Regulatory Insights
RLC remains at the forefront of new developments in Canada’s energy sector to ensure we can act effectively on behalf of our clients and their interests.
These articles cover the details of various decisions made by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), and the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). Browse our searchable archives below.
Updates to AUC Application Review Process Following Generation Approvals Pause, AUC Bulletin 2024-03
Link to Decision Summarized Rules – Applications Updates to AUC Application Review Process Following Generation Approvals Pause On February 29, 2024, the Generation Approvals Pause Regulation expired. This regulation prohibited the AUC from issuing approvals for new...
Regulatory Appeals of AER Orders (Regulatory Appeals 1943516 and 1943521), Decision 2024 ABAER 001 (Redacted)
Link to Decision Summarized Oil and Gas – Regulatory Appeal Application This decision dealt with the regulatory appeal by AlphaBow Energy Ltd. (“AlphaBow”) of two orders issued by the AER’s Closure and Liability Management branch (“CLM”). CLM issued the first order on...
Release of the Rock-Hosted Mineral Resource Development Rules and Directive 091: Rock-Hosted Mineral Resource Development, AER Bulletin 2024-03
Link to Decision Summarized Oil and Gas – Development Rules The AER released Directive 091: Rock-Hosted Mineral Resource Development as part of the regulatory framework for rock-hosted mineral resource development. Directive 091 will come into effect once the...
Inuvialuit Energy Security Project Ltd. Application for a Well Approval in Relation to the TUK M-18 Well Pursuant to Subsection 10(1) of the Northwest Territories’ Oil and Gas Drilling and Productions Regulations, CER Letter Decision A8W4J5 (C28481-1)
Link to Decision Summarized Oil and Gas - Facilities Application ATCO Pipelines (“AP”) requested approval of the 2024 revenue requirement of $362,852,000 on an interim and refundable basis. Decision The AUC approved AP’s 2024 interim revenue requirement of...
ATCO Electric Ltd. Kiwetinohk Opal Transmission Project, AUC Decision 28658-D01-2024
Link to Decision Summarized Electricity – Facilities Application ATCO Electric Ltd. (“AE”) applied for approval to construct and operate a new transmission line, a transmission line alteration and a connection to the approved Kiwetinohk Opal Gas Project. Decision The...
Alberta Electric System Operator Application for Approval of Amended Section 306.7 of the ISO Rules, AUC Decision 28081-D01-2024
Link to Decision Summarized Electricity - ISO Rules Application In this application, the AESO requested approval of; amendments to s 306.7 of the independent system operator (“ISO”) rules (“ISO Rules”), Mothball Outage Reporting; consequential amendments to s 2.4 of...
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...
Alberta Electric System Operator – Request for Deferral of Payment of 2020 Interim Refundable Demand Transmission Service Charges, AUC Decision 25508-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedFacilities - Transmission On March 18, 2020, the Government of Alberta announced that “Albertans who are experiencing financial hardship directly related to the COVID-19...
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...
AltaLink Management Ltd. – Application for 2020 Debt Issuance, AUC Decision 25454-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedPublic Utilities Act, Section 101 In this decision, the AUC considered the application of AltaLink Management Ltd. (“AML”) in its capacity as the general partner of...
AltaLink Investment Management Ltd. – Application for 2020 Debt Issuance, AUC Decision 25455-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedPublic Utilities Act, Section 101 In this decision, the AUC considered the application of AltaLink Investment Management Ltd. (“AIML”), in its capacity as the general...
Fort McKay First Nation v. Prosper Petroleum Ltd., 2020 ABCA 163
Link to Decision SummarizedBitumen Recovery Project - Crown Consultation - Honour of the Crown In this decision, the Alberta Court of Appeal (“ABCA”) considered an appeal from the Fort McKay First...
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...
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...
ATCO Electric Ltd. – Transmission Line 7L65 Rebuild Project, AUC Decision 24102-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedFacilities - Transmission In this decision, the AUC considered applications from ATCO Electric Ltd. (“ATCO Electric”) to construct a new single-circuit 144-kilovolt...
ENMAX Power Corporation – Highway 8 Transmission Line 138-7.82L Relocation Project, AUC Decision 24831-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedFacilities - Transmission Line In this decision, the AUC considered an application from ENMAX Power Corporation (“ENMAX”) to alter and operate Transmission Line 138-7.82L...
ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. Franchise Agreement with the Village of Czar, AUC Decision 25499-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedNatural Gas - Franchise Agreement In this decision, the AUC considered an application from ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. (“ATCO”) requesting approval of a natural gas...
ATCO Gas, a Division of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. – 2020 Transmission Service Charge (Rider T), AUC Decision 25283-D02-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedRates - Transmission - Rider T In this decision, the AUC approved the 2020 transmission service charge rider (“Rider T”) rates for ATCO Gas, a division of ATCO Gas and...
Heartland Generation Ltd. – Battle River Power Plant Amendment, AUC Decision 25493-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedCoal Plant Conversion In this decision, the AUC considered an application from Heartland Generation Ltd. (“Heartland”) to amend the approval for the Battle River Power...
The Consumers’ Coalition of Alberta -Decision on Preliminary Question, Application for Review of Decision 24475-D01-2019, AUC Decision 25245-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedCosts Awards - Review and Variance In this decision, the AUC considered an application (the “Review Application”) filed by the Consumers’ Coalition of Alberta (“CCA”)...
Drumheller Solar Corporation – Drumheller Solar and Battery Storage Project, AUC Decision 25234-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedFacilities - Solar - Battery Storage In this decision the AUC considered applications from Drumheller Solar Corporation (“DSC”) to construct and operate a solar power...
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...
TransCanada PipeLines Limited Application for Approval of the Mainline 2021-2026 Settlement, CER Letter Decision April 17, 2020
Link to Decision SummarizedSettlement - Tolls PipeLines Limited (“TCPL”) dated December 20, 2019, requesting approval of the Mainline 2021-2026 Settlement (the “Application”). The Settlement was for...
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,...
Application for a Compensation Hearing Under Section 327 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act Between Peace River Greenhouses Ltd. and Westcoast Energy Inc., CER Letter Decision April 15, 2020
Link to Decision SummarizedArbitration - CER Jurisdiction On October 10, 2019, Peace River Greenhouses Ltd. (“PRG”) filed an application (“Application”) for a compensation hearing under section 327...
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:...
Relief for Industry During COVID-19 Pandemic Response, AER Bulletin 2020-10
Link to Bulletin Summarized Bulletin - COVID-19 - Industry Relief On April 9, 2020, the AER announced that Alberta Environment and Parks and Alberta Energy have temporarily suspended a number of...
Directive 023 (1991 Edition) and Directive 078 Rescinded, AER Bulletin 2020-09
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin - Directed 023 and 078 Rescinded As part of its contributions towards the Government of Alberta’s initiatives under the Red Tape Reduction Act, the AER will be...
TransAlta Corporation – Keephills Power Plant Repowering, AUC Decision 25240-D01-2020
Link to Decision SummarizedCoal Plant Conversion In this decision, the AUC considered whether to approve an application from TransAlta Corporation (“TransAlta”) for the alteration of a power plant,...
AUC Bulletin 2020-13 – Interim Changes to AUC Participation Involvement Program and Related Information Requirements
Link to Bulletin SummarizedBulletin – Participation Involvement Program The AUC is implementing steps to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 to protect its stakeholders, its employees, and its work...