Bruce Power - History

History

Bruce Power was founded as a Limited Liability Partnership in 2001 between British Energy (82.4%), Cameco Corporation (15%), Power Workers’ Union and The Society of Energy Professionals. Following the financial difficulties of British Energy in the Fall of 2002, the LLP became a wholly Canadian-owned Limited Partnership on 14 February 2003

In May 2001, Bruce Power became the licensed operator of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Tiverton, Ontario, acquiring the sites from the defunct Ontario Hydro. Bruce A and Bruce B are equipped with eight CANDU nuclear reactors (4 at each station). The initial four reactors were commissioned at Bruce A between 1977 and 1979, while Bruce B's were added between 1984 and 1987. The Bruce Power site at Tiverton is the world's largest nuclear generating facility.

Since its creation, Bruce Power has successfully restarted two reactor units and launched an industry first in restarting two more.

On 7 October 2003, Unit 4 returned to the Ontario grid for the first time since 1998, when it was laid up by the site's previous operators. It was then followed by Unit 3 on 8 January 2004.

On 17 October 2005, Bruce Power reached an agreement with the Ontario Power Authority and launched a $4.25 billion investment program that will begin with the restart of Bruce A, Units 1 and 2. Unit 1 was returned to the grid on 20 September 2012, with Unit 2 following shortly on 18 October 2012.

Restarting those units boosts Bruce Power's output to 6,300 MW, making Bruce Power the source for about 25 per cent of Ontario's electricity on a typical day.