EPCOR is the contractor responsible for design, construction and maintenance of specific electrical power interconnection systems, including substations, switchyards and transmission lines, along the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMEP). We caught up with EPCOR to learn more.
Tell us about EPCOR's history and involvement with major projects
EPCOR has more than 125 years of experience in the utilities sector, building infrastructure and providing essential services to customers. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, we have power, water, and natural gas operations in four provinces and three states.
Over the last few years, we have completed major projects, enhancing services and connecting more communities in Canada.
For example, in 2012, our team energized the Heartland Transmission Project, a 66-km double circuit 500 kV high voltage transmission line. The line links power generation west of Edmonton to the Heartland industrial region located to the north. We partnered with AltaLink to develop the project, which was Alberta’s single largest public consultation effort when it was approved by the regulator.
In 2016, we completed the upgrade and expansion of the Regina Wastewater Treatment Plant, which at the time was among Canada’s top water infrastructure projects, fully capable of meeting rigorous environmental standards set by the province.
Earlier this year, we completed the Riverview substation projects, to help keep pace with southwest Edmonton’s growth.
Most recently, we were on the ground in the Southern Bruce region of Ontario, where we are building a pipeline that will give rural residents access to natural gas for the first time. The project consists of a 120-km mainline that will be the backbone of the system, and smaller distribution lines spanning 178 km to serve homes and businesses.
What’s your process for hiring the construction crews and related workers who will be building the Trans Mountain Expansion Project?
We have worked with many local contractors and vendors in the communities where we operate, ensuring we have appropriately skilled and qualified working crews to carry out the project. At the peak of construction, we expect to have close to 60 individuals working in about six crews in the field.
On the Expansion Project, we are in the process of gathering information from Indigenous and local communities and suppliers to better understand the benefits to Indigenous and local partners, workers and communities. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that is reflective of the community in which we are working. This means proactively seeking Indigenous and local viewpoints, hiring Indigenous and local workers, and supporting Indigenous and local communities.
Career opportunities with EPCOR can be found here.
Tell us about your company's values.
EPCOR provides clean water and safe, reliable energy. We seek to be a premier essential services company that attracts and retains the best employees, is trusted by our customers and is valued by our stakeholders.
We place a focus on our people and a culture that emphasizes health and safety, supports career development and training, and encourages diversity and inclusion. Our efforts have put EPCOR in the top quartile for employee engagement against comparator Canadian companies. We are consistently recognized as a Top Employer, among Canada’s best corporate citizens, and for our community giving and volunteerism.
As a provider of power, water and natural gas, we strive to achieve operational excellence across our business lines. From taking steps to green and transform our electricity grid, to being recognized for having the best tasting water in North America, we keep an eye to the future and challenge ourselves to always do better.
Tell us about your commitments to safety and environmental protection.
At EPCOR, there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our employees, contractors and the public. We put safety first, in everything we do.
We believe that all incidents and injuries are preventable, and that everyone has the right to work in a safe workplace where all workers are treated with dignity and respect. All our employees and contractors are accountable for protecting the public and working in an environmentally responsible manner.
Like safety, environmental stewardship is also a core value at EPCOR. We show environmental leadership by:
- Taking a proactive, holistic approach to protecting the environment
- Meeting or exceeding environmental requirements
- Minimizing the significant environmental impacts of our operations
- Proactively engaging with regulators and stakeholders on environmental initiatives
