Proceeding 27776  Register

Application status: under review

Participant information session: March 14, 2023, at 6 p.m.

Decision expected: To be determined

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Overview

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has applied for approval of the need for the Vauxhall Area Transmission Development under the Electric Utilities Act and an exception under Section 15(2) of the Transmission Regulation. The proposed development would remove thermal criteria violations observed under normal operating conditions, and thereby allow for the unconstrained dispatch of all anticipated in-merit electricity.

AltaLink Management Ltd. has filed applications to meet the need under the Hydro and Electric Energy Act. AltaLink applied to restore the capacity of Transmission Line 879L by replacing 21 and modifying 32 structures and removing 1.6 kilometres of underbuilt distribution line.

AltaLink also applied to rebuild 138-kilovolt Transmission Line 610L by constructing a new line. AltaLink proposed a preferred route, located along the south side of Township Road 102, and an alternate route, which can be seen on the map. The AUC may approve either of the proposed routes. The AUC’s previous notice indicated that AltaLink had also applied to salvage the existing Transmission Line 610L, which is located on the north side of Township Road 102. In fact, while the AESO’s application includes the need to salvage the line, AltaLink has indicated it will apply for the salvage at a later date.

 

 

Participant information

The AUC will be holding a virtual information session on March 14, 2023, at 6 p.m. to provide information about how you may become involved in this proceeding and the funding which may be available to you to support your position, which includes costs for legal representation and expert witnesses. The project and its merits will not be discussed at this session. To register for the virtual information session, please sign up here or email trevor.richards@auc.ab.ca by March 13, 2023.

If you cannot attend the virtual information session, but want to learn more about the review process, or for more information about how you may become involved in this proceeding, please contact us or visit our website and review the information under “Get involved,” “AUC review process steps,” and “Review process for facility applications”. The lead application officer, Trevor Richards, can also be contacted at 403-592-4469 or by email at trevor.richards@auc.ab.ca.

Hearing information

The AUC will be holding a hearing to review the applications and submissions received to consider the electric transmission development applications in Proceeding 27776. The hearing will commence on June 12, 2023, at 10 a.m. The AUC issued a notice of hearing on February 16, 2023.

If you intend to present evidence at the virtual hearing, you must submit your written evidence by April 19, 2023, and be present at the commencement of the hearing. Your written evidence should include your statement about your intended level of participation, including whether you or your representative will:

  • Attend the hearing.
  • Cross-examine any of the applicant’s witness panels.

If you want to learn more about the review process, or for more information about how you may become involved in this proceeding, please contact us or review the information under “Have your say” or under “Review process.”

Summarized process schedule

The AUC has established the following process to consider the applications:

Process stepDate
Information sessionMarch 14, 2023, 6 p.m.
Interveners’ information requests (questions) to applicants deadlineMarch 22, 2023
Applicant’s deadline to respond to information requestsApril 5, 2023
Interveners’ written evidence deadlineApril 19, 2023
Information requests to interveners about intervener evidenceMay 3, 2023
Interveners’ deadline to respond to information requestsMay 17, 2023
Applicant’s reply evidence deadlineMay 31, 2023
Commencement of hearingJune 12, 2023, 10 a.m.

* All submissions are due by 4 p.m.

​The eFiling System​

The eFiling System should be accessed to view the applications and the other documents the AUC will be considering in this proceeding. The system is also used to file submissions and evidence to participate in the proceeding.

To create an account, select “New account” and follow the steps to create a user ID and password. If you have any questions about how to use the system please contact us at info@auc.ab.ca or 310-4AUC.

Documents being considered in this proceeding can be found in the eFiling​ System (which requires log in). Once you have logged in, enter 27776 in the “go to” section at the top left corner of your screen.

Vauxhall Area Transmission Development