Transmission

The Electric Utilities Amendment Act, 2012 (formerly known as Bill 8) was passed by the Alberta Legislature to ensure that the need for all future transmission lines be assessed by the Alberta Utilities Commission a full needs assessment process, not the provincial cabinet.

The Electric Utilities Amendment Act, 2012 removed the authority of Cabinet to designate future transmission facilities as critical transmission infrastructure or approve the need for critical transmission infrastructure. Under the Electric Statutes Amendment Act, 2009 (also known as Bill 50), the government had this power.

 

 

Yes. Generally, Albertans already have a say in transmission lines.

The Electric Statutes Amendment Act, 2009 only impacted four transmission projects which were deemed critical transmission infrastructure by the Government of Alberta. The Electric Utilities Amendment Act, 2012, passed on November 21, 2012, removes Cabinet’s authority to designate future critical transmission infrastructure. In the future, the need for all transmission lines will require approval by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) and will go through a needs assessment proceeding.

Directly affected landowners have always had the right to be heard by the AUC during the public hearing process for the siting of all transmission projects. This facility application process, during which landowners and other affected Albertans have an opportunity to have their say, did not change under the 2009 or 2012 legislation.

Involving Albertans(AUC)

 

 

Once a facility application is received by the AUC, Albertans who may be directly and adversely affected are notified by mail. Notice is also typically published in local newspapers. The notice provides information about the public hearings including key dates, contacts and information on how Albertans may participate in the hearing process. 

Directly and adversely affected Albertans are able to participate in public hearing on transmission facilities. The public hearing process is an opportunity for directly and adversely affected Albertans to express their views to the AUC. The AUC decides who is eligible to participate.

The AUC conducts hearings in a similar manner to a court proceeding. The hearing is open to the general public.

 

The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), the provincial regulator, decides who is directly and adversely affected.

If Albertans decide they would like to participate directly in the AUC’s hearing on a transmission line or facility application, they must make a written submission to be considered for intervener status. Submissions must contain:

• a description of the nature of the party’s interest in the application, including in particular how the party considers that they may be directly and adversely affected by the AUC’s decision to approve the application under consideration; and
• a brief explanation of the party’s position including the reasons why the party believes that the AUC should decide in the manner the person recommends.

The AUC application process evaluates the submissions and identifies those who are considered local interveners. Local interveners with standing may vary by application, however historically most utility facility siting applications consider a landowner or entitled occupant of land to have standing if he/she lives or operates a business within 800 meters of the proposed site.

 

Once an application for a transmission line or facility is sent to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), the provincial regulator, notice is given to directly and adversely affected Albertans. Those Albertans may send in their concerns and position on the proposed transmission line or facility. Once the public hearings are finished, the AUC makes a decision on where transmission lines and facilities will be located.

If a transmission line or facility has been proposed to go on, across or near your property you can become involved in the AUC process. The AUC provides step by step information on how you can get involved. 

Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) contact information

By Mail	HSBC Building 10th Floor, 10055-106 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2Y2	Fifth Avenue Place East 4th Floor, 425 - 1 Street SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3L8
Website	www.auc.ab.ca
General Inquiries	780-427-4901	403-592-8845 To call toll-free within Alberta, dial 310-0000 first.
Facilities Group		403-592-4403 and ask to speak to the facilities group
Complaints Group	780-427-4903	or email utilitiesconcerns@auc.ab.ca
Customer Information Services	780-427-9362	or email info@auc.ab.ca
Electronic Filing Systems Help	780-643-1055	or email systemservices@auc.ab.ca

 

Before a transmission line can be built, the transmission facility owner must secure easements, rights-of-way, or agreements from owners or administrators of affected lands. Where affected lands are privately owned, the transmission facility owner will negotiate agreements directly with the landowner.