Alberta Electric System Operator AltaLink Management ... - AUC.ab.ca

Decision 2012-239
Alberta Electric System Operator
Needs Identification Document
AltaLink Management Ltd.
Rimbey 297S Substation Upgrade
September 11, 2012

The Alberta Utilities Commission
Decision 2012-239: Alberta Electric System Operator
Needs Identification Document
Application No. 1607997
AltaLink Management Ltd.
Rimbey 297S Substation Upgrade
Application No. 1608010
Proceeding ID No. 1638
September 11, 2012
Published by
The Alberta Utilities Commission
Fifth Avenue Place, Fourth Floor, 425 First Street S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 3L8
Telephone: 403-592-8845
Fax: 403-592-4406
Website: www.auc.ab.ca

The Alberta Utilities Commission
Calgary, Alberta
Alberta Electric System Operator
Needs Identification Document
Decision 2012-239
AltaLink Management Ltd. Applications No. 1607997 and No. 1608010
Rimbey 297S Substation Upgrade Proceeding ID No. 1638
1 Introduction and background
1. Pursuant to Section 34(1) (c) of the Electric Utilities Act, the Alberta Electric System
Operator (AESO) filed an application with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC or the
Commission) seeking approval of the needs identification document (NID) to alter the Rimbey
297S substation to provide increased transmission system capacity in the Rimbey area. This
application was registered on December 20, 2011, as Application No. 1607997 (the NID
application).
2. AltaLink Management Ltd. (AltaLink), pursuant to Licence No. U2002-428 1 is the
operator of the Rimbey 297S substation.
3. Pursuant to Section 35(1) of the Electric Utilities Act, the AESO directed AltaLink
Management Ltd. (AltaLink) to submit a facility application to the AUC for the modification of
the substation to meet the need identified in the NID.
4. Pursuant to sections 14, 15 and 21 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, on
December 21, 2011, AltaLink filed Application No. 1608010 (the facility application) with the
AUC requesting approval to alter and operate the substation.
5. The AESO and AltaLink requested the Commission to consider the NID application and
the facility application (the applications) jointly. Pursuant to Section 15.4 of the Hydro and
Electric Energy Act, the Commission combined the applications to consider them jointly under
Proceeding ID No. 1638.
6. The Commission issued information requests to AltaLink on January 23, 2012 and
July 10, 2012. AltaLink responded to the requests on June 8, 2012 and July 24, 2012,
respectively.
7. On July 24, 2012, AltaLink amended the facility application to expand the fenced area of
the substation. The north to south fence would be expanded by 29 metres to the south for a total
of 62 metres. The proposed east to west expansion would remain unchanged at 73 metres.
AltaLink stated that the expanded fenced area would remain on AltaLink property and no new
land would be required.
1
Licence No. U2002-428, Application No. 1274771, August 1, 2002.
AUC Decision 2012-239 (September 11, 2012) • 1

