The Alberta energy market

The author describes the electric power system in Alberta which comprises approximately 19,000 km of transmission lines spanning a province of 661,200 square km and a population in excess of 3 million. The system is comprised largely of 138 kV and 240 kV lines with some 69 kV lines and one 500 kV interconnector with the province of British Columbia. The Alberta System is comprised of three vertically integrated utilities and three municipal distribution utilities who purchase wholesale energy from the generating utilities. The Alberta electric system, prior to reform, was the lowest cost jurisdiction in North America and third lowest in the world due primarily to large base of low cost mine mouth fed coal-fired generation