1. Yellowhead Area Transmission System Development
Ata Rehman, P.Eng
Manager, South/North System Planning
February / March 2009

2. Transmission system planning process
Outline
Overview of the AESO
Transmission system planning process
Transmission Development in the Yellowhead area
Overview of existing system
Need for development
Development Alternatives
Comparison and Preliminary Recommendation
Next steps

3. AESO: Our role and context
Plan the Transmission System
Arrange Access for Load and Generation
Operate the Wholesale Electric Market
Direct the Day to Day Operation of the Transmission System
At the AESO, our job is to ensure all Albertans receive safe, economic and reliable power, today and in the future.
As a foundation, let’s look at the 4 slabs on the bottom of this picture
We exist under the Electric Utilities Act, created with a public interest mandate
We don’t own or operate any power facilities nor do we have a financial interest in the industry
We take a collaborative and consultative approach to planning
And the transmission projects put forward by the AESO are currently regulated by the EUB
This leads to the 4 blocks on the top
We manage the coordinated operation of the power grid and make sure the supply of power is in constant balance with the demand across the province
We plan the provincial transmission system, including interties with neighboring systems
We strive to ensure this infrastructure keeps pace with the growing demand for power and arrange access to the grid for load and generation
We operate Alberta’s wholesale electricity market with over 200 participants and over $7 billion in annual energy transactions, ensuring a fair, efficient and openly competitive wholesale market for all participants
Created by Legislation: Public Interest Mandate
Independent: No Commercial Interests
Collaborative and Consultative Approach
Transmission Regulated by AUC

4. The Flow of Power
AESO Role and Responsibilities (more detail to come in presentation)
GFO Role and Responsibilities (high-level overview)
TFO Role and Responsibilities (more detail to come in our and AML presentation)
DFO Role and Responsibilities (high-level overview of role and responsibility)

5. Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)
Roles of AESO & TFO
Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)
- Preparation and submission of Needs Identification Document to Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC)
Transmission Facility Owner (TFO)
- Responsible for design, route selection and building the facilities

6. Transmission Planning Process: Role of AESO
- Reviews Load/Generator interconnection request
- Determines the need for transmission development
- Develops alternatives
- Conducts necessary studies
- Undertakes Participant Involvement Program (stakeholder engagement)

7. Transmission Planning Process: Role of AESO (cont.)
Planning Considerations
Social
Technical
Economic

8. Transmission 2- Stage Process
Transmission Facility Owner (TFO)
- Detailed routing and specific siting
- Detailed engineering
- Stakeholder engagement process (can be separate from AESO process or combined)
- Submits a Facilities Application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for approval

9. Need for System Reinforcement
The project area covers the following AESO planning Areas:
- Wabamun
- Drayton Valley; and
- Edson/Hinton
Need is driven by the following factors:
- Transmission Facilities reaching the end of their service life
Half century old (49-54 years)
- The system is not adequate to serve projected demand
Load is projected to grow from 564 MW to 633 MW in 10 years
Loading and voltage issues

10. Project Area Location

11. Existing Transmission System Map

12. Existing System Simplified Electrical Diagram

13. Wabamun Area – 104L Upgrade
104L is a 67 km 69 kV line from Onoway substation to Barrhead Substation
Supplies Onoway, Glenevis, and Lac La Nonne substations
Issues:
Line has reached the end of its service life. Constructed in 1955 (54 years old)
Line and substations are not adequate to serve growing load
Poor voltage performance
Below average reliability

14. Wabamun Area – 104L Upgrade
Alternatives:
Alternative 1 - Rebuild 104L and upgrade substations
Rebuilding 67 km of 104L
Upgrading 138/69 kV capacity at Barrhead 69S
Addition of capacitor banks at Onoway
Alternative 2 - Build a new 240 kV supply substation (Cherhill)
New 240/25 kV substation somewhere north of the Alberta Beach area
Lac La Nonne and Glenevis substations will be supplied through the distribution system
Decommission 104L and associated substations

