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SaskPower

E.B. Campbell Hydroelectric Station completes refurbishment

Jun 10, 2026 | 5:31 PM

SaskPower has now completed a major refurbishment at its E.B. Campbell Hydroelectric Station, north east of Tobin Lake.

The upgrades, which began construction in 2021, include improved turbines, generators, and intake systems.


(Image Credit: Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

“Specifically, the turbine made it more efficient, which means the same amount of water will actually get more output out of the units. We also replaced a lot of the main intake gates, which are where the water comes in from Tobin Lake, and modernized a lot of the control systems and actual control equipment in the basement, which actually operates the plant,” explained SaskPower Vice President of Engineering and Construction, Ryan Neufeld.

The refurbishment, which cost roughly $275-million, will extend the lifespan of the plant for at least an expected 50 years.

Had a new plant needed to be constructed, it would have cost in the $4-billion range.


(Image Credit: Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

“It really speaks to the efficiencies gained by maintenance in the capital and infrastructure over the last 50 years, and it’s a testament to the employees who have worked over in this facility for the last six decades that it was in as good a condition as it was, so that we could make this investment to keep it running for another five decades,” added Minister Responsible for SaskPower, Jeremy Harrison.

“This was a really important project, and one that will allow us to keep 300 megawatts of power on the grid. This project was delivered on time and under budget, and the power is going to keep the lights on here in northeastern Saskatchewan and beyond into northern Saskatchewan as well.”

Roughly $13.7-million was invested in Indigenous and local employment and procurement for the project.

The E.B. Campbell station, which began operating in 1963, currently sits at 294 megawatts of hydro power, which is SaskPower’s largest hydroelectric facility, generating power for up to 250,000 homes.

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8