To help students reach their goals, Hydro One has partnered with four Ontario Colleges to support electrical engineering programs. Students at Georgian, Algonquin, Mohawk and Northern colleges will benefit from more scholarships, co-op placements, as well as access to recruitment services and specialized equipment.

Graduates have found jobs across the province's energy sector, including Hydro One's Ontario Grid Control Centre in Barrie. This facility is the nerve-centre of Ontario's high-voltage transmission system, employing about 300 staff including controllers, dispatchers, engineers and technologists.

"Together, we are rebuilding 80 per cent of our energy system — renewing the building blocks of our electricity system and working to build a better, smarter energy grid to meet our future energy needs," said Energy Minister Chris Bentley. "A key part of this plan is creating jobs for families today, and training Ontarians for the high-skilled jobs of the future."

"The results from the first phase of this partnership are outstanding," said Laura Formusa, president and CEO of Hydro One. "The four colleges have been very effective in attracting more students to their electrical programs, ensuring a stronger workforce for Hydro One and the entire utility sector. This is good news for the people of Ontario."

The Ontario government says supporting the next generation of clean-energy workers, while building a clean energy system, is part its plan to create and support jobs for Ontario families while ensuring the province has the electricity it needs to power our homes, schools, hospitals and the economy.