Link to Bulletin SummarizedAdministrative Efficiency - Updating Filing Requirements Following the introduction of the Red Tape Reduction Act by the government of Alberta the AUC made further rule amendments to reduce the regulatory requirements contained within the...
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These articles by our expert team cover the details of various decisions made by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), Alberta Utilities Commision (AUC), and Canada Energy Regulator (CER). Browse our searchable archive below to learn more about the results we’ve achieved for our clients.
Market Surveillance Administrator Proposes Amendments to AUC Rule 019, AUC Bulletin 2020-41
Link to Bulletin SummarizedApplication to ISO Rules - Penalty Escalation The AUC seeks stakeholder feedback on revisions to AUC Rule 019: Specific Penalties for Contravention of ISO Rules (“Rule 019”) proposed by the Market Surveillance Administrator (“MSA”).The AUC...
EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc. – Decision on 2021 Customer Specific Distribution Access Service Rate Update for an Existing Customer, AUC Decision 26120-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedRate Update Existing Customer In this decision, the AUC approved an application by EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. (“EPCOR”) for a customer specific (“CS”) distribution access service (“DAS”) rate update for an existing customer...
ENMAX Independent Energy Solutions Inc. – Connection for the Downtown District Energy Centre Combined Heat and Power Unit, AUC Decision 26110-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedConnection Order In this decision, the AUC approved an application from ENMAX Independent Energy Solutions Inc. (“EIES”) for the connection of a 3.3-megawatt (“MW”) natural gas-fuelled combined heat and power generating unit located at ENMAX...
ATCO Electric Ltd – Decision on 2021 Interim Transmission Facility Tariff, AUC Decision 26083-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedInterim Revenue Requirement In this decision, the AUC approved ATCO Electric Ltd.(“AEL”)’s annual interim facility owner tariff based on a continuation of its approved 2020 interim tariff in the amount of $691,900,000 ($57, 658, 333 per...
Alberta Electric System Operator – Decision on 2020 Rider A1 Extension Application, AUC Decision 25670-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedCriteria for Extension of Duplication Avoidance Tariff In this decision, the AUC approved the extension of Rider A1 for the period January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2041.BackgroundThe Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”) filed an...
ATCO Pipelines 2021 Interim Revenue Requirement, AUC Decision 26031-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedRates - Interim Rate Applications In this decision, the AUC considered an application filed by ATCO Pipelines (“AP”) requesting approval of its 2021 interim revenue requirement and its Pioneer Pipeline interim revenue requirement. The AUC...
AltaLink Management Ltd. 2016 to 2018 Deferral Accounts Reconciliation Application, AUC Decision 24681-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedRates In this decision, the AUC made the following findings on the application from AltaLink Management Ltd. (“AML”) for the disposition of certain deferral accounts in respect of the years 2016 through 2018:(a) Regarding AML’s request for...
Normtek Radiation Services Ltd. v Alberta Environmental Appeal Board, 2020 ABCA 456
Link to Decision SummarizedMeaning of “Directly Affected” - Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act SummaryThis was an appeal of a judicial review upholding a decision of the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board (“Board”). The Board refused to hear an appeal of an...
Declaration Naming an Individual Pursuant to Section 106(1) of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act, Regulatory Appeal No. 1931598
Link to Decision SummarizedRegulatory Appeal - Extension of Time - Section 106 OGCA This decision dealt with an individual’s request for a regulatory appeal filed on March 10, 2020 (“Request”) of an AER decision dated April 19, 2019 (“Decision”) issued pursuant to...
AltaLink Management Ltd. and TransAlta Corporation Direct Assigned Capital Deferral Account for the Edmonton Region Project, AUC Decision 25369-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedPrudence of Costs - Indigenous Cooperation Agreements In this decision, the AUC determined that not all costs applied for in the deferral account reconciliation application by AltaLink Management Ltd. (“AML”) and TransAlta Corporation...
Name Change Order Apex Utilities Inc. from AltaGas Utilities Inc.
Link to Decision SummarizedName Change AltaGas Utilities Inc., a designated regulated gas utility pursuant to the Gas Utilities Designation Regulation amended its articles of incorporation to change its corporate name from AltaGas Utilities Inc. to Apex Utilities Inc....
