On October 21, the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), in response to a request from the Alberta government, announced it had suspended the review process and hearing on the Eastern Alberta DC Transmission Line until further notice. The Minister of Energy requested the suspension to conduct a review of the two proposed north-south critical transmission lines; the Western Alberta Transmission Line and ATCO Electric’s Eastern Alberta Transmission Line.

The Government of Alberta issued a news release December 6, announcing the panel of experts (Critical Transmsission Review Committee) responsible for reviewing the two north-south lines. A report outlining their recommendations is expected February 10, 2012. ATCO Electric is committed to cooperating with the Government in their review process and responding to requests for information.

Work on ATCO Electric’s other transmission projects continues, helping to ensure that Albertans have a reliable and efficient transmission system today and in the future.

Progress to date on the Eastern Alberta DC Transmission Line:
ATCO Electric filed a Facility Application with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for the Eastern Alberta DC Transmission Line that was registered effective March 29, 2011. The Application includes a proposed 500 kilovolt (kV) Direct Current (DC) transmission line and two converter stations and associated facilities located in the Gibbons-Redwater and Brooks areas.

A process decision was issued May 31, 2011, outlining the AUC process schedule including a public hearing to begin January 16, 2012.

From June 7 to 16, 2011, ATCO Electric hosted Information Sessions on the Eastern Alberta DC Transmission Line regarding construction practices and agricultural and environmental considerations for landowners and occupants on the preferred or alternative routes. In total 168 people attended the sessions held in Bruderheim, Mundare, Forestburg, Brooks, Hanna and Holden. To view the displays and information available at these sessions click on the virtual information session below.

An update on the project was mailed to landowners and interested parties in August & October. Since filing the Application, in consultation with landowners, ATCO Electric has identified some minor route adjustments that have been filed with the AUC as an amendment to the Application. The AUC issued a Notice of application amendments to landowners September 20, 2011. In parallel with these activities, ATCO Electric has been negotiating agreements with landowners for right-of-way and early access in order to begin preliminary surveying and engineering activities.

Updates will be posted to our website or you can call 1-866-650-2463 for more information.

For more information on the AUC process or to view the Application or amendments please visit the AUC website at www.auc.ab.ca.

View our Information Session Materials

ATCO Electric hosted a series of six Information Sessions on the Eastern Alberta DC Transmission Line in June 2011, to share construction practices and agricultural and environmental considerations on the preferred or alternative routes with landowners and occupants. If you were unable to attend an information session, you can view the information that was on display in our virtual information session below.

Background

The Government of Alberta has confirmed the need for new critical transmission infrastructure to meet Alberta's long-term electricity demand. To help meet this need, ATCO Electric has been directed by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) to prepare a Facility Application for the construction of a 500 kV DC transmission line. If approved by the AUC, this transmission line will be built along a corridor between the Edmonton and Calgary areas on the eastern side of the province.

The Eastern Alberta DC Transmission Line will be approximately 500 km in length and connect a hub in the Gibbons-Redwater area northeast of Edmonton to a southeast hub in the Brooks area. A converter station wil be constructed at each end of the line to convert power from AC to DC and back again.

Another transmission facility owner has been directed to plan a similar line on the western side of the province. These two HVDC lines are part of the AESO's Long-term Transmission System Plan, identifying top-priority critical transmission infrastructure projects in Alberta.

ATCO Electric's public consultation on the Eastern Alberta DC Transmission Line began in the spring of 2010. In June, project information packages were mailed to landowners and interested parties and 14 open houses were hosted in the summer of 2010 to provide more information on the Project. Approximately 7,000 one-on-one consultations were conducted on the preliminary route options from June to December.

In January 2011, a preferred route, alternative route and converter station sites were announced and consultation began with over 2,400 landowners, occupants and interested parties. On March 25, 2011, following a review of the feedback received, ATCO Electric filed its Facility Application with the AUC.