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Hydro-Québec is in the midst of completely replacing Montreal’s power grid, a process that will increase the amount of electricity available to the city by two and a half times.

The city’s electrical infrastructure is due for a replacement, said Éric Martel, the CEO of Hydro-Québec. Most of it was built in the 1950s or 1960s, though some of it dates back to the 1940s.

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The replacement isn’t just aimed at dealing with the city’s current needs, but also anticipating future growth.

“It’s our job to make sure that the network, the grid, is not going to be something slowing down growth,” he said. “We’re building it for the next 40 to 50 years. We won’t need it tomorrow morning, but eventually we’ll definitely need that capacity.”

He said Hydro-Québec is about four years into the project, which could take up to 12 years.

Martel spoke with the Montreal Gazette on Wednesday after addressing members of the West Island Montreal Chamber of Commerce and the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Saint-Laurent–Mont-Royal.