What happens next?

Once Altalink and EPCOR have conducted their public consultation process, they will take into consideration what they learned during consultations and make any amendments they see necessary and reasonable to their proposal and submit an application to the AUC. When the application is submitted to the AUC, the Commission will conduct a review of the application to ensure it is it is administratively and technically complete. The Commission will schedule a process meeting within 30 days of receiving an application. This will finalize process, scheduling, and issues in advance of a full public hearing. Extensive public notice will provide key dates, contacts and information on how to participate.

Enhanced AUC process for the Heartland Transmission Project

The AUC believes a transparent and fully-informed process allows it to render the best possible decisions. In an effort to maximize the preparation time for parties that may be directly and adversely affected by the Commission’s decision, and in recognition of the scope, nature and timeframe of this proceeding, the Commission intends to adopt a process that has been enhanced in four ways, described below:

1) Streamlined standing process for participants:
Individuals and corporations that may be directly and adversely affected by the Commission’s decision on the application are entitled to participate in a public hearing. Those parties are said to have standing to participate in the process. Parties that own or reside on property located within 800 metres of the edge of the finalized rights-of-way (for either the preferred or alternate route) will be considered to have standing.

2) Pre-registration of intention to participate:
All interested parties have the opportunity to pre-register in the proceeding, before the Commission receives the application, by filing a statement of intent to participate (SIP) with the Commission. More information on SIP submissions and what they should include can be found in the Public involvement in Needs and Facilities Applications Brochure (page 6) or on the AUC website www.auc.ab.ca under Involving Albertans > Getting Involved > How to Participate in Facility Applications.

3) Three options for participation:
Interveners with standing will have three options for participation in this proceeding:

• Interveners can fully participate in the Commission’s quasi-judicial hearing. Dates and a location will be announced by the Commission after the application is submitted and deemed complete;
• Interveners can participate informally by presenting their position to the Commission at the quasi-judicial hearing without participating in the full hearing; or
• Interveners can provide a written submission.

4) Information sessions and process meeting:
The AUC is committed to ensuring that Albertans who believe that they may be directly and adversely affected by its decision are informed about the project and understand their opportunity to participate in the hearing process. The AUC will be holding a series of information sessions in March to explain the hearing process, how to participate in the process and to explain the Commission’s local intervener funding process. The location and dates for these information sessions are provided in the the table below. The Commission can also provide information sessions to larger groups upon request. Please note that the Commission will also hold a process meeting within 30 days of the application being filed. The process meeting will provide further details and particulars regarding the format of the hearing and issues to be addressed during the hearing.

The four enhancements listed above establish a process that allows early intervener participation, even before a formal application is filed with the AUC. The enhanced process for this proceeding also allows the Commission to make and communicate decisions on scheduling, process, standing and local intervener costs as early as possible.

For more information:
Any questions or concerns about the Heartland Transmission Project may be directed to the AUC Complaints team at utilitiesconcerns@auc.ab.ca or 780-427-4903.

AUC Reference material:
Public Involvement in Needs or Facility Applications brochure
How to Participate in a Facility Application
AUC Rule 007, Rules Respecting Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, and Industrial System Designations
AUC Rule 009, Rules on Local Intervener Costs
Bulletin 2010-04, Heartland Transmission Project Notice of Enhanced Process
News Release 2010-01, AUC Launches Enhanced Participation Opportunities for Heartland Transmission Project
News Release 2010-02, Alberta Utilities Commission Releases Heartland Information Session Schedule
The independent public hearing process for the Heartland Transmission Project brochure

Other information sources:
Heartland Transmission Project website
Alberta Energy Transmission
Electric Statutes Amendments Act
Alberta Electric System Operator