The head of one of Alberta's largest power producers warns that Alberta is heading for a massive power crisis due to a shortage of new transmission lines.

Don Lowry, the president of Edmonton-based EPCOR Utilities Inc., told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that a shortage of new transmission lines is putting an incredible strain on the provincial grid.

"We believe that if we fail to act now and reinforce the Alberta transmission system, it will only be a matter of time before there is a catastrophic failure," he said. "Alberta can do better than this. This is not the way Alberta conducts its business. There's no excuse for delay."

He said a power failure could perhaps be caused by a heat wave, which would boost electricity consumption and overload the connecting lines with neighbouring British Columbia.

Lowry said the strain on the electrical system has been caused because no transmission lines have been built in the province over the past 20 years to accommodate demands by the growing population and economy.

Without new lines, he said electricity generators cannot build the badly-needed power plants because there is no way to move the electricity to factories and homes.

"We need to be building now. You're running on seven per cent reserve. It's like you're driving your car and the red light's flashing that your reserve's on empty. How long do you want to keep driving? You've already been warned … You're on darn near empty, get on with it."

Lowry explained that building new lines is necessary because conservation measures and renewable energy won't be enough to keep up, or adequately lighten, the province's growing energy needs.

"Fluorescent bulbs, conservation, solar — it's all really interesting but on the net effect, they'd probably reduce four to five per cent of the absolute demand," he said.

"The population has doubled and it's going to grow another 25 per cent. So we not only need that, but you absolutely have to build the infrastructure and bring the power on. We can't conserve our way to that point."

The Alberta Electric System Operator is currently holding public meetings about transmission upgrades between Calgary and Edmonton.

With files from the Canadian Press