Alberta Electric System Operator 2021 Balancing Pool Consumer Allocation Rider F Application, AUC Decision 26040-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedDTS Market Participants - DOS Market Participant In this decision, the AUC approved the application from the Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”) for its 2021 Rider F - Balancing Pool Consumer Allocation (“2021 Rider F”). The AUC...
Trans Mountain Expansion Project, Redwoods Golf Course Ltd. Detailed Route Hearing MH-021-2020, CER Letter Decision
Link to Decision SummarizedPipelines - Route Hearings BackgroundOn December 16, 2013, Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (“Trans Mountain”) filed an application with the National Energy Board (“NEB”) under section 52 of the National Energy Board Act (“NEB Act”) for a...
EPCOR Energy Alberta GP 2021 Regulated Rate Tariff Interim Rates Application, AUC Decision 26023-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedRates In this decision, the AUC approved the application from EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. (“EEA”) to apply existing non-energy charges for its regulated rate tariff (“RRT”), as interim rate effective January 1, 2021.IntroductionEEA...
Reducing Regulatory Burden: Checklist Applications for Certain Abbreviated Needs Identification Document Applications, AUC Bulletin 2020-40
Link to Bulletin Summarized The pilot project for low-risk electric transmission and gas utility pipeline applications launched in Bulletin 2020-15 will be expanded to include abbreviated needs identification document applications that are driven by system access...
Proposed Amendments to AUC Rule 002 Will Reduce Regulatory Burden and Improve Efficiency, AUC Bulletin 2020-39
Link to Bulletin Summarized The AUC has proposed amendments to Rule 002: Service Quality and Reliability Performance Monitoring and Reporting for Owners of Electric Distribution Systems and for Gas Distributors that would:Replace quarterly reporting requirements with...
The AUC Moves to Reduce Regulatory Burden and Improve Efficiency with Rule 021 and Rule 028, AUC Bulletin 2020-38
Link to Bulletin Summarized The AUC has proposed amendments to Rule 021: Settlement System Code Rules and Rule 028: Natural Gas System Settlement Code that would:Remove the Pre-final error correction process requirement from both rules;Remove the USA transaction...
Amendment to AUC Rule 027, AUC Bulletin 2020-37
Link to Bulletin Summarized On November 19, 2020, Rule 027: Specified Penalties for Contravention of Reliability Standards came into effect in its amended form. Rule 027 was amended to reflect a revision to the naming of an Alberta reliability standard PRC-005-AB1-6...
Invitation for Feedback on Proposed Changes to the Pipeline Rules, AER Bulletin 2020-24
Link to Bulletin Summarized The AER sought feedback on proposed changes to the Pipeline Rules. The rules were made by the AER under the authority of the Pipeline Act. The rules were last reviewed and updated in 2005.The changes include modernizing them to align with...
AUC Moves to Reduce Regulatory Burden and Improve Efficiency with Rule Amendments, AUC Bulletin 2020-36
Link to Bulletin Summarized The AUC has proposed amendments to Rule 003: Service Standards for Energy Service Providers that would:Remove the requirement to submit call center and billing performance data;Remove the requirement to submit customer satisfaction...
Amendments to AUC Rule 017 Including Streamlining Requirements, AUC Bulletin 2020-35
Link to Bulletin Summarized On November 6, 2020, the amendments to Rule 017: Procedures and Process for Development of ISO Rules and Filing of ISO Rules with the Alberta Utilities Commission, which were approved on October 19, 2020, came into effect.BackgroundThe AUC...
Invitation for Feedback on Revisions to Directive 20, AER Bulletin 2020-23
Link to Bulletin Summarized After a multiyear study, the AER published Open File Report 2019-06: A Risk-Based Methodology for Commingled Well Abandonment – Southeastern Alberta Gas Field Case Study. Based on the findings of that study, the AER released Bulletin...
Suspension of Specified Penalties Program for Certain Self-Reported Contraventions Extended to June 18, 2021, AUC Bulletin 2020-34
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin The AUC extended the operation of Bulletin 2020-10 until June 18, 2021, the date on which the repayment period concluded under the Utility Payment Deferral Program Act. The extension would promote the self-disclosure of...
