Regular Surveillance
Toronto Hydro committed additional resources to its contact voltage program, including a team of mobile voltage testing vehicles and service crews that "sweep" city streets to identify any further contact voltage conditions. In addition to mobile voltage testing vehicles, we've undertaken a handwell replacement program.
Handwell Replacement Program
Handwells are underground service access points that are located in the boulevard or sidewalk that contain wiring to supply infrastructure such as street lighting, traffic lights, signs, etc. There are approximately 12,000 handwells in Toronto. Currently, they are topped with a metal lid and frame which could become energized under certain conditions. In 2010, Toronto Hydro began a new phase of its Contact Voltage Remediation Program, which involves replacing handwells in the city of Toronto with a non-conductive polymer concrete model. This new standard is intended to reduce the risk of contact voltage. To date we are more than halfway through the replacement of metal lids and we are working towards having almost all of the handwell structures replaced by the end of 2014.