Saskatchewan Power Corporation - Southwest Power Pool to SaskPower Interconnection 230 kV

Project Background

Saskatchewan Power Corporation has filed an application for two permits for the Southwest Power Pool to SaskPower Interconnection 230 kV (Project). The proposed Project would involve the construction and operation of the in-Canada portion of two new international power lines (IPL) located approximately 15 kilometres (km) southwest of Estevan, Saskatchewan, within the rural municipalities of Estevan No. 5 and Cambria No. 6 on privately owned land that is primarily cultivated. The proposed Project would connect SaskPower from its Tableland Switching Station, located southwest of Estevan, Saskatchewan, to USA facilities at two interconnection points on the border with North Dakota, USA. The Project would only be used to import electricity to Saskatchewan, however, SaskPower expects that the Project could be used to export electricity in the future. The cost of the Project components in Canada is estimated at $117.2 million.

The proposed Project consists of:

• the construction and operation of an approximately 6.4 km single circuit 230 kV transmission line, between SaskPower’s Tableland Switching Station and a first border interconnection point referred to as Line W1T;
• the construction and operation of an approximately 6.1 km single circuit 230 kV transmission line between the Tableland Switching Station and a second border interconnection point referred to as Line T1T, which, together with Line W1T, are referred to as the Transmission Lines;
• construction of new line termination facilities including phase shifting transformers, and associated communication, protection and control facilities within the existing fence line at the Tableland Switching Station; and
• installation of a buried fibre-optic communication line between the Tableland Switching Station and the border interconnection point between Saskatchewan and North Dakota, USA, for each of the Transmission Lines.

Provincial Regulatory Agency and Related Processes

While the Canada Energy Regulator oversees the border-crossing aspects, the Province of Saskatchewan manages most of the planning, construction, and operation of the portions of the power line within the province, including detailed routing, land acquisition, environmental assessment and protection, construction, and operation. The provincial regulatory agency ensures compliance with provincial environmental laws and fulfills duty to consult obligations with Indigenous communities. Both federal and provincial agencies conduct their own consultation processes.

In September 2023, as per section 250 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council of Saskatchewan designated the Saskatchewan Minister of Environment as the provincial regulator for the in-province portion of international power lines. The project underwent an environmental assessment under The Environmental Assessment Act of Saskatchewan in 2024 and 2025.

In November 2024, Saskatchewan Power Corporation submitted an Environmental Impact Statement for the project to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. After a technical review and a 30-day public comment period, the Minister from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment approved the province’s environmental assessment in March 2025.

More information can be found here: SaskPower - Southwest Power Pool to SaskPower Interconnection, 2024-003

The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator has discretion as to process in a permit proceeding, including holding a public hearing if deemed warranted. The Commission is the final decision maker on section 248 applications.

Timeline and Documents

Project Map

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