Process Improvements to AUC Rate Proceedings, AUC Bulletin 2020-33
Link to Bulletin SummarizedRule 001 - Rule 022 The AUC announced it would make changes to its process and procedures for rate cases. The Bulletin provides additional information concerning the implementation of changes recommended in the report by the AUC Procedures...
Amendments to AUC Rule 027, AUC Bulletin 2020-32
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulk-Power System Security - Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standards On October 21, 2020, the AUC amended Rule 027: Specified Penalties for Contravention of Reliability Standards with the addition of clause 5.3.The previous...
Alberta PowerLine Limited Partnership Application for Exemption from Rule 005, AUC Decision 25477-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedExemption from ISO Reporting Requirements In this decision, the AUC approved the application from Alberta PowerLine Limited Partnership (“APL”) requesting an exemption from the reporting requirements of Rule 005: Annual Reporting...
AUC 2021 Generic Cost of Capital, AUC Decision 24110-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedRates In this decision, the AUC set the return on equity (“ROE”) of 8.5 per cent and deemed equity ratio of 37 per cent (39 per cent for AltaGas Utilities Inc.) (collectively, the ROE and equity ratios, referred hereto as “Parameters”) for...
Revised Draft Version of AUC Rule 007 and Interim Changes to AUC Participation Involvement Program, AUC Bulletin 2020-30
Link to Bulletin SummarizedStakeholder Feedback - Participant Involvement The AUC asked for stakeholder feedback on proposed amendments to AUC Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations and Hydro...
Amended Rule 006: Rules on Regulatory Audits, AUC Bulletin 2020-29
Link to Bulletin SummarizedMinor Amendments - Modernization On July 28, 2020, the AUC approved an amended Rule 006: Rules on Regulatory Audits. This amended rule, with links to related information, can be found on the AUC website. The effective date of the amended...
Alberta Utilities Commission Discussion Paper on Power Plant Self-Supply and Export, AUC Bulletin 2020-28
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - AUC Discussion Paper - Power Plant Self-Supply and Export In the fall of 2019, the AUC conducted stakeholder engagement on the issue of power plant self-supply and export.On June 5, 2020, the AUC provided the Department of Energy...
Invitation for Feedback on Draft Directive on Well Integrity Management, AER Bulletin 2020-16
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Invitation for Feedback - Well Integrity Management On July 16, 2020, the AER announced it is seeking feedback on a new draft directive, Directive XXX: Well Integrity Management. The new draft directive contains testing,...
Suspension of Commissioning and Notarizing Requirements, AUC Bulletin 2020-27
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Commissioning and Notarizing Requirements On May 6, 2020, the AUC issued Bulletin 2020-16: Requirements for Costs Claim Applications and Confidentiality Undertakings, which suspended the requirement to have a confidentiality...
AUC Extends Suspension of Specified Penalties Program for Self-Reported Contraventions to September 30, 2020, AUC Bulletin 2020-26
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Extension to Specified Penalties Program On March 27, 2020, the AUC issued Bulletin 2020-10: Suspension of Specified Penalties Program for Self-Reported Contraventions, which suspended the issuance of notices of specified...
New Edition of Directive 060, AER Bulletin 2020-15
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - New Edition of Directive 060 On July 7, 2020 the AER released a new edition of Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting. Section 2.6 was updated to permit the use of incinerators and enclosed...
Reducing Regulatory Burden With Materiality Thresholds for Review of Cost of Service Rate Applications, AUC Bulletin 2020-25
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Rates - Reducing Regulatory Burden One of the key themes articulated in the AUC’s strategic plan for 2019-2022 was increased efficiency and reduced regulatory burden. The AUC indicated it understands the importance of...
Review of AUC Rule 017: Procedures and Process for Development of ISO Rules and Filing of ISO Rules with the Alberta Utilities Commission, AUC Bulletin 2020-24
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Review of AUC Rule 017 The AUC stated that the Government of Alberta introduced the Red Tape Reduction Act to reduce regulatory burden and improve regulatory efficiency. The AUC explained that agencies, including the AUC, form...
Announcement – Carolyn Dahl Rees Appointed as Interim AUC Chair
Announcement On June 23, 2020, the Alberta government announced the appointment of Carolyn Dahl Rees as interim chair of the AUC, replacing departing chair and Commission member, Mark Kolesar. The appointment of Ms. Dahl Rees is effective June 24, 2020, and is for a...
