Bennett Jones | Change on the Horizon for Alberta’s Electricity Regulatory Regime in 2024

In 2004, Alberta’s Transmission Regulation established the framework for the planning and development of Alberta’s electricity transmission infrastructure. Its intent was to attract new generation, increase competition and serve expected increases in load. The regulation has remained largely unchanged since 2004. Meanwhile, the electricity system has experienced significant changes—in part due to the dramatic increase in the amount of intermittent renewable power generation facilities connecting to the grid. As a result, Alberta has embarked on a consultation process to modernize the policy framework for transmission and the broader electricity system, and released a “Green Paper” discussing potential changes on October 23, 2023. Feedback on the Green Paper is due November 30, 2023 (submit here), and is expected to inform policy changes in 2024.

In parallel, Alberta’s electricity regulators are implementing various other major initiatives that are directly or indirectly connected to the issues identified in the Green Paper. Taken together, these various initiatives are likely to result in significant changes to the Alberta electricity regime in the coming year.

This blog provides an overview of these interrelated initiatives and potential changes to Alberta’s transmission policy and market frameworks, including what actions interested stakeholders can take.

The below graphic provides an overview of the upcoming milestones in the four key initiatives discussed in this blog, all of which are oriented to informing actions by the Government of Alberta in mid-2024.

You can read the entire blog here.

Compliments of Bennett Jones – a member of the EACCNY.