An early image of the Ring Dam at Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River. Reliable and clean, water powered the first electric lights to brighten Ottawa nights. Date unknown. (CNW Group/Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160603_C1257_PHOTO_EN_705065.jpg

Daniel Séguin, Manager, Media and Public Affairs, Hydro Ottawa, Tel: [phone] ext. [email protected]