AESO Awards Alberta PowerLine Limited Partnership with Fort McMurray West 500 kV Transmission Project

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Dec. 18, 2014) - The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is pleased to announce that Alberta PowerLine Limited Partnership-a partnership bewtween 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 AESO's competition attracted companies from across the globe. Five world-class teams who met the AESO's qualifications were short-listed earlier this year and were invited to submit a technical proposal as well as a price for the project. Alberta PowerLine Limited Partnership is the company that is both qualified to do the job and offered the lowest price.

"The AESO ran a fair and open competition that resulted in visible downward pressures on the costs of the project. We are very pleased with the outcome," says Elizabeth Moore, Director of the Competitive Process.

Alberta PowerLine Limited Partnership submitted a bid of $1.433 billion for the right to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the facility for a period of 35 years. Prior to the competition, the AESO's planning cost estimate was $1.6 billion for the construction portion alone.

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 Fort McMurray West 500-kilovolt Transmission Project will consist of 500 kilometres of transmission line between the Wabamun and Fort McMurray areas. The estimated in-service date is 2019.

Now that the competition has concluded, Alberta PowerLine will go forward with a facility application to the Alberta Utilities Commission and proceed to deliver the project.

The AESO expects to launch the competition for the Fort McMurray East 500 kV Transmission Project in early to mid 2015.

As an independent system operator, the AESO leads the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of Alberta's interconnected power system. The AESO also facilitates Alberta's fair, efficient and openly competitive wholesale electricity market, which in 2014 had 184 participants and approximately $6 billion in energy transactions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Angela Anderson, External Relations Advisor
403-539-2769
Cell: 403-826-4162
angela.anderson@aeso.ca
Twitter: @theaeso