Decision 24906-D01-2019

Alberta Electric System Operator Needs Identification Document Application

AltaLink Management Ltd. Facility Application

Abee 993S Substation Upgrade

November 27, 2019

Alberta Utilities Commission Decision 24906-D01-2019: 993S Substation Upgrade

Alberta Electric System Operator Needs Identification Document Application Proceeding 24906 Application 24906-A001

AltaLink Management Ltd. Facility Application Proceeding 24906 Application 24906-A002

November 27, 2019

Published by the: Alberta Utilities Commission Eau Claire Tower 1400, 600 Third Avenue S.W. , Alberta T2P 0G5

Telephone: 310-4AUC (310-4282) in Alberta 1-833-511-4AUC (1-833-511-4282) outside Alberta Email: [email protected] Website: www.auc.ab.ca

The Commission may, within 30 days of the date of this decision and without notice, correct typographical, spelling and calculation errors and other similar types of errors and post the corrected decision on its website.

Alberta Utilities Commission Calgary, Alberta

Alberta Electric System Operator Needs Identification Document Application

AltaLink Management Ltd. Decision 24906-D01-2019 Facility Application Proceeding 24906 Abee 993S Substation Upgrade Applications 24906-A001 and 24906-A002

1 Decision summary

1. In this decision, the Alberta Utilities Commission considers whether to approve a needs identification document application from the Alberta Electric System Operator and a facility application from AltaLink Management Ltd. to upgrade the Abee 993S Substation in the area. After consideration of the record of the proceeding, and for the reasons outlined in this decision, the Commission finds the Alberta Electric System Operator’s assessment of the need to be correct and finds that approval of the facility application is in the public interest, having regard to the social, economic, and other effects of the project, including its effect on the environment.

2 Introduction

2. The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) filed an application with the Commission, pursuant to Section 34 of the Electric Utilities Act, seeking approval of the Abee 993S Substation Upgrade Needs Identification Document. The application was registered on September 20, 2019, as Application 24906-A001.

3. AltaLink Management Ltd. filed a facility application with the Commission for approval to construct the facilities to meet the need identified by the AESO by installing one additional transformer at the existing Abee 993S Substation (the project). The application, filed pursuant to sections 14 and 15 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, was registered on September 24, 2019, as Application 24906-A002.

4. Pursuant to Section 15.4 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, the AESO and AltaLink requested that the Commission consider the needs identification document application and the facility application jointly. The Commission advised the AESO and AltaLink that the applications had been combined and were being considered jointly as Proceeding 24906.

5. The Commission issued a notice of applications for Proceeding 24906, in accordance with Section 7 of Rule 001: Rules of Practice. No submissions were received in response to the notice of applications.

Decision 24906-D01-2019 (November 27, 2019) 1 Alberta Electric System Operator and Abee 993S Substation Upgrade AltaLink Management Ltd.

3 Discussion

3.1 Needs identification document application 6. The AESO received a system access service request (SASR) from Enbridge Pipelines (Woodland) Inc. for a new rate demand transmission service with a contract capacity of 13 megawatts at the existing Abee 993S Substation in the Thorhild County area.

7. To address Enbridge’s SASR, the AESO requested approval of the need to upgrade the Abee 993S Substation by adding one new 138/4.16-kilovolt (kV) transformer with a minimum transformation capability of 14.5 megavolt amperes (MVA).

8. The AESO examined one alternative transmission development to respond to the SASR. The alternative was ruled out because it did not meet Enbridge’s reliability or operational requirements.

9. The AESO stated that the proposed transmission development is consistent with the long-term plans for the Northeast Planning Region, which includes the Thorhild County area.

10. The AESO conducted power-flow, transient stability and short-circuit studies to assess the impact of the proposed transmission development on the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. The AESO’s connection assessment did not identify any system performance issues. The AESO concluded that the proposed transmission development will not adversely affect the performance of the transmission system.

11. The AESO stated that in the event the proposed transmission development is not in service by September 1, 2021, which is six months after the scheduled in-service date of March 1, 2021, the AESO will inform the Commission if the need for the proposed transmission development as described in the needs application is still required and continues to be the AESO’s preferred technical solution.1

12. The AESO directed AltaLink to file a facility application with the AUC for the facilities to meet the need identified and to assist the AESO in conducting a participant involvement program for its needs identification document application.

3.2 Facility application 13. AltaLink requested approval to meet the need identified by the AESO in the needs identification document by installing one new 138/4.16-kV, 15/20/25-megavolt ampere transformer at the Abee 993S Substation and expanding the substation fenceline by approximately 20 metres to the north.

1 Exhibit 24906-X0003, AUC Abee 993S Substation Upgrade NID, PDF page 7.

Decision 24906-D01-2019 (November 27, 2019) 2 Alberta Electric System Operator and Abee 993S Substation Upgrade AltaLink Management Ltd.

