PUC Releases 2025 Sustainability Report Highlighting Record Net Earnings and Economic Impact for Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie, ON (July 14, 2026) — PUC Services Inc. has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting the utility's progress in delivering on its Board and City of Sault Ste. Marie mandates to strengthen financial performance through disciplined growth while creating long-term value for the community.

The report, Momentum Through Modernization, outlines the investments, projects, and partnerships driving innovation, economic development, and jobs in Sault Ste. Marie. It also highlights PUC's continued commitment to community programs and support for local organizations.

"This has been a defining year in PUC's role as a true economic partner for this region," said Robert Brewer, President and CEO, PUC Services Inc. "In addition to delivering safe, reliable service, we remain focused on strengthening financial performance through disciplined growth, increasing returns to our shareholder, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, while building a strong foundation for the region's future."

Report Highlights

Delivering Strong Financial Performance

• Achieved record net earnings of $17.9 million, improving efficiency and strengthening value delivered to customers and the community.
• Invested $23.8 million in critical infrastructure upgrades and modernization projects.

Valuing Community

• Supported more than 50 local grassroots organizations, contributing $126,000 to initiatives that strengthen the region.

Modernizing Technology

• Introduced Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technology for underground locates, improving accuracy from metres to centimetres while creating permanent digital records that enhance safety, planning, asset protection, and customer service.

Improving Outage Outcomes

• PUC achieved its best reliability performance in Ontario Energy Board data dating back to 2013, with the lowest average outage duration and frequency on record over the period. This reflects the benefits of the Sault Smart Grid, which in 2025 prevented outages for more than 10,000 customers and avoided over 900,000 customer outage minutes. Compared with 2024, customer benefits increased by 60% and outage minutes avoided increased by 40%.

Growing Strategically

• Began construction of the Sault Ste. Marie Transmission Project, supporting Algoma Steel's Electric Arc Furnace transition while increasing capacity, reliability, and energy security.
• Positioned PUC to pursue future transmission development opportunities across Ontario, creating access to stable, regulated returns.

Building Purposeful Partnerships

• Expanded shared-services support across subsidiaries through specialized expertise based in Sault Ste. Marie.
• Became a founding partner of PowerShare, accelerating collaboration and innovation in local energy markets.
• Made a strategic investment in Pickard Construction, generating returns while strengthening utility infrastructure capabilities.

Advancing Environmental Priorities

• Formalized sustainability as a strategic priority through PUC's Net-Zero Roadmap, aligned with its 2025–2027 Strategic Plan and broader climate objectives.

"In 2025, PUC focused on modernizing for long-term success through strategic investments in technology, disciplined growth through purposeful partnerships, and advancing sustainability," said Brewer. "By continuing to modernize, we are positioned to deliver growing returns today and well into the future, enabling important local infrastructure investment and renewal."

The Sustainability Report is presented annually to the City of Sault Ste. Marie at a Council meeting open to the public. The full 2025 Sustainability Report is available on PUC’s website.