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Northland Utilities is proposing a comprehensive feasibility study on building a transmission line to carry Taltson River hydro power across the Mackenzie River bridge, pictured under construction in late November. NNSL file photo

HAY RIVER - A feasibility study is being proposed on using the Deh Cho Bridge, which is currently under construction, to carry a hydro power line over the Mackenzie River.

The proposal comes from Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd., which outlined the idea in a Nov. 18 letter to the GNWT.

Northland Utilities has completed a preliminary assessment for constructing 122 km of 72 kV transmission line from Hay River to Fort Providence.

The line would connect Fort Providence and two communities south of the river – Dory Point and Kakisa – to the Taltson River hydro system.

The communities currently have their power supplied by two diesel generators – one in Fort Providence and the other at Dory Point.

A detailed engineering and construction costs study would ensure the proposal would meet the needs of the region and be viable, according to Northland Utilities.

The company estimates the comprehensive study would cost between $200,000-$300,000.

"Northland is requesting the Government of the Northwest Territories to contribute to this study and consider contributions to a final project for the benefit of all Northwest Territories citizens," states the company's letter sent to Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Bob McLeod, who chairs the GNWT's Ministerial Energy Co-ordinating Committee.

Duane Morgan, the manager of Northland Utilities in Hay River, said a response was received on Dec. 8 saying the GNWT is very interested in the proposed study and financial assistance would be considered as part of the 2009-2010 budget.

"We're very pleased with that response," he said, noting the study would take three to five months.

If a decision is made to proceed to construction, he said work could begin in early 2010 and take about a year to complete.

Morgan said the preliminary assessment, which he described as a "desktop estimate," placed the cost of constructing the line at about $15 million.

"It's feasible to do with a contribution from the government," he said, noting support – about half the cost of construction – would be sought from the territorial and federal governments or any other source.

Morgan said connecting the communities to the hydro system would help hold the rates in the three communities.

"They wouldn't be as exposed to the volatility of diesel prices," he said.

Morgan said the communities would not necessarily see a decrease in electricity rates since the cost of building and maintaining the transmission line would be factored into the rates.

However, he said there should be "downward pressure" on rates in the future once the project is completed.

The communities would share one backup diesel generator in the future.

Morgan said the idea of connecting the communities to the Taltson system has been around for years.

"Getting across the Mackenzie was a tremendous obstacle," he said, noting it would have involved huge towers or an underwater cable which would have been "horribly expensive" at about $1-$1.5 million for either option.

He also said towers would not be without environmental and aesthetic concerns, while a cable would have to deal with ice and strong currents. Morgan explained a line from Hay River to Fort Providence would use poles, not towers.