March 24, 2012 – To meet the growing need for electricity in central Saskatchewan, SaskPower is proposing to construct three power lines to be in service by the end of 2013. The estimated cost to complete all three projects is $105 million.

“Areas around Saskatoon and in east-central Saskatchewan are experiencing an unprecedented spike in economic activity, especially at the community and industrial levels,” said Rob Norris, the minister responsible for SaskPower. “These three power lines will make sure SaskPower can meet this growing need for electricity and support our province’s economic momentum.”

The three lines being proposed include:

• A 104-km, 230kV line from Aberdeen to Wolverine, which is required to improve electrical system reliability and provide service to multiple potash mines. An existing line will be taken out of service once the new line is completed.
• A 37-km, 230kV line from Aberdeen to Martensville, to serve a growing demand for electricity on the north side of Saskatoon.
• A 7.3-km, 138kV line between Martensville and SaskPower’s North Industrial substation in Saskatoon, which is necessary to improve electrical system reliability.

“Each of these lines will lower SaskPower’s operating costs by reducing power losses on the Saskatchewan transmission system, while helping us continue to provide the reliable and secure supply of electricity that our customers expect,” said Robert Watson, SaskPower president and CEO.

SaskPower presented several line route options at public open houses in March 2011. Since then, preferred routes have been chosen after considering feedback from those open houses, as well as environmental and other studies. SaskPower will be sharing details on these preferred routes at a second set of public meetings:

• March 27 – noon to 7:00 p.m., Colonsay Community Hall, 109 Torran Street, Colonsay.
• March 28 – noon to 7:00 p.m., Aberdeen Rec Complex, 225 Central Avenue, Aberdeen.
• March 29 – noon to 7:00 p.m., Travelodge, 106 Circle Dr. West, Saskatoon.

A detailed construction schedule for all three powerlines will be developed once approval for the projects is received from the Ministry of Environment.