Transmission System Needs Identification Documents

Alberta’s transmission system, sometimes referred to as the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES) or “grid,” is planned and operated by the AESO. The AIES is comprised of the high-voltage lines, towers and equipment (generally 69 kV and above) that transmit electricity from electric generators to lower voltage systems that distribute it to cities, towns, rural areas and large industrial customers. It is the AESO's role to maintain safe, reliable and economic operation of the AIES. The AESO’s planning responsibility includes identifying needed transmission development and recommending preferred options to meet these needs. The AESO must apply to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for approval of transmission system needs identified in a Needs Identification Document (NID). Stakeholders have the opportunity to provide comments to the AESO on the need identified prior to the AESO filing the NID.

Once the AUC approves the NID, the AESO will direct assign the construction of the project to the a transmission facilities owner (TFO). The TFO will then file an application with the AUC for approval of the transmission facilities that will satisfy the transmission system development need identified by the AESO.

The table below includes the AESO’s current transmission system NIDs. The AESO Planning Areas are defined in the AESO Planning area map.

Needs Identification Documents will be removed from the website 30 days following the TFOs Facility Application approval by the AUC. If you require a NID that no longer appears on our website please contact Stakeholder Relations at stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca or 1-888-866-2959.

Northeast

Needs Identification Document	Planning Area	Need Description	Status of Needs Identification Document
Algar Area System Development	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 18, 2013
Beartrap 940S Substation Connection	Cold Lake Area Area 28	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Filed with the AUC on October 19, 2012
Christina Lake Area Transmission System Development	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 24, 2012
Edwards Lake 189S Substation	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Egg Lake 2021S Substation	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Engstrom to Kinosis Transmission Line and Kinosis 856S Substation Upgrade	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Grist Lake 190S Substation	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Kettle River 2049S and Bohn 931S Substations	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on March 25, 2013
Mackay River Project Connection	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to connect an industrial customer	Participant Involvement Program underway
Medley River 2003S Substation	Cold Lake Area Area 28	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Northwest of Fort McMurray 240kV Transmission System Development	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on June 18, 2012
Saleski 901S Substation	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 4, 2013
Underwood 183S Substation	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Filed with the AUC on March 19, 2013
Willow Lake 2009S Substation	Fort McMurray Area Area 25	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway

Northwest

Needs Identification Document	Planning Area	Need Description	Status of Needs Identification Document
Buchanan Creek 927S Substation	Peace River Area Area 19	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 19, 2013
Ksituan River Substation Upgrade	Grande Prairie Area 20	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Filed with the AUC on March 18, 2013
Mustus Energy Biomass Generating Facility Connection	High Level Area Area 18	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Swan Hills Synfuel Facility Connection	Swan Hills Area Area 26	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
Whitecourt Industrial 364S Substation Upgrade	Swan Hills Area Area 26	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Filed with the AUC on October 3, 2012

Edmonton

Needs Identification Document	Planning Area	Need Description	Status of Needs Identification Document
Bernese 293S Substation	Edmonton Area Area 60	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Cherhill 338S Substation Upgrade	Wabamun Area Area 40	Need for transmission system development to maintain system reliability	Filed with the AUC on September 13, 2012
Knightsbridge 216S Substation	Edmonton Area Area 60	Need for transmission system development to increase reliability	Filed with the AUC on March 15, 2013
Onoway 352S Substation Upgrade	Wabamun Area Area 40	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on March 12, 2013
South and West of Edmonton Transmission Development	Edmonton, Wabamun, Wetaskiwin Areas Areas 60, 40, 31	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Filed with the AUC on December 14, 2012

Central

Needs Identification Document	Planning Area	Need Description	Status of Needs Identification Document
Buck Lake 454S Substation Upgrade	Drayton Valley Area Area 30	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Filed with the AUC on October 12, 2012
Bull Creek Wind Energy Connection	Provost Area Area 37	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
Central East Region Transmission Development	Cold Lake, Vegreville, Lloydminster, Wainwright, Provost, Alliance/Battle River Areas Area 28, 56, 13 32, 37, 36	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand and connect new generation	Amendment approved by the AUC on March 27, 2013
Harmattan Energy Centre Connection	Didsbury Area Area 39	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
BluEarth Hand Hills Wind Energy Connection	Hanna Area Area 42	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Filed with the AUC on March 8, 2013
Nilrem 574S Substation Upgrade	Wainright Area Area 32	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Red Deer Region Transmission Development	Didsbury, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin Areas Areas 39, 35, 31	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 10, 2012
Red Deer Timberland Substation	Red Deer Area Area 35	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Suncor Hand Hills Wind Energy Connection	Hanna Area Area 42	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
Sundre 575S Substation Modification	Caroline Area Area 38	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 19, 2013
Vista Coal 270S Substation	Hinton/ Edson Area Area 29	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway

South

Needs Identification Document	Planning Area	Need Description	Status of Needs Identification Document
Big Rock Transmission Development	High River Area Area 46	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Cope Creek Substation Development	Seebe Area Area 44	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on December 21, 2012
ENMAX Bonnybrook Energy Centre Connection	Calgary Area Area 6	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Filed with the AUC on August 30, 2012
ENMAX No. 21 Substation Modification	Calgary Area Area 6	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 2, 2013
ENMAX Shepard Energy Centre Connection	Calgary Area Area 6	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Approved by the AUC on November 1, 2012
Fidler 312S 240/138 kV Substation	Fort Macleod Area Area 53	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on May 10, 2013
Foothills Area Transmission Development	Calgary, Strathmore/Blackie, High River Areas Area 6, 45, 46	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand, increased generation, and maintain system reliability	Filed with the AUC on July 5, 2012
Highway 785 Wind Farm Connection	Fort Macleod Area Area 53	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
Hull 257S Substation	Vauxhall Area Area 52	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Filed with the AUC on November 6, 2012
Lethbridge Chinook NW Substation	Lethbridge Area Area 54	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
McLaughlin Wind Power Facility Connection	Fort Macleod Area Area 53	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
New Dayton Wind Energy Connection	Glenwood Area Area 55	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
Old Man River 2 Wind Facility Connection	Fort Macleod Area Area 53	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Amendment approved by the AUC on March 27, 2013
Peace Butte Wind Energy Connection	Medicine Hat Area Area 4	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Filed with the AUC on June 19, 2012
Riverview Wind Farm Connection	Fort Macleod Area Area 53	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Participant Involvement Program underway
Southern Alberta Transmission Reinforcement	Strathmore Blackie, Brooks, Empress, High River, Stavely, Vauxhall, Medicine Hat, Fort MacLeod, Lethbridge Glenwood Areas Areas 4, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55	Need for transmission system development to reinforce southern Alberta’s transmission system	Approved by the AUC on September 8, 2009
Tilley 498S Substation Upgrade	Brooks Area Area 47	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Approved by the AUC on April 5, 2013
Waiparous 639S Substation	Seebe Area Area 44	Need for transmission system development to meet increased demand	Participant Involvement Program underway
Willowridge Wind Energy Connection	Fort Macleod Area Area 53	Need for transmission system development to connect new generation	Filed with the AUC on November 19, 2012

The AESO welcomes feedback about its consultation process to successfully engage stakeholders in transmission development and planning activities. If you have any suggestions, questions or concerns please contact Stakeholder Relations at stakeholder.relations@aeso.ca or 1-888-866-2959.