Preferred (pink) and alternate (purple) routes for power line upgrades in northeast Crescent Heights and Parkview are shown on an early concept map from the City of Medicine Hat's electrical distribution department. The Alberta Utility Commission is now hearing arguments from residents in a regulatory hearing.--Supplied Image
Hearings into city power line upgrades in the northeast began Monday with a group of Parkview residents reiterating their stance that a preferred option for taller lines along residential streets in Crescent Heights should be approved.
That is opposed to an alternate route along Parkview Drive, which some homeowners say would obstruct their view of the river valley.
The city’s utility department says that alternative would also be more costly, but was submitted as a requirement to the Alberta Utilities Commission.
“Homeowners (along 20th Street) are facing a minor disruption,” said Wayne Hall, who is part of the Parkview Homeowners Group. “It would be unfair to shift that burden to us.”
He told a virtual Alberta Utilities Commission hearing Monday that an entirely new line on Parkview Drive would hamper property values and views from the community of Terrace.
Another group of Parkview residents, expected to testify Tuesday, is asking the commission to rule the city should revisit an early plan to reroute the entire line north of residential areas. That would essentially replace main lines in Parkview and eliminate a river crossing in front of a long row of homes in the estate-styled neighbourhood.
The city’s electric distribution department is proposing the East Ring reinforcement to double power delivery on lines that run to the eastern city limits, then through Cypress County before rejoining the city’s system in the south.
A “preferred route” would see existing lines upgraded along 11th Avenue to 20th Street, but raise the lines higher with new steel structures along residential roads and houses – while an alternate route would involve building a new line along a right-of-way that follows Parkview Drive, below the neighbourhood of Terrace and above Ranchlands and Parkview.
Both routes would connect to another existing line right-of-way that runs through lower Parkview to the eastern city limits via Pacific Street, and then facing Preston Avenue.
The “Pacific Street Group” is represented by the law firm of McLennan Ross. They were scheduled to present Tuesday.
An opening statement delivered by the city stated the current line is at the end of its life with about one in 10 poles failing inspection, and the upgrade is needed to meet growing demand and relieve congestion.
“We must ensure that the line will remain fit for purpose for its next 50-year lifecycle,” said Devon Hanson, the utility department’s engineering supervisor.
According to city submissions, upsizing the existing line portion in Crescent Heights – including raising the line height to 20 metres, or 64 feet – would add “incremental” impact compared to the new line on Parkview, and also keep costs lower.
The entire project budget was stated at $18.6 million in regulatory filings, though building a new line along Parkview would add $1.4 million.
