On September 12, teams successfully commissioned the frequency controller at the Labrador end for the Labrador Island Link (LIL). This was a significant milestone that now allows for isolated and reliable operation of the Labrador Island Link – Muskrat Falls – Happy Valley-Goose Bay system.

Previously, if there was a planned outage to one of the two 315 kV transmission lines connecting Muskrat Falls to Churchill Falls, power flows had to be significantly restricted to prevent a large frequency swing that could potentially upset the Labrador East system if the remaining line tripped. This frequency regulation now allows us to maintain a higher power flow, meaning more efficient operation and reliability on our Labrador system overall.

Recently, severe icing and forest fires resulted in total, unplanned outages to the 735 kV transmission system connecting Churchill Falls to Hydro Quebec. This resulted in extensive Muskrat Falls asset outages as well as customer outages in Labrador East. But now, if there is an imminent risk to the 735 kV transmission system, the Labrador Island Link – Muskrat Falls – Happy Valley-Goose Bay system can be isolated from the Churchill Falls and the greater Hydro Quebec system, in a planned and controlled manner.

This proven ability to separate, reliably operate, and then restore these systems truly enhances reliability for our Labrador East customers. This work also helps to further secure power flows on the Labrador Island Link for the island, and for Nova Scotia and beyond through the Maritime Link.

Fantastic work by our NLSO team (including Transmission Planning, System Operations and Energy Control Centre) and our Power Supply Engineering and Operations Teams on the successful, and safe, completion of this work.