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Construct Substation away from Residents: AUC
Altalink’s proposal to build an electrical substation near Fort Saskatchewan has been conditionally approved by Alberta Utilities Commission. The condition is that the company should build the substation at a site different from the proposed one. The new site is 650 meters away from the nearest house, compared to 180 meters of the original site.
Residents of the area had raised objections to building the substation at the original site. They had even presented a large animal study of the two areas to show that the numbers of animals frequenting the original location was much higher compared to the alternative location.
The study has influenced the Commission significantly according to a member of the North West Strathcona Area Residents Association.
Altalink had argued against shifting the location saying that building the site at the new location will add at least $2 million to the cost of the project. They had also pointed out that presently the local electricity distribution system’s capacity is nearing its limit and that any delay in commissioning the substation could lead to new connections being refused.
AUC had apparently considered both sides of the issue. It asked the company to move the project to a location with less environmental and social impact. And it gave a quick decision so that the company could move early to negotiate with the land owner and start work in a timely manner to avoid electrical supply problems to local businesses and residents.
The Commission’s decision came as a pleasant surprise to the residents who had feared that their views will not be considered.
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