More Power to Albertans - CU Power Officially Opens its Poplar Hill Power Plant

Friday, January 29, 1999

Calgary, Alberta – CU Power (CUPIL), an ATCO Company, officially opened its Poplar Hill power plant today. This new $30 million 45 megawatt power plant is located near Grande Prairie, Alberta. The Poplar Hill plant generates enough electricity to supply a city the size of Grande Prairie and enhances the security of the transmission system in the area, said Gary Bauer, President, CU Power. This is our second new power plant to be commissioned in Alberta since November, which demonstrates ATCO Group's commitment to compete in the provincial electrical market.

CUPIL was selected to build the power plant in April, 1998 by the Grid Company of Alberta and the new Transmission Administrator, ESBI Alberta Limited following a competitive bid process to provide generation as a lower cost option to adding new transmission facilities. The project was completed and providing power to the Grid in less than nine months.

This power station uses the most fuel efficient natural gas turbine in the world, which results in the benefit of a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Poplar Hill power plant features an innovative design which provides new generating capacity as well as low cost transmission system support services. The plant is unique in that the electric generator can be connected to the Grid and provide voltage support while the turbine is intentionally disconnected from the generator. When the Grid needs electricity, rather than just voltage support, the turbine can be automatically reconnected to generate electricity for the region.

The facility is another example of CUPILs commitment to provide leading technology in independent power production in the province of Alberta, and the Poplar Hills plant has been nominated for the 1999 Powerplant Awards by the prestigious Power Magazine.

CUPIL owns and operates independent power projects in Canada, England and Australia - including the 1000 megawatt combined cycle Barking power station in London, England and a cogeneration plant at the Heathrow Airport. CUPIL jointly owns the 120 megawatt McMahon cogeneration plant in British Columbia and also operates a 180 megawatt cogeneration project in Adelaide, South Australia. Most recently CUPIL commissioned the 85 megawatt Primrose cogeneration station in northeast Alberta, and announced a joint venture agreement to develop a 550 megawatt combined cycle power plant in Mississauga, Ontario.

ATCO Group is Alberta based, with a worldwide organization of energy, technical services and manufacturing companies.

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