Notice of Hearing
Application No. 1605154 Proceeding ID 270 Alberta Electric System Operator Yellowhead Area Transmission Development County of Yellowhead, Brazeau, Parkland, Lac Ste. Anne, and Barrhead
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) is a quasi-judicial regulatory body responsible for making decisions about utility-related applications, such as siting for transmission lines, substations and power plants. The AUC is also responsible for making decisions about the need for transmission system development, including the need for new or rebuilt transmission lines and facilities.
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), which is responsible for planning electric facility development in Alberta, has applied to the AUC for approval of the need for new transmission development in the areas (identified in the map below). This Needs Identification Document (NID) Application (or needs application) deals with the need for new transmission and not the construction of the facilities. The construction of transmission lines and facilities would require a separate application to the AUC.
Notice of hearing: The AUC has decided to hold a hearing on the needs application on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. The location of the hearing is the Lakeview Inn & Suites, 4302 50th Street, Drayton Valley.
Please note that interested parties must appear before the Commission at the commencement of the hearing on the above-noted date.
If no letters or submissions objecting to the needs application are received by Monday, December 21, 2009, the AUC will cancel the hearing and must approve the needs application.
Description of the needs application: Pursuant to section 34 of the Electric Utilities Act, AESO submitted Needs Application No. 1605154 for approval of the proposed Yellowhead Area Transmission System Development. The Yellowhead Area includes Wabamun, Drayton Valley, and Hinton/Edson planning areas in the Counties of Yellowhead, Brazeau, Parkland, Lac Ste. Anne, and Barrhead. The AESO stated that the need for transmission development is driven predominantly by the existing facilities at the end of their useful service lives, growing capital maintenance concerns, and increasing overloading and low-voltage occurrence.
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The AESO has applied for, and the AUC is considering only the preferred alternative.
The preferred alternative in each planning area is outlined below:
1. Development A – Wabamun Area: a. Construct the new 240/25-kV Cherhill substation in the Glenevis area; b. Decommission the existing 69-kV transmission lines 123L/104L between Onoway 352S substation (NW25-54-2-W5M) and North Barrhead 69S substation (SW1-60-4-W5M); and c. Decommission existing 69-kV equipment at Onoway 352S substation, Glenevis 442S substation (SE20-55-3-W5M), Lac La Nonne 994S substation (SW2-57-3-W5M), and North Barrhead 69S substation.
2. Development B – Drayton Valley Area: a. Salvage 69-kV transmission line 129L and decommission 537L, 537AL, 544L, and 69- kV equipment at Entwistle 235S substation (LSD16-17-53-7-W5M), Moon Lake 131S substation (NE20-51-7-W5M), Drayton Valley 46S substation (NW28-48-7-W5M), Easy Ford 249S substation (SE16-49-8-W5M), and Pembina Pipeline 3080S substation (SE33- 48-6-W5M); b. Build a new 138-kV single circuit transmission line from Entwistle 235S substation to Moon Lake 131S substation to Violet Grove 283S substation (NE30-48-7-W5M); c. Modify the existing Entwistle 235S substation, Violet Grove 283S substation, and Moon Lake 131S substation; and d. Add a 138-kV capacitor bank at Brazeau 62S substation (LSD10-27-45-10-W5M), Amoco Brazeau 358S substation (NW2-46-14-W5M), and Cynthia 178S substation (NW1-50-12-W5M).
3. Development C – Hinton/Edson Area: a. Rebuild approximately 80 kilometres of existing 138-kV transmission line 745L between Edson 58S substation (LSD12-18-53-17-W5M) and Cold Creek 602S substation (SE2-51-25-W5M); b. Build approximately 8 kilometres of new 138-kV double circuit transmission line from Bickerdike 39S substation to transmission line 745L; c. Add a 138-kV capacitor bank at Cold Creek 602S substation; and d. Modify existing Bickerdike 39S substation (LSD8-29-52-18-W5M).
The locations of the proposed development for the preferred alternative are conceptually shown on the three maps below and are described in detail in the needs application.
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R.5 R.3 R.1W.5M. R.25W.4M. TRANSMISSION LINE EXISTING SUBSTATIONS AREA OF POSSIBLE LOCATION OF T.62 TRANSMISSION FACILITY DEVELOPMENT TRANSMISSION LINES TO BE SALVAGED 724
7 9 L2 1 30 3 723 723 T.60
WESTLOCK
T.58
7
9 9
2
1
3 1
0 T.56 4 SANDY LAKE STE. ANNE, LAC
ISLE LAKE ST. ALBERT 123 905 SPRUCE 896 GROVE 156 767 WABAMUN STONY 739 LAKE PLAIN
EDMONTON
Development A – Wabamun Area
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R.13 R.11 R.9 R.7 R.5 R.3W4M.
