Extreme weather and a booming population are putting pressure on Alberta's electricity grid, with operators closely monitoring demand when temperatures reach plus or minus 30 degrees Celsius.
Grid Strain and Reliability
Mansur Bitar, group vice-president for transmission at Epcor, stated during a Thursday news conference that the system is strained but not at capacity. He emphasized that Epcor has built redundancy and reliability into the system to prevent blackouts, and no failures are expected in the near future.
The hot weather and increased reliance on air conditioning have created a double peak demand system, with hourly spikes in both summer and winter. A grid alert was issued province-wide two years ago due to extreme cold.
Major Power Upgrade
To address the growing need, Epcor and the City of Edmonton are undertaking the City of Edmonton Transmission Reinforcement (CETR) project, one of the largest grid upgrades in the city's history. Bitar called it the most significant build ever in the Epcor system.
The project includes a new substation near Fort Road, 240 kV underground transmission lines, and 72 kV transmission lines. It is expected to cost approximately $398 million, recouped through transmission rates across Alberta. Edmonton residents will pay an average of 25 cents extra per month for energy.
The Alberta Utilities Commission independently approved the project after the province's power operator identified the need for upgrades.
Capacity and Flexibility
Adam Brady of Epcor explained that CETR will increase capacity and flexibility, allowing more power to be directed where needed and enabling rerouting during extreme weather repairs. Underground lines were chosen for safety, reliability, and minimal environmental impact.
Councillor Karen Principe noted that the upgrade will help keep pace with electricity needs as more Edmontonians adopt electric vehicles and electric heating.