15. Wabamun Area – 104L Upgrade
Comparison of Alternatives
Alternative 2 appears more favourable
More robust
Addresses supply substation capacity issues (Onoway, Lac La Nonne)
Lower cost
Lower land impact

16. Drayton Valley Area – 129L/537L/544L Upgrade and reconfiguration
129L, 537L and 544L are 69 kV lines between Entwistle and Lodgepole substations
System supplies Drayton Valley, Easyford, Pembina Pipelines and Entwistle substations
Issues:
Lines and associated substation facilities are reaching the end of their service life (49 to 54 years old)
Line and substations are not adequate to serve growing load
Below average reliability
Lack of adequate voltage support

17. Drayton Valley Area – 129L/537L/544L Upgrade and reconfiguration
Alternatives:
Alternative 1 - Rebuild lines and upgrade substations (like-for-like)
Rebuilding a total of up to 93 km of 69 kV line
Upgrade a number of substation facilities
Addition of three capacitor banks
Alternative 2 – Upgrade 129L to 138 kV and reconfigure system
Rebuilding 129L to 138 kV standards (47 km)
Easyford and Pembina Pipeline substations will be supplied through the distribution system
Decommission 537L, 544L and associated substations

18. Drayton Valley Area – 129L/537L/544L Upgrade and reconfiguration
Comparison of Alternatives
Alternative 2 appears more favourable
Higher capacity for long term growth
Improved system performance
Lower cost
Lower land impact

19. Hinton/Edson Area – 138 kV Capacity Upgrade
Issues:
745L does not have adequate capacity to serve area load during outages
Area lacks adequate voltage support
745L is 54 years old and approaching end of service life
Uses a sub-standard, low capacity conductor (3/0)

20. Hinton/Edson Area – 138 kV Capacity Upgrade
Alternatives:
Alternative 1 - Rebuild and reconfigure 745L
Rebuild 745L (80 km) with higher capacity conductors (477 kcmil)
Construct 8 km new double circuit 138 kV line from Bikerdike substation into 745L
Add one capacitor bank at Cold Creek Substation
Alternative 2 – Build a new 138 kV line and decommission 745L
Build a new single circuit 138 kV line from 740L near Gulf Robb tap to Cold Creek Substation (45 km)
Build a new switching station near the Gulf Robb tap
Construct 8 km new single circuit 138 kV line between Bikerdike to Edson substations
Upgrade 745L from Cold Creek to Dalehurst tap and decommission the rest

21. Hinton/Edson Area – 138 kV Capacity Upgrade
Comparison of Alternatives
Alternative 1 appears more favourable:
Better access for maintenance and quick restoration
Lower cost
No new right of way
Less land impact

22. Summary of Potential Developments & Cost Estimates

23. Potential Developments – Simplified Electrical Diagram

24. Stakeholder Engagement Process
AESO meeting with and/or sending information to:
- 47,018 residents and occupants by postal code
- Municipalities in the study area
- Provincial representatives
- First Nations and Métis Settlements
Letter with background information requesting feedback delivered to residences in the area via a postal code mail out
Newspaper advertisements requesting feedback in:
- Stony Plain Reporter
- Spruce Grove Examiner
- Barrhead Leader
- Onoway Community Voice
- Wabamun Community Voice
- Edson Leader
- Hinton Parklander
- Drayton Valley Western Review
Project information on AESO website requesting feedback

25. Transmission Facility Owner (TFO)
Next Steps
AESO
- Prepares Needs Identification Document (NID)
- AESO to file NID with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for approval (early Q2/2009)
Transmission Facility Owner (TFO)
- ATCO directed by the AESO to develop a Facilities Application for detailed engineering, siting, and routing for facilities
- Facilities Application to be developed with further stakeholder engagement and submitted to the AUC for approval

26. Contact us General AESO Enquiries
- On our web site,
- Via to
Yellowhead Area Transmission Development enquiries:
- Via telephone at
- At our web site,