PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO

FEDERAL HEIGHTS SUBSTATION FIELD AREA NETWORK PROJECT

PROJECT NARRATIVE

Date: May 16, 2017 Project Title: Federal Heights Substation Field Area Network Project Applicant: Public Service Company of Colorado Project Address: 2200 West 92nd Avenue, Federal Heights, CO

1.0 Description of Development and Key Components

Public Service Company of Colorado is proposing the Federal Heights Substation Field Area Network Project (Project), at its 4.43-acre Federal Heights Substation located at 2200 West 92nd Avenue in Federal Heights, see Figure 1. The Project involves the installation of three noncommercial wireless communication antennas on top of a new monopole located within the secured substation yard. This antenna array is one of many that PSCo is installing throughout the Denver Metropolitan Area and together they will comprise PSCo’s new Field Area Network (FAN).

Figure 1 – Vicinity Map

PROJECT LOCATION

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The 29” tall antennas would be placed atop a new 120-foot tall single steel monopole that would be located within the secured substation approximately 18 feet from the west and 22 feet from the south substation property lines, see Appendix A. A 5-foot tall lightning rod would be mounted on top of the monopole for an overall height of 125 feet, similar to the drawing included as Appendix B. More specific information on the antenna is included as Appendix C. Wires would connect the antennas with equipment mounted to a new approximately seven-foot tall by seven-foot wide structure that would be placed near the base of the monopole and within the secured substation yard. The equipment located near the base of the monopole would then be connected by buried power and communication lines to the substation’s electric equipment enclosure (EEE). The location and height of the monopole prevent signal interference from surrounding lands and buildings, see Figure 2. The equipment inside the substation can reach 47 feet in height and the adjacent transmission structures reach 105 feet in height. Construction of the Project is targeted for summer 2017 and will take approximately three weeks to complete.

Figure 2 – View of Federal Heights Substation, Looking to the South

2.0 Purpose and Need

The purpose of the FAN is to provide the first step and key component to PSCo’s new intelligent, integrated grid called the Advanced Grid that brings greater value to the experience of PSCo’s customers. The Advanced Grid meets the needs of the customers by providing faster, more efficient service and shorter, better-managed outages by connecting the electric grid with new energy devices and technologies. The FAN uses multiple layers of secure radio networks to provide wireless coverage across PSCo’s electric grid. Intelligent devices installed on the grid

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connect to the wireless network and send information about current grid conditions to PSCo’s control centers. In turn, the control centers can respond to changing grid conditions by sending commands to intelligent, integrated field devices. 3.0 Zoning and Adjacent Properties

3.1 Substation Parcel

The Federal Heights Substation property is zoned R-1 (Single-Family Residential), see Figure 3.

Figure 3 – Adjoining Properties Zoning Classifications

3.2 Adjoining Properties As shown on Figure 3, the properties surrounding the substation parcel are as follows:

The land use of the property north of the substation parcel is adjoining 92nd Avenue consists of commercial development and is zoned C-1 (Commercial District).

The land use of the property to the west is residential and zoned R-5 (Single Family Mobile Home)

Project Location

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The land use of the property to the south is residential and zoned R-5 (Single Family Mobile Home)

The land use of the property to the east is residential and zoned R-5 (Single Family Mobile Home). The area to the east of the undeveloped portion of the substation is vacant and zoned C-1.

3.3 Potential Visual Impacts – The visibility of the Project would blend with the existing tall

structures within the substation. The monopole’s galvanized treatment is consistent with the treatment of the existing substation structures, see photosimulations included as Appendix D.

3.4 Lighting – The Project will not require any additional lighting.

3.5 Federal Communication Commission Compliance – The construction and operation of the Project is subject to Federal Communication Commission (FCC) oversight and approval.

