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City applies to build new substation in Box Springs

Mar 7, 2019 | 10:03 AM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The City of Medicine Hat has officially applied for a new substation to be built in the Box Springs area.

The Alberta Utilities Commission confirmed the information in a news release on Tuesday. The proposed substation would be built in Box Springs, and would be located near the current Unit 16 power plant in the area.

The city has also applied to connect the substation to an adjacent transmission line.

A map of the proposed substation can be found in the application statement here.

As part of the application process, the commission is accepting submissions from people who feel they may be affected by the applications if they’re approved.

Submissions can be made online at www.auc.ab.ca by logging into the eFiling system, go to selecting Proceeding number 23847, and register to participate under the “registered parties” tab. Alternatively, the commission can be contacted by phone at 310-4282, or emailed at info@auc.ab.ca if they’re having trouble filing their application.

The deadline to file submissions is March 26.

In its new release about the project, the commission says they “may make its decision without further notice or process if no written submissions are received.”

Grayson Mauch, the general manager of utility distribution systems with the city, says the recent economic development in the city’s northwest has necessitated the need for the substation.

“We have seen recent new developments, such as the Aurora greenhouse coming in,” he said. “We practice a just-in-time servicing model, and the substation will ensure we have adequate electric distribution and capacity to service those developments, and any future developments that are coming up.”

Mauch says if approved, the city would begin construction in the spring, with the goal of having the substation operational by the fall.