Two Ontario Power Generation (OPG) hydroelectric stations in eastern Ontario are reaching major milestones this year. The Sills Island Generating Station on the Trent River is marking 125 years of operation in 2025, while the Hagues Reach Generating Station is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
“These stations’ impressive track record is a testament to the longevity of OPG’s hydroelectric plants, which are capable of operating reliably for many decades with regular maintenance and upkeep,” OPG said.
Sills Island began operating in 1900 as a two-unit, two-megawatt station, originally supplying mechanical and later electrical power to the nearby G.E. Sills Paper Mill. Ontario Hydro, OPG’s predecessor, acquired the facility in 1937. For more than 70 years, the powerhouse remained connected to the mill until the mill was demolished in the 1970s.
Today, Sills Island is OPG’s second-oldest remaining generating station, after DeCew Falls I in St. Catharines, built in 1898.
Hagues Reach, a three-unit, 4MW station, went into service in March 1925. The name is a variation of “Haig’s Reach,” after local farmer Thomas Haig, who lived and worked along the Trent River in the late 19th century. The spelling “Hague” is believed to have been introduced by surveyors during canal and railway development in the area.
Both stations have supported surrounding communities, including Campbellford, Quinte West, and Belleville, by supplying power for local industries and growth throughout the 20th century.