Rimbey 297S Substation Capacity Upgrade
Alberta Electric System Operator
AltaLink Management Ltd.
8. The Commission issued a notice of applications on July 27, 2012, to all occupants,
residents, landowners, companies and agencies within 800 metres of the substation. The notice of
applications was published in the Rimbey Review on July 31, 2012. No objections to either of
the applications were received by the August 17, 2012 deadline for intervener submissions.
2 Discussion
2.1 NID application
9. In its NID application, the AESO submitted that the NID was prepared in response to a
request from FortisAlberta Inc. (Fortis), the distribution facilities owner, identifying that the
substation required additional capacity to meet the forecast load growth in the Rimbey area.
10. The AESO stated that the distribution facility owner’s request could be addressed by
adding one new 25/33/42-megavolt-ampere (MVA), 138/25-kilovolt (kV) transformer, one new
138-kV circuit breaker, one new 25-kV circuit breaker and associated substation equipment to
the Rimbey 297S substation.
11. The AESO’s connection assessment indicated that the proposed transmission
development and associated load would not adversely impact the Red Deer transmission system.
Power flow, voltage stability and short circuit analyses were performed to assess the impact of
the proposed transmission development on the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. The
results of these studies indicated that connecting the proposed development would not cause any
thermal overloads or voltage criteria violations to the transmission system in the area.
12. The AESO described a variety of methods that were used to notify and consult
stakeholders, including a need overview document that was developed and posted to the AESO
website on August 3, 2011. The AESO advertised its intention to file the NID application in the
Rimbey Review newspaper on November 29, 2011.
13. With respect to the NID application, the AESO stated that it directed AltaLink to assist in
conducting the participant involvement program. AltaLink had included the AESO’s need
overview documents in its own project information packages.
14. The AESO further stated that it received no indication of concern from any party about
the need for the proposed project. The AESO requested that AltaLink forward any concerns
related to the NID application. The AESO did not receive any indication of concerns from
AltaLink with respect to the NID application.
2.2 Facility application
15. AltaLink proposed the following alterations to the Rimbey 297S substation:
addition of one 25/33/42-MVA, 138/25-kV load-tap-changing transformer
addition of one 138-kV circuit breaker
addition of four 25-kV circuit breakers
salvage of three 25-kV circuit breakers
2 • AUC Decision 2012-239 (September 11, 2012)

Rimbey 297S Substation Capacity Upgrade
Alberta Electric System Operator
AltaLink Management Ltd.
expansion to the substation’s fenced area (the new dimensions being 62 metres by
73 metres)
relocation of transmission line 757L dead end structure in the substation to accommodate
its re-termination onto the 138-kV bus-work
16. AltaLink stated that they conducted a participant involvement program for all occupants,
residents, landowners, companies, and agencies within 800 metres of the substation. AltaLink
submitted that there are no outstanding objections or concerns about the proposed project.
17. AltaLink submitted that the fence expansion is on its owned land and had been previously
disturbed.
18. AltaLink also submitted that the visual impact created by the proposed project would be
negligible given that the nearest residence is approximately 300 metres away from the substation
and that the added equipment would not be taller than what currently exists at the substation.
19. AltaLink stated that the potential for environmental impacts related to the proposed
project would be negligible since there would be no requirement for tree clearing or additional
land for the substation, resulting in no impacts to vegetation and wildlife in the area. Any impact
that may occur would likely be minor and could be mitigated by appropriate measures
implemented by AltaLink. AltaLink also stated that the potential for polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) contamination at the substation site is minimal.
20. A noise impact assessment was conducted for the proposed project and the
results indicate that the proposed project is predicted to comply with requirements of
AUC Rule 012: Noise Control (AUC Rule 012).
21. AltaLink submitted a letter dated September 28, 2011, from Alberta Culture and
Community Spirit granting clearance under the Historical Resources Act for the proposed
project.
22. AltaLink stated that an environmental risk assessment was conducted in 2003. The
assessment included soil sampling as per the Alberta Environment Tier 1 soil and ground water
remediation guidelines. The 2003 assessment indicated an area of staining near one of the
transformers, but no indication of staining on the pad or soil adjacent to the pad. Soil sampling
was completed directly east of the concrete pad. The soil samples met the 2001 and 2010
guidelines for F2-F4 petroleum hydrocarbons set out in the Alberta Soil and Water Quality
Guidelines for Hydrocarbons at Upstream Oil and Gas Facilities (AENV, 2001 and AENV 2010)
in coarse grained soils for agricultural use. The soil samples also met the current 2010 Alberta
Tier 1 criteria for PCBs but PCB data was not provided. Based on the Phase 1 environmental site
assessment, soil and/or groundwater contamination was not believed present at Rimbey 297S
substation.
23. AltaLink conducted another environmental site assessment dated May 2012, reporting
that there was no evidence of any leaking or staining around the circuit breakers identified in its
recent review of site history and from their observations during a site visit. AltaLink’s PCB
sampling records from February 8, 2001, were reviewed for Rimbey 297S substation respecting
the two transformers on site. The PCB concentration in the oil samples taken from the two
AUC Decision 2012-239 (September 11, 2012) • 3

