Saskatoon North and East Reinforcement Projects

To help meet the growing need for electricity in Saskatoon and surrounding areas, SaskPower is proposing several new construction projects:

• Switching station north of Saskatoon (near Martensville)
• Switching station northeast of Saskatoon (near Aberdeen)
• 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line connecting these two stations
• 230 kV transmission line from the new Aberdeen switching station to the existing Wolverine switching station
• 138 kV transmission line connecting the new Saskatoon north switching station to the city of Saskatoon

Project need

The existing 138 kV transmission line providing service from the Saskatoon north industrial substation requires reinforcement to ensure the performance of the system. Saskatoon and surrounding areas also require an alternate power supply. This will be provided with new 230 kV, 138 kV and 25 kV lines on the north side of Saskatoon.

The expansion of potash mine activities at PCS Potash Allan, Mosaic Potash Colonsay and BHP Billiton Jansen means that the rural municipality of Wolverine requires a significant increase in the power supply.

Route options and selection criteria

We are examining all options, with special attention being paid to the following guidelines:

• Minimize agricultural impacts
• Minimize environmental impacts
• Minimize social and other impacts (such as land use)
• Minimize economic impacts (construction cost, maintenance, operation and impacts to landowners, communities and other stakeholders)
• Construct on favourable topography and foundation conditions
• Comply with safety and other regulations

There are five route options for Saskatoon to Saskatoon North, seven options for Aberdeen to Wolverine and three options for Aberdeen to Saskatoon North.

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Aberdeen to Wolverine section
The preferred corridor is 93 kilometres long and is a combination of the Orange and Red, which had been presented at the March 2011 community open houses. Its advantages include:

• The route is the farthest from the important whooping crane critical habitat areas identified by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
• The portion of the route between Aberdeen and Elstow can be constructed with no houses near the centreline.
• Approximately half the route will follow the existing 138kV transmission line between the Elstow and Wolverine switching stations. The existing 138kV line will be removed and, generally, there will be fewer structures with the new double circuit line.
• This is one of the lowest cost options at approximately $23.6 million (approximately $1.9 million less than the highest cost option).

Aberdeen to Martensville section

• The route is approximately 35 kilometres long and almost the entire centerline could be constructed along ¼ section lines.
• The approximate cost is $10.6 million.
• The transmission line would cross the river just south of the existing railway bridge and, in doing so, would avoid disturbing large areas of irrigated land west of the river.
• It allows the centerline to be constructed further from residential (existing and planned) developments, particularly between Aberdeen and the river.
• This route (and Route 1) have the lowest number of houses within the overall corridor.

Martensville to Saskatoon section

• This corridor has been slightly modified from what was initially presented to the public in 2011. It crosses the highway at a better location with respect to highway intersections.
• The corridor follows an existing railway right-of-way.
• This corridor has the fewest residences in close proximity.

Structure design

Saskatoon to Saskatoon North
Two-pole H-frame (single- and double-circuit) structures will be used in this project. The pole structures will be constructed with tubular steel.

Aberdeen to Wolverine
Two-pole H-frame (single-circuit) structures will be used in this project. The pole structures will be constructed with tubular steel.

Aberdeen to Saskatoon North
Two-pole H-frame (single- and double-circuit) structures will be used in this project. The pole structures will be constructed with tubular steel.

Environmental approvals

The proposed transmission line will require a project proposal submission to the Ministry of Environment under The Environmental Assessment Act. Our goal is to reduce project impacts on the physical, biological and socioeconomic environment of Saskatchewan.

We comply with all municipal, provincial and federal regulatory requirements and adhere to all provincial guidelines related to transmission lines.

Every effort will be made to mitigate or avoid impacting endangered and threatened species and habitats, as well as sensitive landscape features by making use of existing rights-of-way and previously used land areas.

Landowners and members of the public are encouraged to provide their comments and suggestions on the proposed transmission line project. These comments are added to the input we receive through meetings, correspondence and phone calls. They are all taken into consideration before making a final decision on the project.

Project schedule

1. January-February 2011: Alternative corridors selection
2. March 2011-September 2012: Public consultation
3. May 2011-September 2012: Environmental field studies
4. February 2012: Preferred corridor selection
5. October 2012: Submit project proposal to Ministry of Environment
6. 2012: Engineering design
7. 2013: Construction
8. December 2013: Energization