An anonymous director reports

WANETA EXPANSION PROJECT IS NOW GENERATING CLEAN, RENEWABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE POWER

Waneta Expansion LP, formed between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corp. and Columbia Basin Trust, has connected the Waneta expansion project near Trail, B.C., to the electrical grid. The plant is located on the border between Canada and the United States, and is now generating power on the BC Hydro grid.

The 335-megawatt expansion adds a second powerhouse immediately downstream of the Waneta dam on the Pend-d'Oreille River that shares the existing hydraulic head, and generates clean, renewable, cost-effective power from water that would otherwise be spilled. The project also included the construction of a 10-kilometre, 230-kilovot transmission line, and provides enough energy to power about 60,000 Canadian homes per year.

"We are proud to have contributed to one of the largest infrastructure projects of British Columbia and helped bringing it on-line. We contributed to making available reliable and affordable electricity from a renewable, climate-friendly source," William Malus, chief executive officer of Voith Hydro in Canada, pointed out.

At the time of substantial completion, the project was the eighth-largest hydroelectrical infrastructure project in B.C. The Waneta expansion project was completed six weeks ahead of schedule. Two parallel tunnels are feeding the two Francis turbine units, each supplying 167.5 megawatts. In addition to the turbines, Voith Hydro supplied the generators, governors, exciters and various additional auxiliary systems of the plant's equipment. Voith Hydro is a subcontractor to SNC Lavalin Inc., acting as the prime contractor on the project.

The owner, Waneta Expansion, announced that the project employed over 1,400 people over all in the five years of design, manufacturing, construction and commissioning. Voith Hydro started working on the project in October, 2010.

The official opening presentation shall be held in July, 2015, with project and local, regional, and provincial government representatives.

The importance of hydro power

Hydro power is the largest, oldest and also most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide, it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies, and hence to economic and social development -- both in industrial countries and in emerging markets. At the same time, hydro power significantly contributes to climate-protecting energy generation. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology since the early beginning and continuously develops it further.

About Voith Hydro

Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil and gas, paper, raw materials, and transport and automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith today has more than 39,000 employees, sales 5.3 billion euros and locations in more than 50 countries, making it one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.