Dear WHMCA Members,
As many of you may have heard, the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) has denied Enmax Power Corporation’s application for the Central Calgary Transmission Line Replacement Project. The AUC’s decision was based primarily on two issues: insufficient consultation with adjacent landowners and safety concerns regarding the proposed above-ground route.
Following this decision, the WHMCA Powerline Committee met with our legal counsel, Gavin Fitch, to discuss its implications. Gavin advised that this outcome represents a significant win for our community. While the replacement line will still need to be constructed, Enmax will now be required to explore alternative options and engage in a more thorough consultation process before submitting a new proposal. At this time, we do not have any information regarding Enmax’s revised timeline.
With the project halted for now, the Powerline Committee will enter a “sleep mode” until further action is taken by Enmax.
We’re also pleased to share that the AUC has awarded our community reimbursement of $135,316.78 in legal fees, out of a total of $137,076.03—a recovery rate of 98.7%. This means that community members are only responsible for the remaining $1,759.25.
Thanks to the generous support of our community, we raised $15,000 in trust with McLennan Ross LLP to cover the legal retainer. Now that most of those funds are being reimbursed, each contributor will receive a prorated refund based on their original donation. McLennan Ross will issue the refunds via cheque once they have received the funds from the AUC.
Thank you again to everyone who supported this important effort. We will keep you informed of any developments. Stay tuned for time and date for a bit of a celebration event!
Warm regards,
Alex Reed
President
Craig Baskett
Powerline Committee Chair