Rimbey 297S Substation Capacity Upgrade
Alberta Electric System Operator
AltaLink Management Ltd.
transformers was less than one parts per million (non‐detectable). Based on the Phase 1
environmental site assessment, soil and/or groundwater contamination was not believed to be
present at Rimbey 297S substation.
24. As part of the proposed project, AltaLink committed to conduct sampling of the stain
mentioned-above. Should any PCBs be present, AltaLink committed to undertake remediation
work in accordance with its PCB Management Standard ensuring PCB containing oil will be
transported off location and disposed of to comply with all pertinent regulations. 2
25. The cost of the proposed project was estimated to be $10,646,000 (+20%/-10%), and
completely allocated as a customer cost.
3 Findings
26. The Commission has reviewed the NID application and the facility application filed by
the AESO and AltaLink, respectively. The Commission finds that both applications meet the
requirements stipulated in AUC Rule 007: Rules Respecting Applications for Power Plants,
Substations, Transmission Lines, and Industrial System Designations.
27. As no interested party has demonstrated that the AESO’s assessment of the need to
modify the substation is technically deficient or not in the public interest, the Commission
approves the NID application, pursuant to Section 38(e) of the Electric Utilities Act
Transmission Regulation.
28. The Commission finds that the facility application to alter the substation, as proposed by
AltaLink, satisfies the need identified in the NID.
29. The Commission is satisfied that upon completion of the alteration, the substation is
predicted to meet the noise requirements as prescribed by AUC Rule 012.
30. The Commission accepts AltaLink’s commitment to comply with environment protection
guidelines and regulations, and to mitigate in accordance with its PCB Management Standard to
ensure that PCB containing oil, if any, would be transported off location and disposed of to
comply with all pertinent regulations.
31. The proposed project will take place on previously disturbed land owned by AltaLink.
Hence, the Commission accepts AltaLink’s submission that significant impacts on the adjacent
landholders or the environment respecting vegetation and wildlife are not expected.
32. The Commission is satisfied with the participant involvement programs for the
applications conducted by the AESO and AltaLink, and that there are no outstanding public or
industry objections or concerns. In addition, no party filed an objection with respect to either
application in response to the notice of applications issued by the Commission.
2
Exhibit 34.01, AUC.AML-003, page 3.
4 • AUC Decision 2012-239 (September 11, 2012)

Rimbey 297S Substation Capacity Upgrade
Alberta Electric System Operator
AltaLink Management Ltd.
33. Having considered all of the evidence before it, the Commission finds the proposed
project to be in the public interest having regard to its social, economic and environmental
impacts. The Commission further finds that the facility application complies with all
requirements in sections 14, 15 and 21 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act.
4 Decision
34. Pursuant to Section 34 of the Electric Utilities Act, the Commission approves the NID
application and grants to the AESO the approval as set out in Appendix 1 – Rimbey 297S
substation – Approval No. U2012-431 – September 11, 2012 (Appendix 1 will be distributed
separately).
35. Pursuant to sections 14 and 15 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, the Commission
approves the facility application and grants to AltaLink the approval to alter and operate the
substation as set out in Appendix 2 – Alter Rimbey 297S Substation – Permit and Licence
No. U2012-432 – September 11, 2012 (Appendix 2 will be distributed separately).
36. Pursuant to Section 21 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, the Commission grants to
AltaLink the salvage order as set out in Appendix 3 – Salvage - Approval No. U2012-447 –
September 11, 2012 (Appendix 3 will be distributed separately).
Dated on September 11, 2012.
The Alberta Utilities Commission
(original signed by)
Neil Jamieson
Commission Member
AUC Decision 2012-239 (September 11, 2012) • 5