14. AltaLink operates the Abee 993S Substation pursuant to Permit and Licence U2012-282.2 The Abee 993S Substation is located within Enbridge’s pump station3 in Legal Subdivision 3 of Section 6, Township 61, Range 19, west of the Fourth Meridian. The land is privately owned by Enbridge and leased by AltaLink.

15. Upon completion of the project, the Abee 993S Substation would consist of the following major equipment:

• two 138/4.16-kV, 15/20/25-MVA transformers • one 138-kV circuit breaker

16. AltaLink submitted that the reference to a telecommunications tower in Permit and Licence U2012-282 should be removed since a fibre optic cable was installed instead.4

17. The AESO and AltaLink conducted a participant involvement program for the project that included notification and consultation with potentially affected stakeholders. AltaLink noted that the nearest residence is approximately 1,000 metres northeast of the project area. The AESO and AltaLink both stated that they were not aware of any outstanding concerns regarding the project.

18. AltaLink stated it followed Aboriginal Consultation Office guidelines and no Aboriginal consultation was required, as there would be no impacts to new Crown land outside of their dispositions and there were no Aboriginal-owned lands within 800 metres of the project area.5

19. AltaLink stated the project is located on previously disturbed soils and no previously undisturbed soils will be impacted by the project. All construction activities will take place on private land owned by Enbridge. The project will require AltaLink to expand the fenceline of the Abee 993S Substation by approximately 20 metres to the north. This will require an expansion to AltaLink’s existing lease agreement with Enbridge by approximately 22 metres to the north.

20. AltaLink conducted an environmental evaluation for the project which concluded that no adverse environmental effects are expected.

21. AltaLink completed a noise impact assessment for the project in accordance with Rule 012: Noise Control. The noise impact assessment concluded that no noise attenuation measures are required and the project is expected to comply with Rule 012.

22. AltaLink received Historical Resources Act approval on August 12, 2019.

23. AltaLink estimated the cost of the project to be approximately $3.713 million, with a variance of plus 20 per cent and minus 10 per cent. AltaLink stated that all costs associated with the project would be allocated to the customer, Enbridge. The scheduled in-service date of the project is March 1, 2021.

2 Permit and Licence U2012-282, Proceeding 1363, Application 1607550, August 15, 2012. 3 Proceeding 1363, Exhibit 0020.00.AML-1363, PDF page 28. 4 Exhibit 24906-X0010, AML Enbridge Abee 993S Substation Upgrade – Application, PDF page 17. 5 Exhibit 24906-X0010, AML Enbridge Abee 993S Substation Upgrade – Application, PDF page 21.

Decision 24906-D01-2019 (November 27, 2019) 3 Alberta Electric System Operator and Abee 993S Substation Upgrade AltaLink Management Ltd.

4 Findings

24. The Commission finds that the needs identification document application filed by the AESO contains all the information required by the Electric Utilities Act, the Transmission Regulation and Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations and Hydro Developments.

25. No interested party demonstrated that the AESO’s assessment of the need to upgrade the Abee 993S Substation to provide system access service is technically deficient or that approval of the needs identification document application is not in the public interest. Therefore, the Commission considers the AESO’s assessment of the need to be correct, in accordance with Subsection 38(e) of the Transmission Regulation, and approves the AESO’s needs identification document application.

26. The Commission finds that the facility application filed by AltaLink pursuant to sections 14 and 15 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, complies with the information requirements prescribed in Rule 007. The facility application is also consistent with the need identified in the needs identification document application.

27. The Commission finds that the joint participant involvement program undertaken by the AESO and AltaLink meets the requirements of Rule 007.

28. The Commission accepts AltaLink’s commitment to implement the project’s environmental protection plan. The Commission finds that the potential environmental effects of the project are not significant given that the equipment installation and fence expansion will be on lands previously disturbed during construction of the pump station.

29. The Commission finds that the noise impact assessment submitted by AltaLink for the Abee 993S Substation meets the requirements of Rule 012.

30. The Commission is satisfied that there are no outstanding technical or environmental concerns associated with the project, nor are there any outstanding public or industry concerns.

31. Given the considerations discussed above, the Commission finds the proposed project to be in the public interest pursuant to Section 17 of the Alberta Utilities Commission Act.

5 Decision

32. Pursuant to Section 34 of the Electric Utilities Act, the Commission approves the need outlined in Application 24906-A001 and grants the Alberta Electric System Operator the approval set out in Appendix 1 – Needs Identification Document Approval 24906-D02-2019 – November 27, 2019.

Decision 24906-D01-2019 (November 27, 2019) 4 Alberta Electric System Operator and Abee 993S Substation Upgrade AltaLink Management Ltd.

33. Pursuant to sections 14, 15 and 19 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, the Commission approves Application 24906-A002 and grants AltaLink Management Ltd. the approval set out in Appendix 2 – Substation Permit and Licence 24906-D03-2019 – November 27, 2019, to alter and operate the Abee 993S Substation.

34. The appendices will be distributed separately.

Dated on November 27, 2019.

Alberta Utilities Commission

(original signed by)

Neil Jamieson Commission Member

Decision 24906-D01-2019 (November 27, 2019) 5