CALGARY — The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is pleased to announce that Alberta PowerLine Limited Partnership-a partnership between Alberta-based Canadian Utilities Limited (an ATCO company) and U.S.-based Quanta Capital Solutions, Inc.-has been awarded the contract for the Fort McMurray West 500-kilovolt Transmission Project.

The partnership between Alberta-based Canadian Utilities Ltd. and U.S.-based Quanta Capital Solutions Inc. had submitted a $1.433-billion bid for the Fort McMurray West project. The bid would involve the partnership designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining the facility for 35 years.

The Alberta Electric System Operator, which awarded the contract, had originally pegged construction costs of the project alone at $1.6 billion.

The AESO was mandated by the provincial government to develop this competition and have it approved by the provincial electricity regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission. The AESO received approval from the regulator in early 2013.

The project will consist of 500 kilometres of transmission line between the Wabamun, west of Edmonton, and Fort McMurray. It will also include two new 500-kilovolt substations.

Construction for the project is expected to begin in 2017 pending the necessary projects, with completion scheduled for 2019.

SOURCE AESO