Welcome to Our Information Session What This

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Welcome to Our
Information Session
Please sign in,
and help yourself to refreshments
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Okanagan Transmission Reinforcement Project
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What This Information
Session is All About
Our Information Session is your
opportunity to:
Meet the OTR Project Team
Learn about the Project
Find out about construction activities
and schedule
Ask questions
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Who We Are
Canadian-owned integrated electrical utility
Formerly known as West Kootenay Power
& Light from Trail, BC, established in 1897
We serve over 157,000 customers in the
southern interior of BC
We employ over 500 people in BC
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Our System
1) Hydroelectric dam - Water stored in the reservoir behind the dam flows
through large pipes (penstocks) through turbine generators at the
bottom of the other side of the dam. The water forces the turbines to
spin, converting the spin energy into electrical energy.
2) Step-Up transformer - The electrical energy generated by the turbines has
a low voltage. Therefore, a step-up transformer converts this low voltage
to a high voltage. Voltage is the pressure that makes energy flow
through electrical lines.
3) Grid high transmission lines - These are thick lines with high voltage
(161-500 kilovolts) supported by tall metal towers that carry high voltage
electricity long distances.
4) Terminal substations - These substations take the high voltage transmissions
and step them down to subtransmission voltage that are transmitted
through lower voltage, subtransmission lines.
5) Subtransmission lines - These lines, supported by large pole structures,
distribute stepped down voltage (69-138 kilovolts) to large industrial
users and distribution substations.
6) Distribution substations - These substations reduce voltages for distribution
to residential, commercial and small and medium industrial users.
7) Local distribution lines - These lines are thick lines running on the top of
tall wood poles that you see close to homes and businesses. Sometimes
these lines run to underground transformers that distribute electricity via
underground lines to homes.
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What is the OTR Project?
A key component in maintaining safe and reliable
electrical service to our customers.
Our project includes:
Upgrading existing transmission lines
between Vaseux Lake and Oliver from
161kV to 230kV
between Vaseux Lake and Penticton from
161kV to 230kV
Adding an additional 230kV line to the north
between Vaseux Lake and Penticton
Building a new substation to the east of the
existing Oliver substation, called Bentley Terminal
Making modifications to the RG Anderson
(south Penticton), Vaseux and Oliver substations,
as well as Lee and Bell Terminals in Kelowna
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OTR Project
Oliver
Existing Oliver
Substation
Skaha
Lake
Okanagan Falls
Vaseux
Lake
New Bentley
Substation
Penticton
RG Anderson
(south Penticton)
Substation
existing transmission
line corridor
Vaseux
Substation
N
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Major Okanagan Transmission Lines and
Stations
Ashton
Creek
Legend
500 kV
230 kV
138 or 161 kV
60kV
Nicola
Vernon
BC Hydro
owned
Demand for
Reliable Power
OTR Project Work
Transmission upgrades are needed
to increase capacity and reliability
of power in the Okanagan
Lee
Kelowna Area
Loads
Modify
RG
Anderson
Station
DG Bell
RG
Anderson
New
230 kV line
Penticton
Area Loads
Upgrade to
230 kV lines
Modify
Vaseux
Station
Vaseux
Princeton
Kettle
Valley
Modify
Oliver
Station
Bentley
138 kV
Boundary
Area Loads
New
Bentley
Station
Oliver
Grandforks
The upgrades will strengthen the
system connections to the north
and south power sources so that
if one major source is interrupted
the second source will maintain
supply to customers
Oliver /Osoyoos
Area Loads
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Our Environmental Commitments
FortisBC is committed to operating our business in an environmentally responsible manner. Sustaining and enhancing
the environment in our service area is a priority.
The OTR Project includes environmental specialists who
understand the local environment including species at
risk, protected areas, special grasslands, and wildlife
in general.
Our application submitted to the BC Utilities
Commission included how the project team
considered environmental impacts.
Environmental specialists prepared a detailed Environmental
and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) that identifies how
the environment may be impacted by the OTR project.
This was initiated voluntarily by FortisBC.
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Following the development of the ESIA, a comprehensive,
site-specific Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was
completed to delineate sensitive areas and describe
measures to avoid, prevent or mitigate anticipated
environmental impacts.
Local, provincial and federal government agencies,
environmental organizations and First Nations were
consulted during the development of the EMP and will
continue to be involved in the implementation.
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Our Environmental Record
FortisBC is committed to environmental stewardship FortisBC continues to:
Partner with the South Okanagan Invasive Plant
Society, the Boundary Weed Management Committee
and the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee on
several invasive plant control programs.
Work with the Ministry of Environment and wildlife
biologists to minimize power outages and electrocution
risk to osprey.
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Employ First Nations environmental monitors with
traditional environmental knowledge for construction
projects in the South Okanagan.
Help our customers conserve energy through the
adoption of energy efficicient upgrades through our
PowerSense Program. In 2008, customers saved more than
27 million kilo-watt hours.
