Electric system improvements near you

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Letitia Cameron
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1 Electric system improvements near you Red Deer Area Transmission Development Stage 1 substation upgrades April 2011 Volume 1 Did you know? The average four-person family in Alberta today has 20 instant-on electronics such as laptops, DVD players, music device chargers and cell phone chargers. This is in addition to the other appliances necessary to run a home fridges, stoves, microwaves, washers and dryers all of which require a reliable supply of electricity. You are receiving this newsletter because you are near one of the proposed substation upgrades and we want your input. Red Deer and the surrounding areas have grown significantly in recent years and the demand for electricity has increased. Transmission system reinforcements are required to make sure homes, farms and businesses continue to have a reliable supply of electricity for years to come. Information about Stage 1 - substation upgrades is included in this newsletter. We want to provide you with: project details information about how you can provide your input project schedule maps of the proposed developments Transmission Transmission lines make up Alberta s electric highway, linking the places where power is generated to where power is used. Transmission lines transport large amounts of electricity over long distances from power plants across the province. The transmission system connects diverse sources of power generation including wind, high-efficiency coal, natural gas and more. CONTACT US RedDeerArea@altalink.ca Visit us online at

2 20 PigeonLake 13 WETASKIWIN CAMROSE 22 RIMBEY 53 PONOKA BASHAW ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE BENTLEY Gull Lake BLACKFALDS ECKVILLE RED DEER NORTH 217S 11 PigeonLake 20 SYLVAN 13 LAKE WETASKIWIN RED DEER BENALTO 17S LACOMBE ELLIS 332S UNION CARBIDE PRENTISS 276S CAMROSE GAETZ 87S JOFFRE 535S Buffalo Lake STETTLER ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE SUNDRE 12 SUNDRE LEGEND LEGEND RIMBEY 54 BENTLEY Gull Lake PENHOLD Gleniffer BLACKFALDS Reservoir Resevoir ECKVILLE RED DEER NORTH 217S 11 SYLVAN LAKE RED DEER BENALTO 17S PENHOLD 54 Gleniffer Reservoir Resevoir INNISFAIL OLDS CARSTAIRS OLDS CARSTAIRS Proposed upgrade Upgrade to to Existing Existing Substation Existing Transmission Line 2 53 BOWDEN DIDSBURY LACOMBE PONOKA ELLIS 332S UNION CARBIDE PRENTISS 276S JOFFRE 535S GAETZ 87S 2 INNISFAIL BOWDEN DIDSBURY TROCHU Red Deer River Water Body Proposed upgrade Upgrade to Major Road The to Existing Existing Red Deer Substation Area Transmission Development Urban Area The Red Deer Area Transmission Development includes proposed Existing Line transmission system upgrades between the Wetaskiwin and Didsbury areas. It Water Body Red Deer River THREE HILLS Major Road Urban Area BASHAW Buffalo Lake STETTLER TROCHU THREE HILLS includes upgrading substations, rebuilding existing transmission lines, building new transmission facilities and removing transmission lines. This development will ensure Red Deer and the surrounding areas have a reliable supply of electricity for years to come. 2

3 The proposed Red Deer Area Transmission Development is divided into four stages. Stage 1 is explained in detail in this newsletter. The map to the left highlights the specific substation upgrade locations that are part of Stage 1. Stage 1 substation upgrades: upgrading six substations (explained in further detail in this newsletter) Stage 2 transmission line rebuilds: rebuilding nearly 75 kilometres of existing transmission lines in the Red Deer and Sylvan Lake areas Stage 3 new substations and transmission lines: building new substations near Didsbury, Innisfail and Ponoka and approximately 50 kilometres of new transmission lines near the substations and east of Lacombe Stage 4 removing existing transmission lines: removing nearly 100 kilometres of existing transmission lines from Wetaskiwin to Lacombe and from Red Deer to Innisfail If you are near any of the transmission facilities described in Stage 2, 3 or 4, you will receive information about the project details at a later date. Who is AltaLink? AltaLink is a regulated utility that owns and operates approximately 12,000 kilometres of transmission lines and 270 substations. We provide electric service to more than 85 per cent of Albertans. Red Deer Area Transmission Development schedule Consultation File Facilities Application Construction (if application is approved) Stage 1 Spring 2011 Summer 2011 Winter 2012 Fall 2012 Stage 2 Spring 2011 Winter 2012 Spring 2012 Spring 2013 Winter 2014 Stage 3 Fall 2011 Winter 2012 Winter 2012 Winter 2013 Spring 2014 Stage 4 Winter 2012 Spring 2013 Spring 2013 Winter 2014 Summer 2014 AltaLink substation 3

