The company would construct and operate the new line, subjected to the approval of the facilities application by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), in the Long-term Transmission System Plan, estimates the project would cost $1.65 billion. It is anticipated that the majority of these costs would be incurred after 2011.
This major high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project, which would connect an area northeast of Edmonton to a southern hub in the Brooks/Bow Island area, is a key component of the Long-term Transmission System Plan and would bolster the province’s electricity transmission system.
Sett Policicchio, president of ATCO Electric, said: “Transmission reinforcement is vital to Alberta’s future economic development and this project will help ensure safe, reliable electrical service to all Albertans.”
The company, as part of the preparation of a facilities application to the AUC, would start determining the exact route for the transmission line, thoroughly considering any potential impacts to landowners, First Nations, communities and the environment.
Currently, the company is constructing two major transmission lines in northern Alberta, totaling approximately 360 kilometers. The company provides delivery of electricity to 245 communities spanning approximately 65% of Alberta and is part of the ATCO Group of Companies.