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The Vaseux Project (Completed 2005)
Environmental Measures Undertaken:
Care was taken to minimize disturbances of sensitive vegetation
and protected areas
A probable prehistoric shelter was identified. The structures for
the 230kV line were placed to avoid the site
Special snake exclusion fencing and grates were designed and
constructed to prevent snake mortality and to avoid human contact
Plant salvage was conducted prior to clearing the facility site
Plants were replanted in a variety of areas to help re-establish the
antelope brush needle and thread grass vegetation community in
other areas
Wildlife trees/snags were created from the large Ponderosa Pine that
were located on the terminal station site. Lewis’s woodpecker (a blue
listed threatened species) were observed nesting and foraging on the
trees within one season
FortisBC documented the Behr’s Hairstreak Butterfly lifecycle and
adjusted construction schedule and practice to minimize impact
on this endangered species
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Environmental
Management Plan
for the OTR
FortisBC worked with government agencies, environmental
organizations and First Nations to develop an Environmental
Management Plan (EMP).
The EMP outlines actions, responsibilities and construction standards for FortisBC and its contractors to protect the environment
during project construction.
EMP key standards include:
Wildlife Habitat and Construction Activity Constraints
Weed Control
Snake Exclusion and Monitoring
Access and Trespass Control
Watercourse Protection
Protection of Sensitive Vegetation Systems
Noise and Dust Control
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Safety
FortisBC is:
Committed to providing a safe and
healthy workplace by following
WorkSafeBC requirements and
industry best practices
Committed to employee, contractor
and public safety and excellent
safety performance
Committed to public education for
home and workplace electrical safety
Providing project specific safety
training for the OTR contractors
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Substation Upgrades
RG Anderson Substation
(south Penticton)
Vaseux Terminal
Bentley Substation
(Oliver)
Additional transmission line in
Additional transmission line in
Construct Bentley substation
Additional equipment
in substation
Additional equipment
in substation
Modifications to existing
Oliver substation
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New Bentley Substation
Substation
Bentley Substation site
View of Bentley
from Oliver neighbourhood
View of Bentley Substation
looking west from Osoyoos Indian
Band Reserve benchland
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RG Anderson Substation
RG Anderson Substation
Transmission line routing
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Vaseux Substation
New transmission line
Vaseux Substation - Before OTR
Vaseux Substation - After OTR
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Structures for the New Lines
Typical
Existing
161kV Structure
Oliver to Vaseux
Vaseux to RG Anderson
Note: FortisBC is not considering lattice steel structures
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Pole Designs
Oliver to Vaseux:
New Double steel poles with steel top beam (similar
to existing structures shown above)
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Vaseux to Penticton (Shuttleworth Creek Area):
Existing Double wood poles
Vaseux to Penticton:
New Single steel pole
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Existing Right-of-Way Heritage Hills Area
Existing transmission line
New transmission line
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Line Construction Activities
Construction activities will include:
Site access and clearing
Pole foundation construction
Pole installation
Line stringing and fibre optic installation
Removal of existing lines and wooden poles
Site restoration
Other activities will include:
Safety management
Environmental management
Ongoing public communication
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OTR Construction Schedule
75/76 Line – 28 km from Vaseux to Penticton
Activity
Time Frame
Safety management
Ongoing
Environmental management
Ongoing
Ongoing public communication
Ongoing
Site access and clearing
Summer 2009 - Late Fall 2009
Pole foundation construction
Summer 2009 – Summer 2010
Pole installation
Summer 2010 – Late Fall 2010
Line stringing and fibre optic installation
Summer 2010 – Late Fall 2010
Removal of existing lines and wooden poles
Fall 2010 – Early 2011
Site Restoration
Fall 2010 and Spring 2011
Schedule is subject to final contractor submission, weather conditions, and
material delivery, as well as environmental and outage constraints.
FortisBC has engaged all landowners with right-of-way on their property. These
landowners will be notified directly before each stage of construction.
For all others in the area, watch for further project and construction schedule
details, which will be sent to you in a quarterly OTR newsletter.
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Terminal and Substation
Construction Schedule
Station
Time Frame
RGA terminal station - upgrade (Kelowna)
Early 2010 – Spring 2011
Vaseux terminal station - upgrade (Vaseux)
Early 2010 – Fall 2011
Bentley terminal station – new construction (Oliver)
Summer 2009 – Spring 2011
Oliver substation – upgrade (Oliver)
Spring and Summer 2011
Lee and Bell terminal stations – upgrades (Kelowna)
Summer 2011
Schedule is subject to final contractor submission, weather conditions,
and material delivery, as well as environmental and outage constraints.
Watch for further project and construction schedule details, which will be sent
to you in a quarterly OTR newsletter.
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For More Information
Visit the FortisBC website at
http://www.fortisbc.com/community/otrprojects.html
Call 1-866-4FORTIS (1-866-436-7847)
Email [email protected]
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Okanagan Transmission Reinforcement Project