Calgary, Alberta – AltaLink manages Alberta’s largest electricity transmission system serving 85 per cent of the province’s population. In the past 20 years, Alberta has grown at an exceptional rate. As people and businesses have moved to our province and our communities have grown, so has the demand for electricity. Alberta’s independent Electric System Operator (AESO) reported an all-time record peak consumption of electricity for Alberta in December, 2009.  The gap in transmission infrastructure we face today is no different than a shortage of roads, schools or hospital beds, and it’s time for Alberta to catch up.

AltaLink’s Western Alberta Transmission Line will provide much needed reinforcement between Alberta’s two largest cities, Edmonton and Calgary, and is critical for our province’s electricity reliability.

“The Western Alberta Transmission Line is critical to keeping the lights on in Alberta by connecting all sources of generation into our two largest load centres in Edmonton and Calgary,” says Scott Thon, AltaLink’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We now need the public’s input into how best to locate this critical piece of infrastructure for our province.”

AltaLink is working with stakeholders over the next year through a comprehensive consultation program in order to identify the best route option before submitting an application to the Alberta Utilities Commission. As the first step of this consultation program, AltaLink is hosting 12 open houses in the Edmonton to Calgary regions in February and will have regional information centres opening in March, 2010.

For more information visit www.albertaelectricityfuture.com or www.altalink.ca.

AltaLink’s continued solid A credit rating was reaffirmed in November 2009 when DBRS raised AltaLink’s outlook to stable. To further strengthen its financial capability to carry out its planned construction program, AltaLink recently increased its bank credit facilities to approximately $500 million.

AltaLink, L.P. today reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Partnership earned a net income of $56.5 million for the year and $21.7 million for the fourth quarter. AltaLink’s full financial results and management’s discussion and analysis can be found on AltaLink’s website at www.altalink.ca or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

AltaLink, Canada’s only fully independent transmission provider, is responsible for the maintenance and operation of more than 11,800 kilometres of transmission lines and approximately 270 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. AltaLink has been a proud supporter of Alberta 4-H since 2003, and as a Legacy Builder it is the title sponsor of all regional, district and provincial communications and public speaking programs.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy AltaLink’s securities in any jurisdiction, including but not limited to, the United States. AltaLink’s securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as “expects”, “projects”, “plans”, “anticipates” and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of AltaLink’s internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of AltaLink. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause AltaLink’s actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in AltaLink’s filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of AltaLink securities and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. AltaLink disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.