Expansion
Bruce Power Begins Unit 5 Major Component Replacement Outage in Ontario
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- Bruce Power began the Unit 5 Major Component Replacement outage on November 1, 2026.
- The refurbishment program sustains 22,000 direct and indirect jobs and about $4 billion in annual economic benefits.
- Unit 6 returned $52 million to ratepayers and Unit 3 returned approximately $150 million through the Independent Electricity System Operator.
- Overlapping outages at the Bruce site will continue until 2033, with Unit 7 scheduled for 2028 and Unit 8 for 2030.
Bruce Power began the Major Component Replacement outage for Unit 5 on November 1, 2026, the second half of its privately funded program to renew Units 3 through 6. The company announced the milestone on November 3, 2026, according to GlobeNewswire.
Bruce Power Takes Unit 5 Offline
Bruce Power said Unit 5 was taken off-line for its scheduled outage after renewed Units 6 and 3 operated with strong performance and Unit 4 set records in its own replacement outage. The program will renew Units 3 through 8 to supply power to Ontario homes, businesses and hospitals and to produce medical isotopes for the world health-care community.
Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce said the province's nuclear workforce sets the standard. "Ontario's nuclear advantage is powered by the best workers, engineers and skilled tradespeople in the world and the start of Unit 5's refurbishment is yet another example of nuclear expertise that few jurisdictions can match," he said.
Bruce Power's first replacement outage, in Unit 6, finished ahead of schedule and cost in 2023 and delivered $52 million back to Ontario ratepayers. Unit 3 returned to service in June, more than seven months ahead of schedule, and returned approximately $150 million to ratepayers through the Independent Electricity System Operator.
President and Chief Executive Officer Eric Chassard said performance improves with each outage. "Our performance gets better with each MCR outage and we're committed to delivering these projects safely with high quality and on time to return reliable units to power Ontario forward," he said.
Bruce Power's Refurbishment Track Record
Bruce Power is a private nuclear operator based in Tiverton, Ontario, that runs eight reactors producing 6,500 megawatts of zero-carbon energy, according to akta.pro company records. The same records show the company provides 30% of Ontario's electricity, powering one in three homes, hospitals, schools and businesses.
The records list a 2026 product launch in which Unit 3 returned to service ahead of schedule and under budget, the second successful refurbishment of the six-unit Life-Extension Program. They also list a 2026 made-in-Canada contract with ABB to modernize excitation systems at the Bruce facility.
Earlier Steps Toward Unit 5
In August 2026, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission amended the licensing basis for the Bruce A and B stations, raising intermediate power levels to 95.5% and 96% full power from 92.5% and 93%, Canada.ca reported. The same month, the commission approved an amendment authorizing additional steps in lutetium-177 production at the two stations.
In May 2026, the Government of Ontario directed the Independent Electricity System Operator to enter a cost-sharing agreement with Bruce Power, enabling $300 million in pre-construction activities for the Bruce C Nuclear Project through 2030, ReNew Canada reported.
Bruce Power's Next Outages
Unit 7's replacement outage is scheduled to begin in 2028, and Unit 8's in 2030. Overlapping outages at the Bruce site will continue until 2033. Ontario is also evaluating a second replacement for Units 1 and 2, which returned to service in 2012.