Saskatchewan approves power line construction linking northern, southern grids

SaskPower headquarters in downtown Regina can be seen in this file photo. (David Prisciak/CTV News)

The Government of Saskatchewan has approved a plan which will see the province’s power grids in the far north and south be linked.

On Thursday, the province announced that SaskPower’s North-South Transmission System’s Interconnection project was approved.

The project will include two new transmission lines, around 250 kilometres long, which will connect the southern grid near the E.B. Campbell Hydroelectric Station to the northern grid near the Island Falls Hydroelectric Station.

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“SaskPower is continuing to prioritize investments that support reliability, safety and load growth in Saskatchewan,” President and CEO of SaskPower Rupen Pandya said in the announcement. “This interconnection will boost energy security and reliability for northern communities and industry alike.”

According to the Crown corporation, preliminary planning, design, and engagement with Indigenous stakeholders and the public has begun.

Pre-planning and design work for the project has received conditional approval for funding of up to $18.075 million under the First and Last Mile Fund from Natural Resources Canada.

Currently, the province’s power grids operate independently and are connected through Manitoba.

The transmission lines are estimated to be in service by 2032.