Bruce Power Unit 3 returned to grid seven months early with $150 million savings, generating clean, reliable electricity to power 800,000 homes and support 27,000 jobs
VAUGHAN — Today, the Ontario government announced the most successful completion and return to service of a nuclear unit in Ontario history, as Bruce Power’s Unit 3 reactor refurbishment was completed seven months ahead of schedule and under budget, saving ratepayers $150 million. The successful completion marks another major nuclear investment completed on-time and on-budget, delivering on Ontario’s plan to protect Ontario by securing reliable, affordable and clean energy for future generations.
Originally scheduled to return to service in January 2027, this early completion is the most expedient refurbishment in Ontario to date and reinforces the province’s position as a global leader in nuclear energy. The refurbished reactor will provide more than 800 megawatts (MW) of reliable, affordable and clean power for over 35 years, enough to power more than 800,000 homes. Bruce Power’s operations and Life-Extension Program supports approximately 27,000 direct and indirect Ontario jobs and injects $4 billion into the province’s economy each year.
“When Ontario successfully completed the world’s largest nuclear refurbishment at Darlington ahead of schedule and under budget, critics said it couldn’t be done again. Yet again, we are proving them wrong as we delivered a record-setting refurbishment under budget and seven months ahead of schedule,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “Ontario is cementing our position as a tier-one nuclear jurisdiction with a plan to put 150,000 Canadians to work, with ‘Made in Canada’ stamped on over 90 per cent of our spend. Backed by the best workers, engineers and tradespeople anywhere in the world, we’re delivering the reliable, affordable and clean power needed to keep our economy strong and more self reliant.”
The Unit 3 refurbishment replaced key components such as fuel channels, feeder tubes, and steam generators. This refurbishment also marked a significant step in nuclear innovation with the first robotic tools used ever on a reactor face to refurbish a CANDU reactor, as well as setting a record for calandria tube removal completing it 11 days ahead of schedule.
The Bruce Power Life-Extension Program will refurbish six reactors, extending the operating life of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station through 2064. Once at full power, the refurbished reactor will generate enough electricity to power a city the size of Brampton, while helping Ontario to meet electricity demand forecasted to grow by up to 90 per cent by 2050.
The project also reinforces Ontario’s domestic nuclear supply chain, with 95 per cent of Bruce Power’s spending staying in Canada, further positioning the province as a world-class nuclear powerhouse. Ontario will continue to leverage its nuclear technology and expertise as other jurisdictions around the globe are rapidly turning to nuclear to support economic growth and energy independence.
“With Unit 3 now back in service and providing safe, clean, and reliable electricity to the province, we continue to demonstrate that large-scale nuclear projects in Ontario can be delivered safely, efficiently, and with real benefits for ratepayers,” said Eric Chassard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bruce Power. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our workforce, our skilled trades partners, and the strength of our made-in-Canada nuclear industry.”
The Bruce Nuclear Generating Station is one of the largest operating nuclear sites in the world, and the ongoing refurbishment of six of its nuclear reactors furthers the province’s world-leading commitment to advancing nuclear power projects. Ontario’s nuclear expertise includes the successful refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, advancement of Canada’s first large-scale nuclear build in 30 years with the Bruce C project making Bruce the largest nuclear generating facility in the on earth, construction of the first of four small modular reactors (SMRs) in the G7 at the Darlington site, advancement of new nuclear generation at the Wesleyville site, and the refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.
Advancing the Bruce nuclear refurbishment project supports the government’s plan to protect Ontario and is a key part of Energy for Generations, the province’s first-ever long-term integrated plan to ensure the province has the reliable, affordable power it needs to have a secure supply of energy for the future and drive economic growth. This approach is further supported by the latest assessment from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which derisked Ontario’s energy sector while neighboring economies try to advance planning to meet demand. The government’s integrated approach and record-setting investments in energy infrastructure are providing the certainty needed businesses and industry partners to invest confidently in Ontario’s future for generations to come.
Quick Facts
- Ontario’s nuclear industry supports around 80,000 good-paying jobs in communities across the province.
- Nuclear power currently provides 50 per cent of Ontario’s electricity supply and has positioned Ontario as one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world.
- Bruce Unit 3 is the second of six units undergoing refurbishment between 2020 and 2033 as part of Bruce Power’s Life‑Extension Program.
- The privately funded program to refurbish Units 3-8 will extend the life of the Bruce Power site through 2064.
- Bruce Unit 3 was removed from service March 2023. The Unit 4 MCR outage began in February of 2025 and the Unit 5 MCR is scheduled to begin in November 2026.
- The refurbished nuclear reactor units will target upwards of 7,000 MW of net peak output in the early-2030s.