4 Substation Substations are the connection point between high-voltage transmission lines and the lower voltage power lines (called distribution lines) that connect directly to homes and businesses. After a transmission line brings power to a substation, its voltage is reduced so it can be transported safely and efficiently to you. Circuit breaker A circuit breaker is an electrical switch inside a substation that protects substation equipment. Circuit breakers help ensure the safety and reliability of the electric system. Transformer A transformer is the device in a substation that steps down the voltage so it can be distributed safely to your community through distribution lines. The transformer also steps up the voltage so it can be transmitted through transmission lines. Capacitor bank A capacitor bank is a device that regulates the voltage within a substation. Capacitor banks help ensure the safety and reliability of the electric system. Project details Stage 1 Substation upgrades The substation upgrades stage of the Red Deer Area Transmission Development involves adding equipment at six substations in Red Deer and the surrounding areas. 1. Red Deer North Substation: add a circuit breaker and a new transmission structure next to the substation. This substation is located at the northern edge of Red Deer. 2. gaetz Substation: add a circuit breaker and a new transmission structure next to the substation. This substation is located on the east side of Red Deer. 3. benalto Substation: add a transformer and circuit breakers at the substation located south of Benalto. 4. Joffre Substation: add a capacitor bank and expand the substation approximately 25 metres (82 feet) to the south and to the east. The Joffre substation is located within the Nova Chemicals plant south of Joffre. 5. union Carbide Prentiss Substation: add a capacitor bank and expand the substation approximately 10 metres (33 feet) to the north. This substation is located east of Blackfalds and is within the Dow Canada plant. 6. ellis Substation: add a capacitor bank and expand the substation approximately 20 metres (62 feet) to the north. This substation is located directly north of the Union Carbide Prentiss Substation within the same Dow Canada plant. Please see the maps included in this package for a more detailed view of the substation location near your property. Project schedule Stage 1 substation upgrades Notify and consult with stakeholders Spring 2011 File Facilities Application with Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) Summer 2011 Start construction if project is approved Spring 2012 Complete construction Fall

5 Providing your input Stakeholder input is critical to identifying the lowest overall impact solution for the Red Deer Area Transmission Development. You can provide your input in any of the following ways. Participating in a one-on-one consultation We will contact occupants, residents and landowners near the proposed project to gather input through one-on-one consultations. During the one-onone process we will document the information you provide and address any questions or concerns you may have about the project. Contacting us directly You can contact us by telephone, , mail or through our website. Our contact information is on the front and back pages of this newsletter. Next steps The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) consulted with stakeholders about the need for the Red Deer Area Transmission Development in February and March The AESO will submit a Needs Application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) in the spring of 2011 that describes the need for the development. The AUC will review the AESO s Needs Application, which must be approved before any construction can begin. The AESO has directed AltaLink to begin consulting with stakeholders about the location of the transmission facilities now, before the Needs Application has been approved by the AUC. We will conduct a comprehensive consultation program with stakeholders to determine the lowest overall impact solution for the project. After gathering input from stakeholders, we will file applications with the AUC called Facilities Applications. We will file separate applications for each of the four stages at various times. We plan to file the application for Stage 1 this summer. The AUC must approve each of AltaLink s Facilities Applications before construction for the relevant stage can begin. You can participate in the application review process. Please refer to the AUC brochure titled Public Involvement in Needs or Facilities Applications included in this package to learn more. We will notify stakeholders when we file our Facilities Applications with the AUC and again once the AUC has reached decisions about the applications. Alberta Electric System Operator The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is the independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta electric system. Needs Application The AESO submits Needs Applications to the AUC for review. A Needs Application describes why a transmission project is required. The AUC may review a Needs Application at the same time it reviews a Facilities Application, or may review each application separately. The AUC must approve a Needs Application before construction can begin. Alberta Utilities Commission The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) ensures the fair and responsible delivery of Alberta s utility services. AltaLink submits applications for new transmission projects to the AUC and the AUC reviews them in a public process. Facilities Application AltaLink submits Facilities Applications to the AUC for review. A Facilities Application describes how AltaLink proposes to meet the requirement for a transmission project. It includes routing details, results of the participant involvement program and technical details. Facilities Applications must be approved by the AUC before construction can begin. 5

6 Did you know? Transmission lines connect wind power to the electric system so Alberta s homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and community centres like arenas, are powered with greener, cleaner energy. Since the energization of AltaLink s 90-kilometre transmission line between Lethbridge and Pincher Creek in 2010, Albertans now have access to twice the amount of wind power they were previously connected to. Local project benefits The majority of the transmission system in Red Deer and the surrounding areas was built 40 to 50 years ago. Since that time the population in the towns and cities in the area has grown by more than 100,000 people. The transmission system needs to be upgraded to keep up with the growing demand for electricity. 6

7 Projects in the area AltaLink is working on several projects in the area to make sure your lights come on at the flick of the switch. Project name Description Status Western Alberta Transmission Line Build a 350-kilometre Direct Current transmission line connecting the Genesee area west of Edmonton to the Langdon area east of Calgary. Facilities Application is filed with the AUC. Structure replacement east of Red Deer Replace two structures on existing transmission lines east of Red Deer to accommodate future commercial development. Facilities Application is filed with the AUC. Piper Creek telecommunications tower Ponoka Substation upgrade Increase the height of the existing telecommunications tower at the Piper Creek Substation in Red Deer. Replace and add equipment at the Ponoka Substation located approximately one kilometre northeast of Ponoka. Consultation is underway. In the planning stage. Included in this Stakeholder Information Package Project map(s) AltaLink brochure: A Dialogue on Electric & Magnetic Fields AltaLink brochure: Good Neighbours AUC brochure: Public Involvement in Needs or Facilities Applications The AESO s need overview AltaLink DVD: Meeting Alberta s Electricity Needs and Your input matters 7

More information To learn more about the proposed project, please contact: AltaLink 1-855-520-1923 (toll free) Email: RedDeerArea@altalink.

8 More information To learn more about the proposed project, please contact: AltaLink (toll free) To learn more about Alberta s electric system and the need for the project, please contact: rd Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2A 7W7 Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca To learn more about the application and review process, please contact: Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) (You can call toll-free by dialing before the number) utilitiesconcerns@auc.ab.ca Printed on paper using post-consumer content

Included in this Stakeholder Information Package:

Included in this Stakeholder Information Package: Who can you contact for more information? Yellowhead Area Transmission Reinforcement: TERA Environmental Consultants Dave Sare Phone: 403-538-5734 Email: dsare@teraenv.com Drayton Valley Area AltaLink