Our commitment to a sustainable future isn’t just a corporate goal – it’s operational. And it is visible on the road every day, driven by the people who keep the power flowing.
The Field Operator crew at our subsidiary, Hydro Ottawa Limited (‘Hydro Ottawa’), now lead the company’s first fully electric mobile fleet. Since March 2026, this team has been fully powered by electric vehicles (EVs), proving that electrification can meet the rigorous demands of emergency utility operations.
A fleet built for the future
Transitioning to an electric fleet significantly reduces fuel consumption and eliminates tailpipe emissions, even with the high mileage required for utility work.
By the numbers:
- The fleet: Two EV trucks were deployed in 2024, with the third on the road since March 2026.
- The range: With an average range of 415 km in the winter and 518 km in the summer, the team can easily get a full shift’s worth of range without needing a charge.
- The savings: In 2025, the energy cost for one EV Silverado was approximately $2,700, compared to more than $14,000 in fuel for a single gas truck.
- The impact: In 2026, this three-truck fleet will produce 0 kg in tailpipe emissions, avoiding the 26 metric tonnes of CO2 previously produced by a single gas-powered pickup.
Safety and reliability
While their vehicles are high-tech, the Field Operator team’s mission remains rooted in public safety, and they carry out this mission 24 hours a day, in every kind of weather, across every community Hydro Ottawa serves – from Casselman to Stittsville.
Established in 2013 to support Hydro Ottawa’s 24/7 trouble call division, Field Operators work hand-in-hand with the System Office team to guide crews, contractors and emergency responders through complex electrical situations. Their annual impact includes:
- 1,500+ orders to operate (OTOs): safely isolating sections of the grid to create safe work zones for crews and emergency personnel.
- 900+ emergency responses: managing more than 200 calls from Ottawa Fire Services and roughly 700 other emergency trouble calls annually.
- 500+ vault inspections: ensuring the “safe rooms” that house high-voltage equipment remain secure.
- 250+ isolations: physically disconnecting equipment to guarantee 100 per cent safety for repair crews.
- 180+ outage responses: rapidly restoring service to minimize downtime for our community.
- 108+ line patrols: physical inspections of overhead and underground infrastructure to spot damage and possible outage causes.
Precision tools for critical decisions
To manage the complexities of the grid, operators rely on a suite of advanced digital mapping and communication tools. By using secure, integrated dispatch and grid-visualization software, they can instantly pinpoint damage and coordinate switching operations with surgical precision.
Their specialized field gear includes:
- Arc-flash protective equipment (including 140-cal suits). Used in high-voltage environments like substations, they are engineered to withstand heat in excess of 35,000 °F (or three times hotter than the surface of the sun).
- Potential testers to verify equipment status before contractors can safely begin work.
- EV-powered tools, including pumps for flooded vaults and chainsaws for clearing hazardous debris.
If you see Hydro Ottawa’s white electric pickups in your neighbourhood, know they represent more than just a transition to clean energy. They are a mobile promise of our commitment to a more sustainable energy future.