What is the emergency response plan in case a tornado, for example, brings down the lines?
AltaLink and EPCOR have Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) to respond to events such as tornados and other emergency scenarios. Our ERP structure follows the framework of the Incident Command System and is reviewed and practiced annually. These plans are coordinated with local municipal authorities including fire and police. The plans are audited internally and the exercises are also monitored by an outside contractor. We follow the same framework as the provincial government and regulatory bodies. In the unlikely event that the lines came down across a highway in the capital region, dispatch crews would respond immediately and clear the road. We have two internal crews that are trained and available to respond to this type of event. Contractor crews are also retained for these situations. The protection and control equipment which is installed on high voltage equipment, like a 500 kV transmission line, is designed to de-energize the line in less than one tenth of a second after a fault o
