AUC Denies ENMAX Application

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
  • Safety concerns related to the proposed above-ground route

This is a significant win for our community—thank you to everyone who contributed time, effort, and support throughout the process.

Potential Second Application

Despite the positive outcome, ENMAX may soon submit a revised application to the AUC, potentially including a similar route through our neighborhood. If that happens, it will be important to have legal representation in place to ensure our community’s concerns are effectively heard and considered.

Gavin Fitch of McLennan Ross, who represented us in the first hearing, has indicated he is willing to represent us again under the same condition: securing a $15,000 retainer to cover any legal expenses not reimbursed through the AUC’s participant cost recovery program.

Financial Update & Community Contributions

As part of the first hearing, individuals who formally intervened on behalf of the community received small honoraria from McLennan Ross in recognition of their time and efforts. We’re pleased to share that every intervener who received an honorarium has generously donated it back to the legal fund, in anticipation of the possibility that we may need to respond to a new application.

Thanks to these donations—totalling $1,100—we are now only short $429.25 between the total legal fees billed and the amount reimbursed by the AUC. This remaining amount will be covered by the retainer currently held in trust by McLennan Ross.

With the approval of the original donors, we will keep the remaining $14,540.75 in trust for now, pending ENMAX’s next steps.

Upcoming Meeting with ENMAX

At ENMAX’s request, the Powerline Committee will be meeting with them on October 29 to learn more about their updated plans. We will share a summary of that discussion with the broader community afterward.

Committee Update

King Yip has stepped down from the Powerline Committee.
A heartfelt thank you for all your contributions, King! Your work has made a real and lasting impact.

We’ll continue to keep you informed as the situation develops. Thank you again for your continued interest and support.

The Winston Heights–Mountview Powerline Committee (Craig Baskett, Jack Jonasson, DJ Kelly, Trish Kotow, Alex Reed, Anne Scott)