The City of Medicine Hat has an application in with the Alberta Utilities Commission. Siarhei Dzmitryienka/Dreamstime.com

By Eli J. Ridder

CITY HALL

Medicine Hat formally applies for south-end substation approval

Dec 20, 2024 | 12:54 PM

The City of Medicine Hat has formally applied to Alberta’s regulator to build a new southwest substation that officials say is required to meet increased electrical demand from that end of the city.

Map/CHAT News

The application to the Alberta Utilities Commission, filed on Friday, also includes a request for a transmission line.

The city in September revealed two potential locations for the proposed substation by Gershaw Drive Southwest.

The city submission includes both the preferred and alternate sites located north and northwest, respectively, of the Saamis Prairie View Cemetary and Crematorium.

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The application will now work its way through the AUC process, which can include members of the public applying to speak against the build in a public hearing.

The city hopes to have construction begin in 2026 and have the new substation online in the same year.

Graphic/City of Medicine Hat

Improving power to the city’s south end was highlighted as a key requirement for any new recreation centre in that area.

Discussion about building a recreation centre in Medicine Hat’s south end has been going on for years and city council in October created a shortlist of its strategic plan goals that included the rec centre.

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READ: Will a south-end recreation centre finally happen?

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In November, council approved an action plan for that shortlist, including the preliminary steps council would be required to take to build the facility.

One of the barriers to a rec centre has been the power grid, a problem a new substation and accompanying transmission line could help.