4.0 Alternatives The exact location and height of this Project is strategic to the overall FAN Program. PSCo evaluated the use of existing transmission or distribution structures but determined they are not feasible because of safety concerns and insufficient elevations for signal coverage. Furthermore, the substation property provides the opportunity to place the monopole within an existing substation setting on property owned by PSCo. The placement of the Project at other nearby locations would require a potentially similar height structure in a setting potentially less compatible and on property likely not owned by PSCo. For these reasons, this substation site is the preferred location for the Project. Within the substation yard, there are many overhead and buried lines that substantially limit where the Project monopole and H-frame can be placed. Each of these lines has certain clearance requirements for maintenance purposes and to prevent electric flash over. Adding to the challenge of the site selection within the substation yard is that the communication and power lines connecting the antennas to the existing sources within the EEE must provide a path that does not cross any buried facilities. The Project Feasibility Study is included as Appendix E. 5.0 Pre-application Meeting A pre-application meeting was held with the City on March 30, 2017. Based on this meeting the City determined that the Project is not subject to a Conditional Use Permit; however, the height of the Project monopole would require a variance, per Section 70-57 of the Federal Heights’s Municipal Codes and Charter (Code). The responses to each variance criteria are included in the Variance Application. This narrative provides information to support the Variance Application.

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6.0 Conclusion PSCo strives to maintain safe, reliable electric service to its customers. The variance request for the Project would comply with all criteria and assures the community improved electric and gas reliability in the most efficient manner, with the least impact. 7.0 Appendices

A. Site Plan B. Monopole Structure Drawing C. Antenna Specifications D. Photosimulations E. Feasibility Study

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Appendix A – Site Plan

PROPERTY LINE

92nd AVENUE

MONOPOLEH-FRAME

TRANSMISSIONSTRUCTURE

85 ' TALL

LEGEND

PROPERTY LINE

FENCE LINE

AREA193,019.88 SQ.FT4.43 ACRES

TRANSMISSIONSTRUCTURE

80 ' TALL

TRANSMISSIONSTRUCTURE 105 ' TALL

PROPERTY LINE 270.0'

330.0'

PR

OP

ER

TY L

INE

610.

0'

PR

OP

ER

TY L

INE

610.

0'

ACCESS

ACCESS22.0'

18.0'

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADOFEDERAL HEIGHTS SUBSTATION

LOCATED IN NESE OF SECTION 20, T2S, R68WCOUNTY OF ADAMS, STATE OF COLORADO

SITE PLAN EXHIBIT

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OFCOLORADO SITING AND LAND RIGHTS

1800 LARIMER STREET, SUITE 400DENVER, COLORADO 80202

(303) 571-7799

NOTE: THE INFORMATION CONVEYED BY THESE DRAWINGSIS FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY

AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A LAND SURVEY. 2200 W. 92nd AVE, FEDERAL HEIGHTS, CO

APPENDIX A

NOT TO SCALE

SCALE: TO FIT

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Appendix B – Monopole Structure Drawing

APPENDIX B

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Appendix C – Antenna Specifications

RF Specifications

Frequency Range per Input MHz 3300 - 3800Polarisation: NA +/-45° Slant LinearGain

Over all Tilts dBi 18Azimuth Beamwidth Degree 65Azimuth Beam Squint Degree < 3Elevation Beamwidth Degree 7Electrical Downtilt: Degree T0⁰ or T4⁰ Electrical Downtilt Deviation Degree < 1Impedance Ohms 50VSWR NA < 1.4Return Loss: dB > 15Isolation dB > 28Front to Back Ratio: Total Power +/-30⁰ dB > 30Upper Sidelobe Suppression, Peak to 20⁰ dB > 18Cross Polar Discrimination at Sector dB > 16Maximum Effective Power Per Port W 100

