Why Canada has to invest heavily in it’s electricity network

Demand for electricity in Alberta has doubled in the last 20 years. Homes now have digital recording devices, 2 or 3 television sets, DVD players, laptops, cell phone chargers and other electronic devices that continually draw power from the grid. Canadian homes now use up much more power through the use of – fridges, stoves, microwaves, washers and dryers and a reliable service is imperative. Essential Albertan services like schools and hospitals rely on large amounts of power. There is further demand for electricity to power the oil wells and the various mining projects.

Transmission lines make up Alberta’s electric highway, linking the places where the power is generated to the places where the power is used. A reliable transmission system keeps costs low by connecting diverse sources of power to the grid. Canada has many sources of power generation including water, wind, biomass and waste heat. Generation costs, the cost of generating electricity, accounts for over 50% of a bill.

There is ongoing work to improve the electricity network in Alberta with the up-grading of existing power lines and the construction of new lines. Several new generating stations have been constructed and thousands of new pylons are under construction and other projects are about to start.

The up-grading of the electricity service in Alberta has many benefits for the province, as well as improving the overall service there are huge numbers of jobs involved. There are construction jobs in the course of constructing the pylons and generating stations, truck drivers are needed to supply material to the construction sites and power line technicians are involved in stringing the lines and making the necessary connections. These jobs are well paid and have contributed handsomely to the local economies. This work has also created great opportunities for qualified people from outside Canada to avail of good work conditions and to assist the local workers.