...asking for your support

The Lavesta Area Group, led by Joe Anglin, has been a tireless and vocal force in the questioning of unregulated energy transmission in the province.  Recently, the Group filed the following  motion to suspend the Western Alberta Transmission Lines hearings to give Premier Redford the necessary time for her government to review and revisit the discussion, a goal both she and Dr. Morton stated in their respective campaigns for leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives.

You are invited to review the motion, and contact your Member of the Legislative Assembly, Dr. Ted Morton, and Premier Redford to express support for the spirit and content therein.  Also, we are asking you to forward this site and request to your contacts as well. 
Thank you,
Connie

Alberta Utilities Commission

IN THE MATTER OF the Alberta Utilities Commission Act, R.S.A. 2000,

c. A-37.2, the Electric Utilities Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. E-5.1 and the Hydro and

Electric Energy Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. H-16;

- and -

IN THE MATTER OF an application filed by AltaLink Management Ltd

for approval of the proposed WESTERN ALBERTA TRANSMISSION LINE

(WATL) referred to as APPLICATION NO. 1607067, PROCEEDING ID 1045

BETWEEN:

THE LAVESTA AREA GROUP

Applicants

- and -

ALTALINK MANAGEMENT LTD

Respondents

Notice of Motion

TAKE NOTICE the applicants, the Lavesta Area Group, hereby bring a motion

before the Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC” or “Commission”) pursuant to

Section 9(1) of the Alberta Utilities Commission Rules of Practice, Rule 001 and

Section 8 of the Alberta Utilities Commission Act as follows:

MOTION

1. Whereas the Government of Alberta by deliberations of its Honourable Ministers in

Cabinet, have determined that the transmission line or transmission facility which

purports to be the subject of Application 1607067, and AUC Proceeding 1045, [a.k.a. the

Western Alberta Transmission Line (“WATL”)] to be critical transmission infrastructure

AND;

2. Whereas the Government of Alberta by democratic process has elected a new Premier

and subsequently appointed and changed its Honourable Ministers in Cabinet, formal

motion is made hereby to the Alberta Utilities Commission, and it is hereby moved that:

The Commission, respectful of the privilege of the Honourable Ministers of the

Crown in Cabinet, adjourn the hearing process identified as Application No.

1607067 Proceeding ID 1045 Sine Die pending clarification of the new policies

affecting Critical Transmission Infrastructure (CTI)

BACKGROUND

3. The Alberta Electric Systems Operator (AESO) has proposed to construct two HVDC

transmission lines to reinforce the Alberta Interconnected Electricity System (AIES)

between Edmonton and Calgary. The proposal was approved by the previously appointed

cabinet in accordance with, and upon the passage of, the Electric Statues Amendment Act

amended 2009: “Designation of Critical Transmission Infrastructure” (CTI): paragraph

#1; and the Electric Utilities Act (EUA) “Schedule” Section: 41.1(1).

4. With regard to the two transmission lines referenced in paragraph #3 above, the AESO

further proposed to locate the first HVDC line, known as the Western Alberta

Transmission Line (“WATL” and /or Application No. 1607067 Proceeding ID 1045) in

the west/central portion of the province connecting the Wabamun Lake/Edmonton hub to

the Calgary area hub. The second HVDC line, known as the Eastern Alberta

Transmission Line (EATL), is proposed to be located on the eastern side of the province,

connecting the Heartland hub northeast of Edmonton to a Southern hub.

REASON FOR A REQUEST FOR ADJOURNMENT

5. The Honourable Premier, Alison Redford, and the Honourable Minister of Energy, Dr.

Ted Morton, both campaigned on, and publically declared that they fully intend to amend

existing policies, including the AESO’s proposal, referred to in paragraph #3 above, to

reflect the approval of only a single N-S transmission line upgrade, if it is deemed

necessary, between Calgary and Edmonton.

6. Given the newly elected Premier’s inclination to follow through on campaign promises, a reasonable and prudent person can, and should, conclude that a policy change is imminent relative to the AESO’s WATL and EATL proposals, referred to in paragraph

#4 above.