Mechanical Specifications

Dimensions (LxWxD) mm (in) (inc RET ) mm (in) 750 (29.5) x 160 (6.2) x 85 (3.3) Packing Size (LxWxD) mm (in) 823(32.4) x 240(94) x 178(7)Net Weight (antenna) kg (lb) 4.3 (9.4)Net Weight (mount) kg (lb) 1.43 (3.1)Shipping Weight kg (lb) 5.7 (12.5)Connector Quantity NA 2 x N Type FemaleConnector Position NA BottomWindload calculation km/h F=1/2*ρ*(Cdp*λ)*v2*AWindload Frontal N 240Windload Lateral N 130Survival Wind Speed km/h 200 (125)Radome Material NA UV-Stabilised PVCRadome Colour RAL 7035Product Compliance Environmental NA RoHSLightening Protection NA DC GroundedCold Temperature Survival Celsius -40Hot Temperature Survival Celsius + 70

Ordering Information:* T0 (Electrical Tilt 0)** T4 (Electrical Tilt 4)

© Alpha Wireless Limited 2014. Last modified: January, 27, 2015Web: www.alphaantennas.com Email: info@alphaantennas.com* Alpha Wireless are always improving products; specification subject to change without notice.

AW3014 Data Sheet

*The parameters in this specification follow the definitions and recommendations per NGMN P-Basta, Release 9.6

3300-3800MHz Sector Antenna(Dual Port, 65⁰ Beamwidth, +/-45⁰ Polarisation, Fixed Tilt)

APPENDIX C

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Appendix D – Photosimulations

FEDERAL HEIGHTS SUBSTATION FIELD AREA NETWORK PROJECT PHOTOSIMULATION – APPENDIX D

VIEW POINT A

EXISTING

PROPOSED

A

FEDERAL HEIGHTS SUBSTATION FIELD AREA NETWORK PROJECT PHOTOSIMULATION – APPENDIX D

VIEW POINT B

EXISTING

PROPOSED

B

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Appendix E – Feasibility Study

Council Rock

Xcel Energy: Federal Heights Substation - Feasibility Study Overview Rev 1 1

Feasibility Study: Federal Heights Substation

Xcel Energy

Summary Coverage for the base station at Federal Heights Substation is presented at the recommended height, and at a lower height for comparison. Recommended antenna height for Federal Heights Substation is 120 feet above ground level (AGL).

Assumptions

● Site location coordinates provided by the customer, accuracy within 50ft of actual location. ● WiMAX radio technology ● Antennas:

○ Sectorized base station configuration, split mount ○ Small panel antenna at the remote

● Antenna heights: ○ 120ft vs. 75ft at the base station ○ 20 ft at the remote

● Terrain Database: 30m National Elevation Data (NED), USGS sourced ● Ground Clutter Data: 30 m National Land Cover Data (NLCD), USGS sourced ● Feasibility Studies are provided for information only

Appendix E

Council Rock

Xcel Energy: Federal Heights Substation - Feasibility Study Overview Rev 1 2

Site View

Figure 1 – Federal Heights Substation, Google Earth 3D view

Figure 1 shows the view from Federal Heights Substation looking North. Federal Heights is in a residential area.

Council Rock

Xcel Energy: Federal Heights Substation - Feasibility Study Overview Rev 1 3

Neighboring Sites

Figure 2- Neighboring Sites’ Coverage

Sites near FEDERAL HEIGHTS include Glenn, Cherokee, Semper, and Broomfield. Expected coverage is shown from these neighbors. Strongest radio signal levels are shown in red and orange, moderate signal in yellow and light green, and weaker signals in dark green, blue, and purple. Our goal is to maximize coverage with the minimum number of base stations.

Council Rock

Xcel Energy: Federal Heights Substation - Feasibility Study Overview Rev 1 4

FEDERAL HEIGHTS Coverage with 120 foot antenna height

Figure 3 – Radio coverage from FEDERAL HEIGHTS 120ft

Council Rock

Xcel Energy: Federal Heights Substation - Feasibility Study Overview Rev 1 5

FEDERAL HEIGHTS Coverage with 75 foot antenna height

Figure 4 – Radio coverage from FEDERAL HEIGHTS 75ft

Coverage is reduced with the antenna height at 75 feet.

Recommendation: Federal Heights Substation antenna height at 120 feet.