FAQs
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Why is this substation required?
Medicine Hat’s south area has experienced commercial and residential expansion. The City recognizes the need for additional infrastructure to address this rising demand. The proposed MHSS is needed to alleviate current congestion, enhance system reliability, and accommodate future electrical growth.
How was the preferred and alternative site determined?
The City has narrowed down the planned substation location to two potential sites, a preferred and an alternate. These sites were identified by assessing a number of criteria, including community feedback, environmental impacts, visual impacts, agricultural impacts, engineering considerations, and costs. Each of these sites are suitable for housing a substation and may be submitted to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for review and approval. Although the City may submit two substation site options, only the AUC approved site would be constructed.
Who approves the substation?
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) regulates the construction of electrical infrastructure. For more information on the regulatory review process and application requirements, please view the following links:
Are potential substation locations designated for this type of development?
Utilities (such as transmission lines or substations) are permitted uses in all districts whether they are listed uses in the district or not.
How do environmental factors inform substation site selection?
Environmental evaluations will continue throughout the Project. Surveys will be completed in Spring and Summer 2024 and will include:
The Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) will be made available for public review at the time of application filing with the Alberta Utilities Commission. The EPP will make detailed commitments for minimizing potential environmental effects.
What was the outcome of the previous MHS-11 substation Project?
The City filed an application for the MHS-11 substation and related infrastructure with the AUC on June 1, 2022. Following the regulatory review process, the AUC released a decision on June 12, 2023, denying the City’s application, outlining the need to re-evaluate the site selection process.
Ultimately, the need for a substation in the SW portion of the City has not changed.
The City recognizes the input received through the previous engagement and regulatory process, and remains dedicated to working with community members and following through on commitments. If you wish to review the licence decision, visit www.auc.ab.ca under proceeding number 27417.
What will it look like?
The site will have similar equipment to MHS-10 substation in Box Springs Industrial Area (Box Springs Rd.). The site will be 100 m x 100 m that will be gravelled, and an area of 80 x 88 m will be fenced to house equipment necessary to “step down” electrical voltage for distribution to the community.
What is the City doing from a safety perspective?
A substation site will be fenced and there will be restricted access to the site for members of the public. If there were to be an incident at site, City representatives will follow guidelines set forth in their emergency response plans for city facilities.
Will there be a continuous loud noise from the substation?
The City will design, construct, and monitor the facility to meet the guidelines set forth in AUC Rule 012. Noise modelling will be completed and will be made publicly available.
Will there be continuous light from the substation?
Lighting is an important safety consideration. There will be a need to illuminate the site (Alberta Electrical Utility Code – 8-222). The City will modify lighting, to the extent possible, to limit light disturbances to local residences. Specific modifications will be site dependent and could include different types of lights, lowered lighting, or shielding lights to minimize light dispersal.
Are there health effects associated with living in proximity to a substation?
The City of Medicine Hat understands this concern and takes it very seriously. The City of Medicine Hat follows guidance from Health Canada(External link) and the guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection(External link) (ICNIRP)
Health Canada states:
"The potential health effects of extremely low frequency EMF has been studied extensively... When you are inside your home, the electric fields from transformer boxes and high voltage power lines are often weaker than the fields from household electrical appliances. Extremely low frequency EMF exposures in Canadian homes, schools and offices are far below the limits recommended in the ICNIRP guidelines. You don't need to take precautions to protect yourself from these kinds of exposures".
We welcome your questions regarding EMF at any time.
Will this Project affect property value?
The City of Medicine Hat takes this concern seriously. Many factors go into the evaluation of property. As no locations are exactly the same, it is difficult to compare values when there are various criteria that can determine the outcome.
When will this Project be completed?
The City of Medicine Hat intends to submit a Facility Application to the Alberta Utilities Commission in the fall of 2024. The City is targeting construction beginning in Spring 2026.
What is the regulatory review process?
As we continue to understand potential impacts and develop mitigation measures, a Facility Application is being prepared to submit to the AUC. Once a Facility Application has been filed, the City will notify community members and the various reports (e.g., siting process, engagement process, Environmental Evaluation) will be available for public review. The AUC will determine the steps in the review process that may require a public hearing. The Project team will remain available to assist landowners in navigating this process.
For more information on the AUC and their process, please visit www.auc.ab.ca