Electricity Distribution

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Electricity Distribution Electricity Distribution DISTRIBUTION is the final stage in the delivery of electric power. Distribution lines carry electricity from the transmission system to individual consumers. Electricity System Overview Generation Transmission Distribution Retail/Customer • Competitive/market based • Fully regulated • Fully regulated • Partially deregulated • Private investment • Cost-of-Service Model • Supports retail • Competitive Contracts competition • Energy only market design • One rate for Albertans • Regulated rate option for small consumers How is Distribution Regulated? The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) approves the distribution rates charged by investor-owned and certain municipally-owned wires to ensure they are fair and reasonable. The distribution tariff on a customer’s bill recovers the cost to the wire owner for things such as the design, maintenance, operation, construction and financing of the electric system that delivers energy to a customer’s home. The AUC introduced a new rate regulation initiative, Performance-Based Regulation (PBR), in 2014. PBR is a tool to make utilities more efficient for Albertans while maintaining electric system reliability and service quality. It is also designed to reduce the number, length, cost and complexity of regulatory hearings. This new regulatory initiative is intended to allow the AUC to focus more of its attention on prices and the quality of service, which are important to customers. To view the AUC’s brochure on PBR, visit www.auc.ab.ca/items-of-interest/Performance-BasedRegulation/Pages/default.aspx Electricity Distribution Owners & Operators Distribution lines are owned and operated by a mixture of investor owned utilities, municipalities and Rural Electrification Associations. • The four major distribution companies in Alberta are EPCOR, ENMAX, ATCO and FortisAlberta. • Additionally, there are six municipalities and 34 Rural Electrification Associations that manage distribution operations. ATCO Electric transmission and distribution territory. AltaLink transmission territory and FortisAlberta distribution territory. Edmonton transmission and distribution provided by EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Fort McMurray Calgary transmission and distribution provided by ENMAX Power. Red Deer distribution provided by City of Red Deer. Grand Prairie Lethbridge distribution provided by City of Lethbridge. Intertie between Alberta and BC, owned and operated by AltaLink. Edmonton Lloydminster Intertie between Alberta and Saskatchewan, owned and Jasper operated by ATCO Electric. Red Deer Intertie between Alberta and Montana, owned and operated by Enbridge. Drumheller The City of Medicine Hat is not part of the Alberta Calgary Interconnected Electric System; they operate like an Burstall, SK intertie and transmission and distribution are owned by the city. Medicine Hat Lethbridge AltaLink serves 85 per cent of Albertans. Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Fortis Alberta serves over 200 communities. Utility Total Company Transmission Distribution 2012 GWh 2012 No. of lines length lines length consumed customers (kms) (kms) ATCO Electric - Northern & East Central Alberta 10,319.9 215,964 ATCO Electric 10,000 (approx.) 62,000 (approx.) ENMAX Power - City of Calgary 9,440.0 444,549 AltaLink 12,000 (approx.) N/A EPCOR Distribution & Transmission - City of Edmonton 7,523.5 350,708 Fortis Alberta N/A 116,000 (approx.) FORTIS - Southern & Central Alberta 23,522.0 503,644 EPCOR Distribution & 203 5,000 (approx.) City of Lethbridge 783.0 37,171 Tranmsission Inc. City of Medicine Hat 807.1 30,961 ENMAX 288 7,700 (approx.) City of Red Deer 774.6 40,683 Other towns & villages* 113.1 8,217 Total 53,283.2 1,631,897 *Other towns and villages include Fort Macleod, Cardston, Crowsnest Pass and Ponoka October 2014.
Recommended publications
  • Understanding Transmission
    Proposed Project Schedule the environmental, engineering, land-use, social and economic variables. Transmission Line Substation: The substation is called West Brooks 28S. September-December 2008 Consultation with stakeholders The substation upgrades include replacing existing transformers January 2009 Application filing to the Alberta and upgrading the existing line terminations at the substation. Stakeholder Information Brochure Utilities Commission (AUC) All work to be done is within land owned by AltaLink. Mid August 2009 Construction start, pending Brooks transmission line development approval from the AUC Environmental and land-use considerations & substation upgrade December 2009 In-Service Date AltaLink is committed to reducing environmental and land-use impacts. Alberta Environment’s guidelines will be followed during Substation Upgrade the preparation and construction of the substation. September-December 2008 Notification to stakeholders AltaLink will ensure its contractors use environmentally appropriate An AltaLink representative will be contacting all landowners within January 2009 Application filing to the Alberta The proposed project techniques to protect topsoil and subsoil structures and use 800 metres of the proposed transmission line. AltaLink is also Utilities Commission (AUC) appropriate equipment to minimize compaction and rutting. AltaLink has been directed by the Alberta Electric System Operator holding an open house to discuss the project, gather feedback March 2009 Construction start, pending (AESO) to build a transmission line and upgrade an existing and address questions and concerns. approval from the AUC substation in the Brooks area. AltaLink is the Transmission Facility For more information Date: October 22, 2008 May 2009 In-Service Date Owner (TFO) in the area and is responsible for finding a suitable Over the next few weeks an AltaLink representative will be location for the proposed transmission line.
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  • ATCO Power Transalta Capital Power Corporation ENMAX
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  • Central East Transfer out Transmission Project
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  • Project Information
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  • Foothills Area Transmission Development
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  • Decision 25369-D01-2020 Altalink and Transalta DACDA for The
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  • Stakeholder Information Brochure
    Proposed structures Existing structure AltaLink portion Glossary of terms AUC: The Alberta Utilities Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the Transmission line wire Protective shield wire government of Alberta, with a mission to ensure that the delivery of Alberta’s utility services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible and in the public interest. New receiving towers AESO: The Alberta Electric System Operator is the independent, not-for-profit entity ENMAX portion responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Pathway Interconnected Electric System. Aerial View ENMAX Substation 10 Transmission lines: Transmission lines connect the power produced at generating Expansion Project facilities to substations. Over long distances it is most effective to transport electricity at high These images are a mock up of the proposed work being voltages. undertaken by ENMAX and AltaLink to upgrade the Substation 10 and provide the required transmission feeds. Substation: Substations are the connection point between high-voltage transmission lines and the lower voltage distribution lines found in your community. When power passes Although there is no reason to believe that through a substation, its voltage is reduced so it can be transported to you through the there are any errors associated with the data distribution system. used to generate this product or the product Sub 10 Option 3 itself, users of these data are advised that Mock up 1 Pathway errors in the data may be present. January 2009 Distribution lines: After transmission lines bring the power from generating facilities to Stakeholder substations and the voltage is reduced, distribution lines carry the lower voltage electricity to your communities, homes and businesses.
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