Decision 2010-060

Alberta Health Services

Alberta Children’s Rockyview General Hospital Peter Lougheed Centre

Emergency Generating Facilities

February 16, 2010

ALBERTA UTILITIES COMMISSION Decision 2010-060: Alberta Children’s Hospital Rockyview General Hospital Peter Lougheed Centre Emergency Generating Facilities Application No. 1605651 Proceeding ID. 403

February 16, 2010

Published by Alberta Utilities Commission Fifth Avenue Place, 4th Floor, 425 - 1 Street SW , Alberta T2P 3L8

Telephone: (403) 592-8845 Fax: (403) 592-4406

Web site: www.auc.ab.ca

ALBERTA UTILITIES COMMISSION Calgary Alberta

ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES ALBERTA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ROCKYVIEW GENERAL HOSPITAL Decision 2010-060 PETER LOUGHEED CENTRE Application Nos. 1605651 EMERGENCY GENERATING FACILITIES Proceeding ID. 403

1 INTRODUCTION

1. Alberta Health Services (AHS) applied to the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) by Application No. 1605651 (Application), for an exemption under section 13 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act for approval of emergency generating facilities at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, Rockyview General Hospital, and Peter Lougheed Centre (generating facilities) in the City of Calgary.

2 DISCUSSION

2. AHS has undertaken upgrades of their standby emergency diesel generators at three of the major health care facilities in Calgary for AHS’s own use within its facilities.

3. AHS indicated that the need for reliable electricity sources is paramount for health care facilities. Emergency standby generators are a requirement for as support for a second contingency outage. The emergency standby generators are sized to ensure that all critical loads can be maintained in the event of a prolonged electrical service outage. In the event of a power outage, the emergency generators are expected to operate less than four times per year based on historical data provided by AHS. AHS stated that all of the generators are operated in a manner such that they will not export electric energy. AHS stated that reverse power relays and other protection equipment have been installed to prevent the export of electric energy. Notwithstanding, AHS has an Interconnection Agreement or a letter of approval from ENMAX Power Corporation for connection of the facilities.

4. AHS indicated that the generators are located within its health care facilities. Before each facility was built or expanded, AHS undertook a public consultation program to address the requirements of the Province of Alberta and the City of Calgary.

5. To determine if the standby generators comply with the requirements of AUC Rule 12 - Noise Control and the City of Calgary noise bylaw, Consultants from Acoustics and Noise Control Ltd. were retained to conduct site specific sound level measurements for each of the three facilities. The incremental noise from the operation of the stand-by generators was inaudible at each residential noise receptor and AHS confirmed that the requirements of AUC Rule 12 - Noise Control were met.

AUC Decision 2010-060 (February 16, 2010) • 1 Emergency Generating Facilities Alberta Health Services

6. AHS has confirmed with Alberta Environment that approvals are not required for the generators as Alberta Environment does not require approvals for stand-by generators, even if they are over one megawatt (MW) in size. Each standby generator meets current applicable regulations and emission standards, including the Alberta Ambient Air Quality Guidelines.

7. All of the generators are enclosed within buildings hence there is no visual impact beyond the existing structures.

Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH)

8. The hospital is located at 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary. There are three 2.0-MW emergency diesel generators at ACH with a total capacity of 6.0 MW. The generators are located inside a separate closed structure and to the east of the main hospital building. The nearest residents are about 240 metres to the southeast.

Rockyview General Hospital (RGH)

9. The hospital is located at 7007 - 14 Street SW, Calgary. There are three 1.5-MW emergency diesel generators at RGH with a total capacity of 4.5 MW. The generators are located inside a separate closed structure and to the east of the main hospital building. The nearest residents are about 150 metres to the east.

Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC)

10. The hospital is located at 3500 - 26 Avenue NE, Calgary. There are two 1-MW and two 2-MW emergency diesel generators at PLC with a total capacity of 6.0 MW. The generators are located inside a closed structure attached to the south side of main hospital building. The nearest residents are about 185 metres to the northeast.

3 COMMISSION FINDINGS

11. The Application was filed under section 13 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act which states:

13 (1) Sections 9, 10 and 11 do not apply to a person generating or proposing to generate electric energy solely for the person’s own use, unless the Commission otherwise directs. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person generating or proposing to generate electric energy solely for the person’s own use shall, if required by regulation to do so, immediately notify the Commission of the use or proposed use and provide any details of the generation and use that the Commission requires.

12. The Commission has reviewed the request for exemption and notes that the standby generators would be located within a housed enclosure at each of the hospitals and that the generators could operate under emergency conditions approximately four times per year.

13. The Commission has determined that the noise studies conducted at the nearest residence for each of the three facilities demonstrates compliance with AUC Rule 12 - Noise Control.

AUC Decision 2010-060 (February 16, 2010) • 2

Emergency Generating Facilities Alberta Health Services

14. Having considered all of the evidence before it, the Commission finds the existing standby generators qualify for an exemption under section 13 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act.

4 DECISION

15. Therefore, pursuant to section 13 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, the Commission approves the Application and grants the approval set out in the Appendices – Power Plant – Exemption - February 16, 2010 to Alberta Health Services to operate the Emergency Power Generators (the Appendices will be distributed separately).

Dated on February 16, 2010.

ALBERTA UTILITIES COMMISSION

(original signed by)

Thomas McGee Commissioner

AUC Decision 2010-060 (February 16, 2010) • 3