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.
Directive 026 Rescinded, AER Bulletin 2024-02
Link to Decision Summarized Oil – Facilities To eliminate duplicative or obsolete requirements, the AER rescinded Directive 026: Setback Requirements for Oil Effluent Pipelines (“Directive 026”), effective immediately. The AER also rescinded the Directive 026 related...
New Edition of Directive 023, AER Bulletin 2024-01
Link to Decision Summarized Oil - Facilities On February 8, 2024, the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) released a new edition of Directive 023: Oil Sands Project Applications (“Directive 023”), effective immediately. Directive 023 replaced the May 2013 draft edition....
London Economics International LLC Module B Study: Overview of Modeling Results and Key Findings Prepared for the Alberta Utilities Commission, AUC Proceeding 28542: AUC Inquiry Into the Ongoing Economic, Orderly and Efficient Development of Electricity Generation in Alberta
Link to Decision Summarized Market Development– Reliability Scope of Study The Government of Alberta directed the AUC to conduct an inquiry regarding the impact of the rising level of renewable energy on the Alberta electricity system, more specifically, the changes...
AUC Consultation on Proposed Rule Development for Emergency Billing Relief, AUC Bulletin 2024-01
Link to Decision Summarized Utility Billing - Rules The Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) initiated a consultation process to incorporate requirements for emergency billing relief into a new rule to provide predictability and transparency for stakeholders. The AUC...
Enforcement Staff of the Alberta Utilities Commission Settlement Agreement with Avex Energy Inc., AUC Decision 28765-D01-2024
Link to Decision Summarized Enforcement - Facilities Application Enforcement staff of the AUC Enforcement Division (“Enforcement Staff”) applied for approval of a negotiated settlement agreement (“NSA”) between Enforcement Staff and Avex Energy Inc. (“Avex”) in...
TransAlta Corporation Pinnacle 1 & 2 Peaking Thermal Electric Power Project, AUC Decision 28464-D01-2024
Link to Decision Summarized Thermal Peaking - Facilities Application TransAlta Corporation (“TransAlta”) applied for approval to construct and operate a natural gas-fired thermal power plant (the “Power Plant”), including an associated substation, located within the...
Enbridge Pipelines Inc. Application for the Line 5 St. Clair River Replacement Project (NEB Hearing Order MHW-004-2019)
Link to decision summarizedPipeline Replacement Project - Public Interest In this decision, the NEB determined that it was in the public interest to approve Enbridge Pipelines Inc. (“Enbridge”)’s...
Report of the Joint Review Panel – Teck Resources Limited Frontier Oil Sands Mine Project (2019 ABAER 008)
Link to decision summarizedApplication for Oil Sands Mine Project On May 24, 2016, the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the “Minister”) and the CEO of the AER announced the...
AUC Bulletin 2019-12: Assessment of Specified Penalties for Self-Reported Contraventions
Contravention of AUC Rules - Specified Penalties On January 1, 2019, Rule 032: Specified Penalties (“Rule 032”) came into effect. Rule 032 established specified penalties for contraventions of...
AUC Announcement: Regulatory Burden Stakeholder Consultation
Regulatory - Stakeholder Consultation AUC regulation, as with most forms of regulation, imposes costs on regulated companies. These include the costs of meeting regulatory process requirements and...
AUC Bulletin 2019-11: Updated Micro-Generation Notice Submission Guideline Released, Forms Changed and Removed From Appendix in Rule 024: Rules Respecting Micro-Generation
Micro-generation - Rule 024 In this bulletin, the AUC announced an update to the AUC’s Micro-Generation Notice Submission Guideline. The revised guideline summarizes the current processes required...
Syncrude Canada Ltd. Mildred Lake Extension Project and Mildred Lake Tailings Management Plan (AER Decision 2019 ABAER 006)
Link to decision summarizedTailings Management Plan - Application Approved In this decision, the AER considered Syncrude Canada Ltd. (“Syncrude”)’s application under section 13 of the Oil Sands...
AER Bulletin 2019-18: New Working Interest Cost Claim Form
Cost Claims - Working Interest Participants The AER released a new form for submitting cost claims for defaulting working interest participants.Once abandonment or reclamation activities are...
AER Bulletin 2019-17: 2019/20 AER Administration Fees (Industry Levy)
Administration Fees The AER noted that its 2019/20 budget was not yet approved. As a result, the AER stated that it would issue two sets of administrative fees for 2019/20. The first set of...
