Alberta PowerLine, a limited partnership formed by Quanta Services and ATCO Group, was selected by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) for the Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project under its newly created competitive transmission process. The AESO received interest for this project from companies around the world, including Asia, Europe, South America and North America. After an extensive process that examined technical, financial and development expertise, the AESO chose Alberta PowerLine.
"We are proud to team with ATCO on this industry leading project. We believe this is the largest engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) electric transmission project ever awarded in North America and our selection for this project demonstrates confidence in our ability to work with partners to successfully deliver cost- and risk-efficient infrastructure solutions to the competitive transmission marketplace," said Jim O'Neil, president and CEO of Quanta Services. "Quanta brings significant scope, scale and financial resources, as well as a track record of safely executing large, complex projects, to the Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project."
The Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project will consist of approximately 500 km of transmission line between the Wabamun area west of Edmonton and the Fort McMurray area and two new 500-kV substations. Quanta will provide turnkey EPC services for the entire project. Led by Valard Construction, a Quanta Services company, the team will leverage the capabilities of a number of Quanta's operating units. Quanta expects construction to begin in 2017 after the necessary permits and rights of way for the project are obtained, and expects to complete the project in 2019.
Alberta PowerLine was formed with investments from both Quanta Capital Solutions Inc., a Quanta Services company, and Canadian Utilities Ltd., an ATCO company. This transmission line, which will increase the capacity of the electricity system and address increasing growth in northeastern Alberta, is designed to satisfy objectives identified in the AESO Long-term Transmission System Plan. When complete, the new 500-kV transmission line will form an important part of Alberta's electricity grid. The Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project is the first to be awarded through a worldwide competitive concession tender process, which was designed by the AESO and approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in February 2013.
