NEW ORLEANS (June 03, 2025) — The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today awarded Fortis Inc. with the 2025 International Edison Award for its Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission System. Presented annually and selected by a panel of former energy industry executives, the Edison Award is the electric power industry’s highest honor. The award was presented in New Orleans during EEI 2025, the institute’s annual conference and thought leadership forum.
“EEI’s member companies are leading by example in delivering safe, reliable, and resilient clean energy to the customers and communities they serve across the United States and around the world,” said EEI interim President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn. “Fortis’ efforts to quickly connect rural and Indigenous communities to affordable electricity underscore the company’s commitment to develop community-tailored energy solutions that lower customer costs and support local economies. I applaud Fortis for its creativity and leadership, and congratulate them for this well-deserved recognition.”
“Being recognized by EEI with the International Edison Award is a tremendous honor," said Fortis Inc. President and CEO David Hutchens. “The successful completion of this project is a testament to our commitment to our First Nations partners and their unwavering dedication to turning this vision into reality. Access to clean, reliable, and abundant energy will empower First Nations and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come. Seeing the immediate and profound impact of the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project on the communities it serves has been truly humbling.”
The approximately $1.9-billion Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission System is Canada’s largest Indigenous-led electricity project. Fortis partnered with Wataynikaneyap Power and 24 First Nations communities to construct the 1,800-kilometer (1,118-mile) transmission line connected to 22 substations. The system connects 17 rural and remote First Nations communities to the Ontario provincial energy grid.
Construction of the system began in 2020 and was completed in May 2024. With 16 of the 22 substations and half of the transmission line accessible only during winter months, construction timelines needed to be compressed, meaning, in some cases, a year’s worth of work needed to be completed in a matter of months. The new transmission system is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 6.6 million tonnes during the next 40 years and will reduce First Nations communities’ reliance on diesel generation.
Click here to learn about this year’s winner of the Edison Award.
