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Yellowhead Area Transmission System Development Ata Rehman, P.Eng

Manager, South/North System Planning

February / March 2009

2

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

Operate the Wholesale

Electric Market

Direct the Day to Day Operation of the Transmission System

Plan the Transmission System

Arrange Access for Load and Generation

Created by Legislation: Public Interest Mandate

Independent: No Commercial Interests

Transmission Regulated by AUC

Collaborative and Consultative Approach

4

The Flow of Power

5

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

• AESO

- Reviews Load/Generator interconnection request

- Determines the need for transmission development

- Develops alternatives

- Conducts necessary studies

- Undertakes Participant Involvement Program (stakeholder engagement)

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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

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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

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Existing System Simplified Electrical Diagram

To Carvel432SEntwistle

235S

Moon Lake131S

544L537L

Easy Ford249S

Lodgepole61S

Esso west Pembina

359S

Cynthia178S

Edson58S

Bickerdike39S

202L

202L

20

2L

836L

835L

Buck Lake454S

Keystone384S

Violet Grove283S

Wabamun2739S

Sundance 310P

Wabamun19S

Whitewood Mine292S

T.M.P.L. Gainford

165S

156L

124LT.M.P.L. Niton228S

744L 744L

79

9L

799L South Mayerthorpe

443S

Sagitawah77S

973L974L

989L

919L

to Louise Creek809S

to Whitecourt Industrial

364S

To Blue Ridge Lumber701S

to Benalto 17S

Cold Creek602S

27 MVAr

Brazeau62S

902L

133L

904L

Pembina Pipeline3080S

To Millar Western

484S

to Alberta

Newsprint122S

Keephills320P

234L

to Sundance

310P

to Sundance

310P

to Bickerdike

39S

to Sagitawah

77S

PetroCanadaBrazeau River

489S

Amoco Brazeau358S

ToNorth calder

37S905L

Onoway352S

N.O.N.O.

N.O.

123L/104L

92

6L

92

2L

90

3L

19

0L

1202L1203L767L

834L

896L

919L989L

809L(N.O)

908L909L

913L

Pinedale207S

890L

913L

913L

ToMitsue 732S

P.R.O.P.L. Glenevis

442S

Lac La Nonne994S

ToFort Assiniboine

234S

ToWestlock

438S

West Pembina477S

Elk River445S Brazeau

Outlet works294S

801L

844L

841L

828L

North Barrhead

69S

913L104L

104L

12

9L

12

9L

Drayton Valley46S

Mountain Coalbed

411S

Watson Creek104S

Manalta CoalGregg River

476S

Cardinal River 302S

Cadomin 983S

740L

762L

Coal Valley527S

Gulf Robb414S

Coal Spur426S

Fickle Lake406S

Dalehurst975S

501L

745L745AL

615L

854L

To Fox CreekA741S

7L199

199L

720L

Marlboro348S

Benbow397S

Chevron Kaybob551S

Kaybob346S

864L

854L

854AL

White Court268S

Chevron Knight355S

N.O

Cheviot 101S

743L

847L

995L

Paddle River106S

Thermal Plant

240 kV

138 kV

69 kV Capacitor bank

Hydro

Decommision (proposed)

Proposed UpgradesDecommision (Approved)

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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

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Wabamun Area – 104L Upgrade

Alternatives:

1. 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

2. 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:

1. 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

2. 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

• Addition of three capacitor banks

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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

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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)

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Hinton/Edson Area – 138 kV Capacity Upgrade

Alternatives:

1. 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

2. 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

• Add one capacitor bank at Cold Creek Substation

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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

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Summary of Potential Developments & Cost Estimates

Description Cost (millions, 2008$)

Development A: Wabamun Area

Construct new Cherhill 240/25 kV (POD) Substation $19.83

Development B: Drayton Valley Area

Upgrade 69 kV system in the Drayton Valley area to 138 kV $32.38

Install one (1) 27 MVAr Capacitor Bank at Cynthia 178S $1.96

Install one (1) 27 MVAr Capacitor Bank at Amoco Brazeau 358S $1.96

Install one (1) 27 MVAr Capacitor Bank at Brazeau 62S $1.96

Development C: Hinton/Edson Area

Rebuild and reconfigure 745L Edson 58S to Cold Creek 602S $27.71

Install one (1) 27 MVAr Capacitor Bank at Cold Creek 602S $1.96

Total Cost (2008$) $87.76

- The total cost of additional potential distribution-related work associated with the transmission development is $17.60 million (2008$).

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Potential Developments – Simplified Electrical Diagram

Entwistle235S

Moon Lake131S

544L537L

Easy Ford249S

Lodgepole61S

Esso west Pembina

359S

Cynthia178S

Edson58S

Bickerdike39S

202L

202L

202L

836L835L

Buck Lake454S

Keystone384S

Violet Grove283S

Wabamun2739S

Sundance 310P

Wabamun19S

Whitewood Mine292S

T.M.P.L. Gainford

165S

156L

124LT.M.P.L. Niton228S

744L 744L

799L

799L South Mayerthorpe

443S

Sagitawah77S

973L974L

989L

919L

to Louise Creek809S

to Whitecourt Industrial

364S

To Blue Ridge Lumber701S

to Benalto 17S

Cold Creek602S

27 MVAr

Brazeau62S

902L

133L

904L

Pembina Pipeline3080S

To Millar Western

484S

to Alberta

Newsprint122S

Keephills320P

234L

to Sundance

310P

to Sundance

310P

to Bickerdike

39S

to Sagitawah

77S

PetroCanadaBrazeau River

489S

Amoco Brazeau358S

905L to North calder

37S

New Cherhill POD 240/25 kV

N.O.N.O.

N.O.

926L

922L

903L

190L

1202L1203L767L

834L

896L to Carvel432S

919L989L

809L(N.O)

908L909L

913L

Pinedale207S

890L

913L

ToMitsue 732S

ToFort Assiniboine

234S

ToWestlock

438S

West Pembina477S

Elk River445S

Brazeau Outlet works

294S

801L

844L

841L

828L

North Barrhead

69S

913L

129L

129L

Mountain Coalbed

411S

Watson Creek104S

Manalta CoalGregg River

476S

Cardinal River 302S

Cadomin 983S

740L

762L

Coal Valley527S

Gulf Robb414S

Coal Spur426S

Fickle Lake406S

Dalehurst975S

501L

745L745AL

615L

854L

To Fox CreekA741S

7L199

199L

720L

Marlboro348S

Benbow397S

Chevron Kaybob551S

Kaybob346S

864L

854L

854AL

White Court268S

Chevron Knight355S

N.O

Cheviot 101S

743L

847L

995L

Paddle River106S

Onoway352S

123L/104L

Lac La Nonne994S

P.R.O.P.L. Glenevis

442S

Thermal Plant

240 kV

138 kV

69 kV Capacitor bank

Hydro

Decommision (proposed)

Proposed UpgradesDecommision (Approved)

Note: This is an electrical single line diagram and not geographically representative.

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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

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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, http://www.aeso.ca

- Via email to stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca

• Yellowhead Area Transmission Development enquiries:

- Via email to stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca

- Via telephone at 1-888-866-2959

- At our web site, http://www.aeso.ca/transmission/16784.html