CALGARY, June 22 /CNW/ - AltaLink, Alberta's largest transmission company, received approval from the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board on June 1, 2006, for the construction of a new 138/25 kV substation which will improve the reliability of the electric system in Leduc County. The substation and the associated distribution power lines, which are aggressively scheduled to be in service by late 2006 to meet the forecasted winter peak in the region, will provide the Leduc-Nisku area with a much-needed boost to the reliability of its electric system. "Alberta's strong growth continues to demand timely expansion of the transmission grid in every region of the province," said Scott Thon, AltaLink's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have enjoyed tremendous cooperation from Leduc County and FortisAlberta during the process of finding a suitable location for this substation, and, with a compressed construction schedule, we look forward to getting it into service later this year." Increasing demand for electricity in the area created the need for a second substation to reinforce the electric system in the area. FortisAlberta will construct power lines from the new substation directly to the homes, businesses and industrial customers that need the power. "Customer satisfaction is a priority for FortisAlberta," said Philip Hughes, President and Chief Executive Officer of FortisAlberta (TSX:FTS). "We have worked diligently with AltaLink and the Leduc/Nisku Economic Development Authority to find a solution to increase reliability for industrial customers in the area." "Our economic and population growth has created a demand for more power to supply industries, homes and businesses," said John Whaley, Reeve of Leduc County. "Working closely with AltaLink, we have been able to find a location for the substation that will meet our immediate needs and support the future growth of the community." Patricia A. Klak, Executive Director of the Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Authority said that the new power facilities are critical to the continued industrial development in the area. "AltaLink and FortisAlberta have worked very hard to identify, isolate and provide solutions to the challenges of our growing advanced manufacturing sector during a time of unprecedented growth and development in the region," said Ms. Klak. Located south of Blackmud Creek at SW-31-50-24-W4, the new substation will add approximately 40 MW of capacity to the system, equivalent to the power required to supply approximately 8,000 residential customers. AltaLink, Canada's only fully independent transmission provider, is responsible for the maintenance and operation of more than 11,600 kilometres of transmission lines and approximately 260 substations in Alberta. As Alberta's largest supplier of safe and reliable transmission, AltaLink is moving forward to provide a transmission system that will continue to meet the growing needs of Albertans. FortisAlberta is an electric distribution company with approximately 420,000 customers and more than 103,600 kilometres of power lines. It is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Fortis Inc. - a diversified, international electric utility holding company with assets exceeding $4.3 billion and annual revenues of over $1.4 billion. The Common Shares, Series C First Preference Shares and Series E First Preference Shares of Fortis Inc. are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols FTS, FTS.PR.C and FTS.PR.E, respectively. Fortis Inc. information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com. %SEDAR: 00021201E