Announcement – 2019-2020 Annual Report Card Reports on Accomplishments, Quantifies Benefits of Efficiency and Regulatory Burden Reduction Initiatives
Link to Announcement SummarizedAnnouncement On June 19, 2020, the AUC issued its first annual report card, a detailed examination of its results designed and formatted for stakeholders to assess whether the AUC has met its objectives.The AUC quantified the benefits of...
Amendments to AUC Rule 027: Penalties for Contravention of Reliability Standards, AUC Bulletin 2020-21
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Amendment to AUC Rule 027 The AUC advised that on May 20, 2020, it approved amendments to Rule 027: Specified Penalties for Contravention of Reliability Standards, with an effective date of June 1, 2020.BackgroundBeginning in...
Tracking and Reporting the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utility Operations, Costs and Revenues, AUC Bulletin 2020-18
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - COVID 19 Impact - Tracking and Reporting In a letter to the AUC, the Consumers’ Coalition of Alberta (“CCA”) requested that the AUC direct regulated utilities to record and eventually report on current and ongoing decisions,...
AUC Creates Independent, Expert Committee to Assist in Improving Efficiency of Rates Proceedings, AUC Bulletin 2020-17
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Rates - Expert Committee In this Bulletin, the AUC summarized its plans to continue discussions with stakeholders about reducing regulatory burden and lag and provided an update on initiatives underway or planned to pursue further...
Requirements for Costs Claim Applications and Confidentiality Undertakings, AUC Bulletin 2020-16
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - COVID 19 - Costs Claim - Confidentiality Undertakings The AUC announced that, as part of its response to COVID-19, it had suspended the following requirements until further notice:(a) filing a sworn...
AUC Bulletin 2020-15 – Reducing Regulatory Burden: Checklist Application Pilot Project for Low-risk Electric Transmission and Gas Utility Pipeline Applications
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin – Pilot Project The AUC is introducing a pilot project to assess the effectiveness of reduced application requirements for the following facility application types:Electric Transmission FacilitiesLetters of enquiry for minor...
Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Application for Approval of Its 2019 Depreciation Study and Revised Depreciation Rates, Effective 1 January 2020, CER Letter Decision April 27, 2020
Link to Decision SummarizedDepreciation On 1 October 2019, Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (“Trans Mountain”) submitted an application for approval of its 2019 Depreciation Study and revised depreciation rates, effective 1 January 2020 (the “Application”). The CER...
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Management Ltd. Abandonment Hearing MHW-001-2020 – Application to Abandon the Deep Panuke Custody Transfer Station, CER Letter Decision April 24, 2020
Link to Decision SummarizedAbandonment The CER considered Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Management Ltd.’s (“M&NP”)’s application to abandon the deep panuke custody transfer station filed with the National Energy Board (“NEB”) on August 22, 2019 (the...
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Management Ltd. Abandonment Hearing MHW-001-2020 – Application to Abandon the Deep Panuke Custody Transfer Station, CER Letter Decision April 24, 2020
Link to Decision SummarizedAbandonment The CER considered Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Management Ltd.’s (“M&NP”)’s application to abandon the deep panuke custody transfer station filed with the National Energy Board (“NEB”) on August 22, 2019 (the...
AUC Announcement – Update on the impact of COVID-19, April 17, 2020
Link to Announcement SummarizedAnnouncement - COVID-19 Impact The AUC issued an announcement regarding the impact of COVID-19. It noted that AUC staff are working from home for the foreseeable future, and using technology to host internal meetings and have eliminated...
Additional Information for Industry During COVID-19 Pandemic Response, AER Bulletin 2020-11
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - COVID-19 Response - Information for Industry On April 9, 2020, the AER issued Bulletin 2020-10: Relief for Industry During COVID-19 Pandemic Response, explaining how two ministerial orders apply to parties regulated by the Alberta...
AUC Bulletin 2020-14 – Stakeholder Comments Sought on Suggested Updates to AUC Rule 027 Penalty Table
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin – Rule 027 On January 31, 2020, the Alberta Utilities Commission released Bulletin 2020-03 announcing a consultation with stakeholders to review AUC Rule 027: Specified Penalties for Contravention of Reliability Standards, to update...