7. I respectfully submit, the Alberta Utilities Commission, board proper, should adopt the

precautionary maxim of a reasonable and prudent person, and adjourn the Western

Alberta Transmission Line (WATL) hearings Sine Die pending policy clarification from

the newly elected Premier, and the newly appointed cabinet for the following three

reasons:

a) An imminent policy change of the magnitude described, in paragraph #5 above,

significantly raises the possibility of rendering the WATL hearing process moot. I

respectfully submit, policy clarification should be the highest and only priority for

the Commission at this time before expending any additional resources on a

WATL hearing process.

b) An imminent policy change of the magnitude described, in paragraphs #5 above,

renders the Western Alberta Transmission Line (WATL) technically deficient and

inapplicable. AESO’s 2009 Long-Term Transmission Systems Plan (LTTP page

#37), attached as exhibit #1, confirms this assessment wherein it states, “The first

line alone cannot be fully utilized without the second line being in service as the

loss of the first line would create too large of a contingency on the system.”

c) An imminent policy change of the magnitude described, in paragraph #5 above,

creates an immediate conflict for all law firms and legal counsels representing

clients in both the WATL and EATL proceedings. Presumably a policy change of

this magnitude places the WATL in direct conflict with the EATL.

8. I respectfully submit the first line referenced in the 2009 Long-Term Transmission

Systems Plan, (LTTP page #37), attached as exhibit #1 to this motion, is the AESO’s

WATL proposal (a.k.a. Application No. 1607067 Proceeding ID 1045). The contingency

forewarned is the result of potentially exacerbating an already identified imbalance of the

east/west attributes of the AIES to accommodate load flows. Stated another way the

WATL option requires a second HVDC transmission line in the east to achieve full

utilization. An EATL option does not require a second HVDC transmission line in the

west to achieve full utilization.

9. Purportedly the new Premier and Energy Minister have the competency and capacity to

understand that the Alberta Interconnected Electricity System (AIES) can be upgraded, if

it is determined that the AIES needs to be enhanced or upgraded, economically and

efficiently with the strategic placement on one transmission line.

10. An imminent policy change of the magnitude described, in paragraph #5 eliminates the WATL (a.k.a. Application No. 1607067 Proceeding ID 1045) from consideration due to its inability to be consistent with a single transmission line solution.

ALL OF WHICH IS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE LAVESTA AREA GROUP

THIS 17TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2011

<Original signed by>

Joseph V. Anglin

Lavesta Area Group Chairman

4.0 LONG-TERM TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PLAN PAGE 37

AESO LONG-TERM TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PLAN 2009

4.3 Edmonton to Calgary transmission system reinforcements

4.3.1 Overview

The existing transmission system to deliver power from the Edmonton to Calgary areas relies

on six 240 kV transmission lines in the Edmonton to Red Deer area and seven 240 kV lines

between Red Deer and Calgary. Lower voltage lines (138 kV and 69 kV) also contribute to the

aggregate capacity, but the majority of the capacity is provided by 240 kV lines. The Edmonton

to Calgary system has not been upgraded in over 20 years. Load growth in southern and central

Alberta is stressing the existing system such that capacity will fall short of reliability requirements

by 2014.

Reinforcement of the transmission system between the Edmonton and Calgary regions is

needed to:

_ avoid reliability issues for consumers in south and central Alberta.

_ improve the efficiency of the transmission system.

_ restore the capacity of existing interties.

_ avoid congestion, which prevents the market from achieving a fully competitive outcome.

Transmission constraints and congestion also slow development of new competitive generation

in the Edmonton area and further north.

Meeting the long-term capacity requirement for the Edmonton to Calgary component of

the bulk system using high capacity HVDC transmission lines makes most efficient use of

rights-of-way and minimizes land-use impacts.

While a number of factors and conditions are considered in making this technology choice,

including consultation, economics and efficiency, a priority is given to minimizing land-use

impacts in support of government policy as presented in the Provincial Energy Strategy.

Given all of the conditions noted in Section 4.2, two HVDC high capacity lines are planned as

soon as possible. Analysis indicates the preferred orientation of these lines is for one line on the

west/central portion of the province connecting the existing Wabamun Lake/Edmonton hub to

the Calgary area hub. The preferred orientation of the second line is on the eastern side of the

province, connecting the Heartland hub northeast of Edmonton to a Southern hub.

Construction of both lines substantially increases the usable capacity of the first line. The first

line alone cannot be fully utilized without the second line being in service as the loss of the first

line would create too large of a contingency on the system. Construction of these lines sends

a positive and concrete signal to consumers and generation developers that transmission

capacity will be in place to deliver future generation to market and reliably meet the electricity

needs of consumers in central and southern Alberta.

Construction of both lines substantially increases the usable capacity of the first line. The first

line alone cannot be fully utilized without the second line being in service as the loss of the first

line would create too large of a contingency on the system. C