NID Application – Facility Application
In this decision, the AUC approved a needs identification document application from the Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”) (the “NID Application”) and associated facility applications from AltaLink Management Ltd. (“AltaLink”) to construct and operate a new single-circuit 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and to alter the Wainwright 51S Substation (the “Facility Applications”).
The AUC found that the AESO’s assessment of the need to be correct and that approval of the transmission project along AltaLink’s preferred route to be in the public interest having regard to the social, economic, and other effects of the project, including its effect on the environment.
AESO NID Application
The AESO submitted that FortisAlberta Inc., the distribution facility owner for the Wainwright area, requested system access service to improve distribution reliability in the area.
The AESO proposed that the request could be met by converting the existing Wainwright 51S Substation connection from a T-tap to an in-and-out configuration, and would require:
(a) Adding a 138-kV transmission circuit that would connect Wainwright 51S Substation to the existing transmission line 704L; and
(b) Adding two 138-kV circuit breakers to the Wainwright 51S Substation.
AUC Findings re NID Application
The AUC found that the NID Application contained all the information required by the Electric Utilities Act, the Transmission Regulation and Rule 007.
The AUC found that no interested party demonstrated that the AESO’s assessment of the need was technically deficient or that approval of the NID Application was not in the public interest. Therefore, the AUC considered the AESO’s assessment of the need to be correct, and in accordance with Subsection 38(e) of the Transmission Regulation, the AUC approved the AESO’s NID application.
Facility Applications
AltaLink applied to:
(a) Alter Wainwright 51S Substation by adding two 138-kV circuit breakers and expanding the fenceline of the substation approximately 15 metres to the north and two metres to the west (the “Substation Alteration”); and
(b) Construct approximately 26 kilometres of single-circuit 138-kV transmission line that would connect Wainwright 51S Substation to existing transmission line 704L (the “New Transmission Line”),
(collectively, the “Project”).
For the New Transmission Line, AltaLink proposed a Preferred Route, an Alternate Route, as well as a Preferred Variant Route and an Alternate Variant Route for the New Transmission Line.
Participation Involvement Program
The AUC noted that AltaLink conducted a participant involvement program (the ”PIP”). As part of the PIP, AltaLink notified more than 525 stakeholders including landowners, residents, encumbrance holders, Crown leaseholders, agencies and industry. In addition, AltaLink consulted with parties that were directly adjacent or within 100 metres of the substation or right-of-way boundaries.
The AUC noted that landowner, Mr. Johnston, expressed dissatisfaction with the consultation process. Mr. Johnston submitted that he felt that AltaLink was indifferent towards his concerns and that there was no way that AltaLink would change its decision on the selection of the Preferred Route, stating that: “the only opinion that mattered was the one that AltaLink wanted” and that “AltaLink was only out to talk to us because they were forced to.”
The AUC found that AltaLink’s inclusion of the Alternate Variant Route at the Johnstons’ request and its attempt to mitigate visual impacts in front of the Johnstons’ home showed that AltaLink took the Johnstons’ concerns seriously and made a real and meaningful attempt to mitigate those concerns.
The AUC found that the PIP undertaken by AltaLink:
(a) Met the requirements of Rule 007;
(b) Was sufficient to communicate to potentially affected parties the nature and details of the project and some of the potential impacts of the project; and
(c) Provided potentially affected parties the opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns.
The AUC found that the Facility Applications were consistent with and met the need identified in the NID Application.
Route Selection
The AUC found that the Preferred Route would have the least overall impacts on area residents and the landscape, and that siting the New Transmission Line in the alignment of the existing transmission line 61L would mitigate the impacts of the transmission line more effectively than along the Alternate Variant Route.
The AUC also found that the Preferred Route, which had the lowest estimated cost, also had the least environmental impacts of the routes.
With respect to the Johnstons’ concerns, the AUC found that AltaLink had proposed effective steps to mitigate those impacts to the extent possible with the use of larger structures and a commitment to locate the poles where they would minimize visual impact in front of the Johnston residence.
Approval
Given the considerations discussed above, the AUC found the project and its Preferred Route, to be in the public interest pursuant to Section 17 of the Alberta Utilities Commission Act.