9 STE. ANNE, LAC 8 CHIP LAKE 9 T.54 744 156A 124 WABAMUN 974 EVANSBURG 156 767 T.52 973 2 0
2 1203
1 2
9 834 T.50 8 2 DRAYTON 8 537A 836 VALLEY WARBURG 41 835 8 190 T.48 537 926 922 544 903
8 202 4 4 801 TRANSMISSION LINE EXISTING SUBSTATIONS 801 AREA OF POSSIBLE LOCATION OF BRAZEAU TRANSMISSION FACILITY DEVELOPMENT RESERVOIR TRANSMISSION LINES TO BE SALVAGED
Development B – Drayton Valley Area
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8
5 R.16W.5M. R.26 R.24 R.22 R.20 4 854A T.54 890 74 5A 745 EDSON T.52 847 HINTON 0 4 5 7 T.50 61
JASPER 740A NATIONAL T.48 1 7 PARK 50 43 762 TRANSMISSION LINE T.46 EXISTING SUBSTATIONS AREA OF POSSIBLE LOCATION OF TRANSMISSION FACILITY DEVELOPMENT T.44
Development C – Hinton/Edson Area
The AESO has also considered an alternative in the three planning areas as described below:
Development A – Wabamun Area: Rebuild a section of 69-kV transmission lines 104L/123L; Upgrade the 138/69-kV transformer at north Barrhead 69S; Add two 7.5 MVAr capacitor banks at Onoway 352S substation; and Expand Onoway 352S substation.
Development B – Drayton Valley Area: Replace existing 69-kV transmission lines and substation equipment as required with new 69-kV equipment. Add only two 27 MVAr capacitor banks, in Brazeau 62S substation and Amoco Brazeau 358S substation, and not add a capacitor bank at Cynthia 178S substation.
Development C – Hinton/Edson Area: Build a new 138-kV transmission line from a new switching station along 740L to Cold Creek 602S substation; Build a new 138-kV transmission line from Bickerdike 39S substation to Edson 58S substation; Add a new 27 MVAr capacitor bank at Cold Creek 602S substation; Decommission a portion of transmission line 745L from Edson 58S substation to Dalehurst 975S tap; and Rebuild a portion of transmission line 745L from Dalehurst 975S tap to Cold Creek 602S substation. - 6 -
Submissions:
After reviewing the privacy information in this notice, if you intend to participate in this needs application, please send a letter or submission and provide the information described below. Send one copy of your submission to the applicant at the name and address below, and an electronic copy of the submission to [email protected]. The deadline for providing your intention to participate and a letter or submission is December 21, 2009.
If you are unable to make a submission by way of email, send one copy of your submission to:
Alberta Utilities Commission Facilities Division Fifth Avenue Place, 4th Floor, 425 – 1 Street SW Calgary, AB T2P 3L8
Subject: Application No. 1605154/EPS Proceeding ID 270
Any submission filed should include the following information: (i) the manner in which your rights may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the Commission on the needs application;
(ii) the disposition of the hearing that you advocate, if any (iii) the reasons why you believe the Commission should decide in the manner that you advocate; (iv) the location of your land, residence or activity in relation to the needs application; (v) your name, address in Alberta, telephone number, fax number, if any, and if available, your email address; (vi) if you are represented by another person, the name, address in Alberta, telephone number, fax number and, if available, email address of the representative; (vii) if you are an unincorporated organization, indicate the membership of the organization.
Details on funding to assist in presenting your concerns in a well-prepared, well-reasoned and well-documented way are available on our website under Involving Albertans, or can be obtained by contacting the AUC as indicated in this notice. Intervener funding will also be a topic at the AUC information sessions.
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, all documents filed in this proceeding, including any documents filed prior to the start of this proceeding, must be placed on the public record. Your written submissions and any other documents you file will be accessible to the public and all other participants in the proceeding through the Proceeding Search System (EPS) on the AUC website. Please ensure that any document you file is free of information that you do not want to appear on a public record. If you do not want your document or a part of it placed on the public record, you must apply to the Commission under section 13 of the AUC Rules of Practice for a confidentiality order before you file your document. - 7 -
Additional information: Information about this needs application and opportunities for participation are available on our website www.auc.ab.ca under Items of Interest. Use the following URL for electronic documents regarding this needs application: https://www.auc.ab.ca/eub/dds/EPS_Query/ProceedingDetail.aspx?ProceedingID=270
To obtain additional information or a paper copy of the application, contact the applicant at:
Alberta Electric System Operator 2500, 330 – 5th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 0L4 Attention: Deanna Merrick Telephone: 1-888-866-2959 E-Mail: [email protected]
For information about AUC procedures, contact the AUC proceeding coordinator, Pat Wickel at:
Facilities Division Attention: Pat Wickel Telephone: (403) 592-4418 Email: [email protected]
Information sessions: The AUC is committed to ensuring that Albertans who believe that they may be directly and adversely affected by this planned transmission development are informed about the application and understand their opportunity for participation in the hearing process. Each information sessions will begin with a presentation, covering our hearing procedure and intervener funding, at 7:00 pm followed by a question and answer period. The details of the information session are as follows:
Locations Date Venue Venue Time Address Drayton Valley Monday Lakeview Inn & 4302 50th 7:00 p.m. December 7, 2009 Suites Street, Drayton Valley, AB Edson Tuesday #1 Golf Ave, 7:00 p.m. Edson & District December 8, 2009 Highway 16, Complex Edson, AB Stony Plain Wednesday Ramada Inn & 3303 43Ave, 7:00 p.m. December 9, 2009 Suites Stony Plain, AB - 8 -
Schedule:
If no letters or submissions objecting to the needs application are received by Friday, December 21, 2009, the commission will cancel the hearing.
Letters of concern, objections or support December 21, 2009 Submissions of all information by interested January 27, 2010 persons Reply submission by the AESO and all February 16, 2010 interested persons Commencement of Hearing in Drayton Valley March 17, 2009, 9:00 a.m. (Lakeview Inn, 4302 50th Street Drayton Valley, AB)
Issued at Calgary, Alberta on November 17, 2009.
ALBERTA UTILITIES COMMISSION Douglas A. Larder, Q.C., General Counsel