Q. What work are you proposing for the Hanna region?

The proposed Hanna Region Transmission Development will encompass a variety of system upgrades in the area. The upgrades include:

• Constructing approximately 242 kilometres of new 240 kilovolt (kV) transmission line right-of-way
• Constructing approximately 138 kilometres of new 144 kV transmission line right-of-way
• Salvaging existing 72 kV transmission line and 144 kV transmission line
• Constructing nine new substations
• Modifying 13 existing substations

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Q. How did you select your site and route options?

ATCO Electric’s planners carefully gather and study the best available information about the area to determine possible site and route options. Engineers, environmental specialists, surveyors and construction personnel assist with these studies.

ATCO Electric has chosen these routes using technical, economic and land-use criteria. All route and site options:

• Avoid homes and minimize impacts to residences
• Follow property boundaries wherever possible to provide access and to avoid impacts to agriculture
• Minimize impacts on built-up areas, highways, agricultural, oil and gas operations and communities facilities
• Minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive areas such as watercourses, wet or steep areas, wildlife habitat and other sensitive areas such as designated historical sites

Once a preferred corridor was identified, specific transmisison line route options and substation locations were investigated. These preliminary options for each transmisison line and substation location were subjected to extensive consultation to assess potential impacts on landowners, occupants and interested parties. In some locations, new options were developed as a result of this feedback and discussed with those affected. The results of these consultations, field studies and additional information were compiled to identify preferred and alternative options with the least overall impacts and these options were included in our Facilities Apllications submitted to the Alberta Utilities Commission.

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Q. Who can people ask questions of regarding these projects?

Every land owner within 800 metres of a proposed route or site location should have received materials in the mail. Included on the back of the main information package was contact details for an ATCO Electric Right-of-Way planner who can answer questions and provide more information.

Anyone who didn’t receive that information or doesn’t know which ATCO Electric planner to contact can send their comments/concerns or request more information from:

ATCO Electric
Right-of-Way Planning
10035 – 105 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 2V6

www.atcoelectric.com
Toll Free 1-855-420-5775
Fax 780-420-5030
Email Consultation@atcoelectric.com

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A safe, reliable and economical electric transmission system is essential to all Albertans. When system upgrades are needed, these are identified by a not-for-profit organization with a public interest mandate called the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).

ATCO Electric agrees with the Alberta Electric System Operator’s (AESO) view that there is a need to strengthen the system in this area.

The AESO indetified the need for new transmisison facililities in the Hanna region to reinforce the current transmisison system and to meet increased regional load demand. The AESO applied for approval of this Need to the Alberta Ulitilities Commission and the Need was approved in April 2010.
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Q. I heard that you didn’t need to consult on the need anymore because of Bill 50?

The Alberta Legislative Assembly passed Bill 50 – The Electric Statutes Amendment Act 2009 – on Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

This Act gives the Government of Alberta authority to approve the need for critical transmission infrastructure projects.

The Hanna Region Transmission Development project is NOT considered critical transmission infrastructure and the AESO is preparing a Needs Identification Document for approval by the Alberta Utilities Commission.

For information on the AESO consultation process regarding the need in the Hanna area, contact AESO.
1.888.588.AESO(2376) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Email: info@aeso.ca.
www.aeso.ca

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Q. How will people know if their land may be affected by transmission development?

Information packages were sent to all landowners within 800 metres of any of the proposed site or route options.

Personal consultation was done with affected landowners and occupants.
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Q. Can you describe the regulatory process in general?

• ATCO Electric must apply to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for permission to construct and operate a transmission line
• In the application, we will describe the preferred route and alternatives, if any, and the reasons for our selection
• The AUC must decide whether or not the transmission line is required, and if so, where it is to be located. Before reaching these decisions, the AUC may conduct a public hearing
• Any directly affected group or individual is entitled to participate in the hearings as an intervener, to support or oppose all or any part of the company’s proposal. If a hearing is not required, anyone with an interest in the project can make their views known by contacting the AUC directly
• Once the AUC has considered the information presented by all parties, it will announce its decision
• The AUC approved the Need for these projects in April 2010 and is currently considering the Faciltiies Applications submitted by ATCO Electric

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Q. What is the proposed timeline?

The timing of this project may be subject to change and is dependant on many different variables.
As of April 2010 the proposed project timing is:

• March – Septemeber 2010: Consultation with landowners and agencies
• Winter 2010 / Early 2011: Selection of preferred site and route options and submission of the facilities application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC)
• Early 2012: If approval is granted, construction begins
• Winter 2012 / Early 2013: Facilities completed and operating

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Q. Do people need to be concerned about electric and magnetic fields caused by these lines?

ATCO Electric recognizes some people are concerned about Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF). We act responsibly in building and operating our transmission facilities within industry accepted engineering and safety standards and strive to route new facilities away from built-up areas. 

We are committed to monitoring EMF research, and sharing this information with customers, employees, government officials and any other interested group.

Currently we rely on information published by Health Canada and the World Health Organization. Their conclusions currently state that there are no substantive health risks from the low-frequency fields typically emanating from transmission towers.

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Q. How do you look to minimize impacts on the residences near proposed routes?

ATCO Electric considers the locations of residences and the visual impact of structures in assessing route options.
ATCO Electric exceeds regulatory codes regarding distances from residences.

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Q. What about impacts on agriculture?

ATCO Electric makes every effort when building transmission facilities to position them where they will have the least possible impact on farming operations. We try to, where possible, use property lines to minimize disruptions and avoid the need for farming around poles.

We will avoid damaging crops wherever possible. But if we can’t we will pay damages.

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Q. Will these new lines interfere with local radio, TV, cell phone, or GPS signals?

By meeting Industry Canada requirements there should be no interference with radio, TV or cell phone reception.GPS signals could be reduced slightly but should still function as normal.

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Q. What about environmental, wildlife, historical or cultural impacts?

ATCO Electric will work diligently to minimize our footprint and costs to customers.  As part of this process we carefully consider the impacts to people, communities and the environment.  Environmental sensitivity and protection is important to ATCO Electric.

We have experience with large transmission projects and are the first Canadian company to be honoured with the Edison Leadership and Innovation Award (in 2004).  It is the electricity industry’s most prestigious international award worldwide – ATCO Electric was lauded for the “great attention paid to the environment and Aboriginal peoples.”

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Q. Can I tap into this line?

No. This will be a transmission line not a distribution line.

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Q. What will happen if this project doesn’t get approval?

The AESO is responsible for planning for transmission needs, so that question is better directed to the AESO.

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Q. Who is the Alberta Electric System Operator?

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is the independent not-for-profit organization responsible for planning Alberta’s transmission system.

If the need for new transmission facilities is approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission, the AESO directs a transmission facility owner such as ATCO Electric to determine the site for the new facilities and then build them.

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Q. Who is the Alberta Utilities Commission?

The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), a quasi-judicial, independent agency, regulates the utilities sector, natural gas and electricity markets to protect social, economic and environmental interests of Alberta where competitive market forces do not.

The AUC regulates investor-owned natural gas, electric, and water utilities and certain municipally owned electric utilities to ensure that customers receive safe and reliable service at just and reasonable rates.

ATCO Electric is fully regulated by the AUC.

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