EQUS REA Ltd. v. Alberta (Utilities Commission), 2019 ABCA 277
Link to decision summarizedELECTRICITY - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO APPEAL DENIED In this decision, the Alberta Court of Appeal (“ABCA”) considered EQUS REA Ltd. (“EQUS”)’s application for...
Request for Regulatory Appeal by Suncor Energy Inc. Pure Environmental Waste Ltd. (AER Request for Regulatory Appeal No.: 1919369)
Link to decision summarizedRequest for Regulatory Appeal - Request Granted In this decision, the AER considered Suncor Energy Inc. (“Suncor”)’s request, pursuant to section 38 of the Responsible...
AER Bulletin 2019-16: National Energy Board Safety Advisory
Monogram Electric Resistance Weld - Potential Hazard On July 3, 2019, the NEB issued safety advisory NEB SA 2019-01 to inform pipeline operators of a potential hazard regarding API 5L Monogram...
ATCO Electric Ltd. 2018-2019 Transmission General Tariff Application (AUC Decision 22742-D01-2019)
Link to decision summarizedElectricity - General Tariff In this decision, the AUC considered ATCO Electric Ltd. (“AET”)’s 2018-2019 transmission general tariff application for the test years 2018...
Canadian Utilities Limited Application to Dispose of Shares and Transfer Ownership of Hydro Project (AUC Decision 24629-D01-2019)
Link to decision summarizedTransfer of Fossil Fuel-Based Power Generation Business In this decision, the AUC considered whether to approve the following transactions: ATCO Power (2010) Ltd.’s...
AUC Bulletin 2019-09: Interim Information Requirements for Solar and Wind Energy Power Plant Applications
Solar Energy - Wind Energy - Rule 007 In this bulletin, the AUC announced new interim information requirements for wind and solar energy projects. These new information requirements apply to all new...
AUC Bulletin 2019-10: AUC Rule 007 – Initiation of a Review and Stakeholder Consultation Process
Rule 007 - Review - Consultation Process In this bulletin, the AUC announced that it had initiated a review of AUC Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines,...
AER Bulletin 2019-15: Invitation for Feedback on Draft Requirements for Public Involvement
Link to decision summarizedDraft Directive - Public Involvement - Feedback In this bulletin, the AER announced that it was seeking public feedback on a draft directive setting out industry...
AER Bulletin 2019-14: Invitation for Feedback on Revisions to Directive 081
Link to decision summarizedDirective 081 - Feedback In this bulletin, the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) announced that it was seeking public feedback on a new edition of Directive 081: Water...
Request for Regulatory Appeal by Aqua Terra Water Management Inc. (AER Request for Regulatory Appeal No.: 1916371)
Link to decision summarizedRequest for Regulatory Appeal - Application Closure - Appealable Decision - Dismissed In this decision, the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) considered Aqua Terra Water...
AUC Bulletin 2019-08: Changes to the AUC’s Application Process for Gas Utility Pipeline Applications
Link to decision summarizedRule 020 - Amendments - Gas Utility Pipeline Applications The Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) regulates applications for new gas utility pipelines and for amendments...
AUC Bulletin 2019-07: AUC Rule 033: Post- Approval Monitoring Requirements for Wind and Solar Power Plants
Link to decision summarizedRule 033 - Monitoring - Wind - Solar On June 12, 2019, the Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) approved Rule 033: Standardized Post- Approval Monitoring Requirements for...
TransCanada PipeLines Limited – North Bay Junction Long Term Fixed Price Service, (NEB RH-002-2018 Reasons for Decision)
Link to decision summarizedJust and Reasonable Tolls - No Unjust Discrimination The National Energy Board (“NEB”) previously approved TransCanada Pipelines (“TransCanada”)’s North Bay Junction Long...
AUC Bulletin 2019-06: AUC Rule 012: Noise Control – Workshop on Rule 012 Changes
Link to decision summarizedRule 012 - Noise Control The Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) regulates noise associated with electric and gas pipeline facilities. In December 2017, the AUC initiated...
Request for Regulatory Appeal by Mike Partsch – Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd. (AER Request for Regulatory Appeal No.: 1919481)
Link to decision summarizedRequest for Regulatory Appeal - Dismissed (“AER”) considered Mike Partsch’s request under section 38 of the Responsible Energy Development Act (the “REDA”) for a...
Request for Reconsideration of Application No. 1891278 by Desmond Anderson and Bonnie Anderson – Alberta Products Pipe Line Ltd. License No. 7634 (AER Reconsideration No.: 1920885)
Link to decision summarizedReconsideration Request In this decision, the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) considered the request by Desmond Anderson and Bonnie Anderson under section 42 of the...