How VR enhances our training
Published: August 11, 2026
Summary
- Toronto Hydro uses VR training to help apprentices and experienced crew members develop and refine job-ready skills in a safe, controlled environment before working in the field
- Through immersive VR simulations, crew members receive guided, step-by-step instruction for both routine and complex tasks, helping them work safely, build confidence and ultimately restore outages faster
Virtual reality (VR) is often associated with gaming and entertainment, but at Toronto Hydro, this technology plays a critical role in how we prepare crews for real-world work.
By simulating training environments, VR gives both apprentices and experienced crew members the opportunity to build practical skills, gain confidence and refine critical techniques before responding to actual job-site conditions.
“The purpose of VR training is to provide users with immersive, hands-on training experience in a zero-risk environment,” says Duncan Kerr, Director, Training and Work Methods. “Users can practice specific skills over and over until they are confident and capable.”
When our crew members put on VR headsets, they’re given step-by-step instructions on how to effectively perform a variety of tasks that are encountered on the job — from spotting worksite hazards to completing more complex overhead and underground repairs.
Toronto Hydro employees using VR headsets.
“We recognized when we started exploring the use of VR that it was best suited for learning skills that were highly procedural and high risk,” says Kerr. “Switching — the process of opening or closing electrical circuits to control the flow of electricity — is likely the highest-risk activity we ask our crews to perform. Using VR, we can model different assets and allow employees to learn the steps required to switch safely in a zero-risk environment.”
This tool provides an engaging, hands-on learning experience that puts safety and efficiency at the forefront — ensuring that when our crews are on site, they can safely restore outages faster.
To learn more about how we’re investing in building a more intelligent and resilient grid, visit Our 2025–2029 investment plan web page.