A recent technical report from PUC Distribution Inc. has shed light on the Sault Smart Grid initiative, revealing a gap between its community-wide marketing and the actual implementation of its core self-healing technology. The Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) system, designed to automatically restore power, has been deployed on only about 40 percent of the subtransmission and distribution feeders.

Limited Self-Healing Coverage

This means a significant 60 percent of PUC’s distribution network, covering approximately 342 square kilometers, lacks the automated fault isolation and restoration capabilities. While the FLISR system is a key component, its limited reach means a substantial portion of the grid is not equipped for rapid, automated power restoration.

Reported Benefits Amidst Coverage Gaps

Despite the FLISR system's partial deployment, PUC asserts that the smart grid has already delivered substantial benefits. In 2025, the Sault Smart Grid reportedly prevented outages for over 10,000 customers and reduced outage minutes by more than 900,000. The 40 percent figure, from a July 2023 report, specifically refers to the FLISR system's coverage.

Broader Smart Grid Advantages

PUC spokesperson Lauren MacGillivray emphasized that this percentage does not encompass all smart grid benefits. All customers, she noted, benefit from system-wide visibility provided by smart monitoring devices. These devices improve reliability and help reduce operating costs, contributing to lower local distribution rates by minimizing investigation time for crews.

Furthermore, all of PUC’s approximately 30,000 residential customers benefit from dynamic voltage regulation. This feature lowers overall voltage, leading to reduced energy consumption and making the Sault Smart Grid program cost-neutral for customers.

Project Scope and Cost Discrepancies

The initial plan for the Sault Smart Grid aimed to implement the FLISR system on 70 percent of PUC’s feeders. However, this was scaled back to approximately 40 percent following a budget review. PUC has stated there are no current plans to expand FLISR coverage beyond this existing deployment.

PUC highlighted its continuous efforts to enhance distribution system reliability and minimize outage impacts while maintaining cost-effectiveness. They integrate new components into ongoing infrastructure renewal programs, like installing reclosers during pole replacements, to maximize efficiency and ensure smart, sustainable investments.

This clarification comes after questions arose following a west-end power outage where PUC reported that the smart grid's capabilities spared 278 customers from an outage affecting over 1,700. The Sault Smart Grid was launched in November 2023, promoted as Canada's first community-wide system aimed at improving electrical reliability.

A discrepancy exists in the project's reported cost. While earlier estimates were around $34 million, Natural Resources Canada lists the total cost at over $42.8 million. PUC confirmed the smart grid project achieved substantial completion in November 2023 at a total cost of $33 million.