Energy Future

Artificial intelligence, data centers, manufacturing, and electrification are significantly increasing energy demand in North America. Fortis is taking action to build the grid of the future by increasing grid capacity while ensuring that energy remains reliable, secure, and affordable.

Meeting Energy Demand

In 2024, Fortis continued to exceed industry averages for reliability. Ensuring our customers have the energy they need, when and where they need it, will continue to guide our investment in the energy future.

Average Electricity Customer Outage Duration (Hours)

ITC: Building and Maintaining a Greater Grid

Energy demand in the U.S. is expected to double by 2050. ITC is helping to meet this demand by enhancing its transmission infrastructure to increase capacity and reliably integrate new energy resources in the U.S. Midwest. ITC plans to invest between US$1.4-$1.8 billion through 2030 as part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) long-range transmission plan (LRTP) tranche 1 projects and a further US$3.7-$4.2 billion for tranche 2.1 projects. ITC is also moving forward with plans for a transmission upgrade to serve up to 1,600 megawatts (MW) of new data center load at the Big Cedar Industrial Center in Iowa. Beyond that project, ITC sees the possibility of approximately 5 gigawatts of additional load growth if a number of proposed data center and economic projects that are currently in preliminary stages of development move forward to completion.

TEP's New Battery System to Support Reliability

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is building a second large battery system in southeast Tucson to improve reliability for customers, especially during the summer when usage is highest. The 200 MW Roadrunner Reserve II system will store 800 MW hours of energy, enough to serve approximately 42,000 homes for four hours when operating at full capacity. This new system is scheduled to begin operation in 2026, a year after the similarly sized Roadrunner Reserve I energy storage system begins operating on the same site. TEP is also preparing to construct the Wilmot Energy Center II, which will include a 100 MW solar array and a 400 MW hour lithium-ion battery energy storage system.

Affordable Energy for Customers

We're focused on keeping customer bills as low as possible. Fortis utilities continue to identify efficiencies and implement innovative practices to reduce operating costs. We also work with our customers to help them manage their bills through energy efficiency programs, rebates, and payment plans. Over the past five years, controllable operating costs per customer increased by approximately 2.8% annually, below inflation during this period.

Controllable Operating Costs Per Customer

Innovating Every Day

Through creative problem-solving and innovative approaches, we are finding effective solutions to our most challenging problems. This involves strong collaboration within our industry, the start-up community, and among all Fortis companies to leverage technology, adopt new business processes, and enhance cybersecurity to keep energy safe, reliable, and affordable for customers.

Safer and Smarter Transmission Upgrades

ITC recently contracted Ampjack Industries Ltd. to raise structures in Michigan to reduce line sag for newly upgraded conductor lines. The structures were lifted 5-20 feet. This innovative approach to transmission upgrades led to cost savings and kept the power flowing.

Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Oil

Newfoundland Power is the first North American utility to explore using esters, a biodegradable synthetic alternative, to replace mineral oil in transformers. This innovative initiative will assess benefits such as reduced environmental impact from spills, improved fire safety, and potentially lower clean-up costs. This biodegradable alternative could also enhance the performance of existing transformers amidst rising electricity demand and avoid upgrade costs.

Forward-Looking Information