Hydro One tree clearing: update and next steps

by | Aug 6, 2026 | Information

Hydro One tree clearing: update and next steps

Photo: Empty land after the trees and vegetation were removed

In mid-June, a contractor removed most of the vegetation at Hydro One’s Alexander Distribution Centre at 1888 Maple Grove Road. The trees and vegetation that were removed provided a visual and sound buffer between homes and the hydro station, along with shade and tree canopy for the community.

Overhead imagery from Google Maps, dated 2026. Screenshot

Screenshot of the site from Google Maps, captured earlier in 2026 before the vegetation was removed.

We met on-site with neighbours on August 5 to provide an update on our conversations with Hydro One, and potential options going forward.

At the meeting, we shared a general background including a summary of meetings and correspondence we’ve received from Hydro One, including:

1. My office has had two virtual meetings with representatives from Hydro One’s Community Relations department, once on June 25 and another on July 10. In both of those meetings, we requested additional context about why the vegetation clearing occurred; we asked for more clarity around their processes for maintenance and communication with residents; we asked Hydro One to meet directly with affected residents to address questions and concerns; and we have advocated for appropriate mitigation measures to address the tree loss, including the planting of new trees in the buffer zone.

2. We also consulted with the City of Ottawa’s forestry department to check if the vegetation and tree clearing violated any city regulations or by-laws.

Hydro One has broad authority under Ontario’s Electricity Act (1998) to manage vegetation around critical infrastructure, including a statutory right to maintain infrastructure and remove obstructions at their discretion. There is no appeal or review process.

The City of Ottawa’s Tree Protection By-Law exempts tree removal that is required for maintenance of a transmission or distribution system.

3. Hydro One provided the following rationale to my office by e-mail:

Technical rationale and safety standards
The specific scope of vegetation management work at Alexander DS was governed by critical operational and safety considerations:

 

4. Hydro One has not been willing to participate in a community meeting – virtual or on-site – with residents: “To ensure all resident feedback is properly logged, tracked and addressed individually, we ask that residents continue to be directed to our Customer Relations team at CustomerRelations@HydroOne.com.”

5. Hydro One says they will not plant new trees on the site: “While we have heard from some in the neighborhood who have expressed concerns regarding the work and loss of visual screening, Hydro One will not be planting new trees or vegetation on the station property. Doing so would reintroduce the same safety, operational and pest-control risks that this maintenance was required to eliminate.”

6. In the past week, Hydro One sent this letter to property owners who back onto the facility, which includes an offer for a landscaping voucher for trees, shrubs, or landscaping on private property.

July 2026 Dear Resident, We are reaching out to you regarding the recent vegetation removals at the Alexander Distribution Station located at 1888 Maple Grove Road. Hydro One recently completed necessary vegetation maintenance within our station property line. Our stations house critical electrical infrastructure, and this work was required to ensure public safety and grid reliability. Specifically, the vegetation removal was necessary to: • Ensure security visibility: The perimeter fence line must remain completely clear of overgrowth so crews can perform routine safety and structural integrity inspections. • Safeguard critical infrastructure: We removed trees and brush that were either diseased or growing too close to our electrical equipment and power lines, posing a safety and reliability risk to the station and surrounding properties. • Protect underground assets: Dense root systems must be managed to protect infrastructure buried beneath the surface. • Reduce safety and pest hazards: The removal of thick overgrowth, including hazardous wild parsnip and poison ivy, was required to address ongoing pest activity and ensure a safe environment for both the public and our field personnel. The area has since been reseeded with grass seed. Responding to your feedback We have received feedback from some residents regarding the visual change to the area. We sincerely apologize that advance notice was not provided to your neighborhood and we will take this feedback into consideration for future activities. While we recognize that our properties often serve as valued neighbourhood green spaces, we will not be planting new trees or dense vegetation on the station property, as doing so would reintroduce the same safety and operational risks this work was meant to eliminate. Private property landscaping voucher As a gesture of goodwill and to help restore visual screening for immediate neighbors, Hydro One is pleased to offer affected residents around the station perimeter a voucher, redeemable at a local garden centre. This voucher may be used toward purchasing trees, shrubs or landscaping for your own private property. If you are interested in receiving a voucher, or if you have any further questions regarding this work, please contact our dedicated Customer Relations team directly at CustomerRelations@HydroOne.com. Thank you for your understanding as we work to keep our local energy grid safe and reliable. Sincerely, Hydro One Community Relations

7. Some residents have lodged a formal complaint with the Hydro One ombudsman, who has concluded that “Hydro One did not act unreasonably when it chose to remove the vegetation on the station property and offer compensation in the form of nursery vouchers”.

 

What’s next?

We made two recommendations to residents:

  1. Our office will continue to pursue new tree planting on site as mitigation for the vegetation loss, on behalf of residents.
  2. Residents should documenting any property damage to retaining walls, fencing, etc. on individual property due to the maintenance work, and seeking legal advice.

 

There were also several questions at the meeting that we will follow up on, including:

  • Who owns the retaining walls and who is responsible for maintenance?
  • Are there any agreements within the subdivision plan, or easement rights, etc. that could apply to the buffer zone around the hydro site.
  • What are the requirements for buffer zones and/or mitigation around new electrical stations?
  • Can Hydro One be required to build a taller fence as a mitigation measure?