September 6, 2011 – Valard Construction, a Quanta Services Inc. company, says it has finalized its contract with BC Hydro for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL). Under the terms of the contract, Valard will deliver comprehensive construction solutions for the approximately 213m- (344km-), 287-kilovolt transmission line between Skeena Substation and a new substation to be built near Bob Quinn Lake in British Columbia.

“We are pleased to have selected two high-quality contractors in the team of Valard Construction and Burns & McDonnell to build and design the Northwest Transmission Line,” said Dave Cobb, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “Both companies are leaders in the industry and these companies will provide the highest overall value to our ratepayers at the most cost-effective price.”

The full scope of services to be provided by Valard and Burns & McDonnell includes design, engineering, project management, foundation construction, tower assembly and installation, conductor stringing, installation of fiber and associated equipment and line testing and commissioning. Under the terms of the contract, Valard will construct the line and related structures for an estimated $170 million. Preliminary activities, including collaboration with the various First Nations and local organizations, are underway with construction expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2013. In general, Burns & McDonnell will provide engineering and procurement services.

“Our Valard operating unit brings a strong commitment to, as well as experience in, working with the local First Nations and communities. This expertise, combined with its strong Canadian presence, is expected to create regional employment opportunities and support the area’s economic development initiatives,” said Jim O’Neil, president and CEO of Quanta Services. “We are proud to bring a comprehensive solution to BC Hydro to help create a clean, reliable interconnection and support future industrial developments.”