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.
Enbridge Pipelines Inc. Application for Approval of the Mainline Tolling Settlement and Final Tolls, CER Letter Decision File 4637048, C28621-1
Link to Decision Summarized Download Summary in PDF Gas – Tolls Application Enbridge Pipelines Inc. (“Enbridge”) applied for approval of the Mainline Tolling Settlement (the “Settlement”). Decision The Canadian Energy Regulator (“CER”) approved the application, as...
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...
Request for Regulatory Appeal by Joslyn Energy Development IncorporateD (AER Decision)
Download ReportRequest for Regulatory Appeal - Dismissed In this decision, the AER considered Joslyn Energy Development Incorporated’s (“JEDI”) request for a regulatory appeal of an AER decision...
AER Decision Dismissing Request for Regulatory Appeal by R.A. Brown of Licence Issued to Whitecap Resources Inc. (Appeal No.: 1903068)
Download ReportRequest for Regulatory Appeal - Eligible Person In this decision, the AER considered R.A. Brown’s (“Mr. Brown”) request for regulatory appeal of the AER’s decision to issue Whitecap...
Request for Regulatory Appeal by Longshore Resources Ltd.
Download ReportRequest for Regulatory Appeal - Granted IntroductionIn this decision, the AER considered Longshore Resources Ltd.’s (“Longshore”) request for a regulatory appeal of the AER’s decision...
BHEC-RES Alberta G.P. Inc. Forty Mile Wind Power Project (AUC Decision 22966-D01-2018)
Download ReportWind Turbines - Consultation - Environmental Impacts - Noise Control In this decision, the AUC considered whether to approve an application from BHEC-RES Alberta G.P. Inc. (“RES”) to...
Tsleil-Waututh Nation v. Canada (Attorney General) (2018 FCA 153)
Trans Mountain Expansion Project -Pipeline - Aboriginal Consultation - Environmental Assessment IntroductionIn this decision, the Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”) considered consolidated applications...
AER Bulletin 2018-22 : Optional Process for Submitting Fluid Disposal Applications
Download ReportOil Sands Exploration - Bundling Applications In this bulletin, the AER announced changes to its processing of oil sands exploration (“OSE”) applications by bundling applications...
Town of Coaldale Appeal Pursuant to Section 43 of the Municipal Government Act (AUC Decision 23159-D01-2018)
Download ReportRate Structure - Municipal Public Utilities In this decision, the AUC considered an appeal by Ms. Eleanor Britz, Ms. Nadine Britz, and Mr. Doug Shields (the “Complainants”) pursuant...
AER Bulletin 2018-21 : Coordinated Submission of Related Applications for Oil Sands Exploration Activities
Download ReportOil Sands Exploration - Bundling Applications In this bulletin, the AER announced changes to its processing of oil sands exploration (“OSE”) applications by bundling applications...
NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Application for Construction and Operation of the Northwest Mainline Loop (NEB Decision GHW-001-2018)
Download ReportNatural Gas Pipeline Application - Indigenous Consultation - Environmental Matters BackgroundOn December 15, 2017, Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. (“NGTL”) applied to the National Energy...
AUC Bulletin 2018-11: Revision of AUC Rule 017: Procedures and Process for Development of ISO Rules and Filing of ISO Rules with the Alberta Utilities Commission
Download ReportRule 017 - ISO Rule Development In this bulletin, the AUC announced that it approved amendments to AUC Rule 017: Procedures and Process for Development of ISO Rules and Filing of ISO...
FortisAlberta Inc. – Application for Orders Confirming Boundaries of FortisAlberta Inc. Exclusive Municipal Franchise Areas (AUC Decision 22164-D01-2018)
Download ReportRural Electrification Associations In this decision, the AUC granted FortisAlberta’s requested alterations to rural electrification associations (“REAs”) service areas that overlapped...
Imperial Oil Resources Limited – Application for Kearl Mine’s Tailings Management Plan (AER Decision 20180716A)
Download ReportTailings Management Plan - Water-capping Technology In this decision, the AER considered Imperial’s application pursuant to section 13 of the Oil Sands Conservation Act (“OSCA”) for...
FortisAlberta Inc. – Compliance Filing to Decision 22741-D01-2018 (AUC Decision 23372 – D01-2018)
Download ReportPerformance-based Regulation (PBR) - K-Factor - AESO Contributions In this decision, the AUC considered FortisAlberta Inc.’s (“FortisAlberta”) compliance filing to Decision...
Husky Oil Operations Limited and Gibson Energy Inc. – Regulatory Appeals of an Environmental Protection Order Issued (AER Decision 2018 ABAER 007)
Download ReportRegulatory Appeal - Environmental Protection Order BackgroundHusky Oil Operations Limited (“Husky”) and Gibson Energy Inc. (“Gibson”) both filed requests for regulatory appeal of the...
NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Application for Approval of 2018-2019 Revenue Requirement Settlement and Final 2018 Rates, Tolls, Charges and Abandonment (NEB Letter Decision and Order TG-004-2018)
Download ReportNatural Gas Pipeline - Tolls and Tariff - Revenue Requirement - Negotiated Settlement On 23 March 2018 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (“NGTL”) filed an application for approval of the...
AER Issues Environmental Protection Order to ConocoPhillips
Download ReportEnvironmental Protection Order – Pipeline Failure The AER announced that it had issued an environmental protection order (“EPO”) under section 113 of the Environmental Protection and...
Syncrude Canada Limited – Application for Aurora North Tailings Management Plan (AER Decision 20180613A)
Download ReportTailings Management Plan - Water-capping Technology Syncrude Canada Limited’s (“Syncrude”) Aurora North oil sands processing plant and mine (“Aurora North”) received approval through...
Direct Energy Regulated Services – 2017-2018 Default Rate Tariff and Regulated Rate Tariff (AUC Decision 22004-D01-2018)
Download ReportRates - Default Gas Tariff - Regulated Electricity Rate Tariff Introduction Direct Energy Regulated Services (“DERS”) is a business unit of Direct Energy Marketing Limited (“DEML”)...
Prosper Petroleum Limited – Rigel Project (AER Decision 2018 ABAER 005)
Download ReportBitumen Recovery Scheme – Oil Sands Conservation Act – Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act Application – Water Act – Aboriginal Impacts In this decision, the AER approved...
ATCO Gas, a Division of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. – Z Factor Application for Recovery of 2016 Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Wildfire Costs (AUC Decision 21608-D01-2018)
Download ReportPBR Plan - Z Factor - Wildfire - Asset Retirement - Used or Required to be Used In this decision, the AUC considered ATCO Gas, a division of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd.’s (“ATCO”)...
Sale and Transfer of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Electric Distribution Assets to FortisAlberta Inc. (AUC Decision 21785-D01-2018)
Download ReportSale and Transfer of Utility Assets - Prudence of Purchase Price In this decision, the AUC considered applications by FortisAlberta Inc. (“FortisAlberta”) and the Municipality of...
Canadian Natural Resources Limited – Application for a Single-Well Bitumen Battery – Waseca Formation (AER Decision 2018 ABAER 004)
Download ReportFacility Application – Bitumen Battery IntroductionIn this decision, the AER considered Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s (“CNRL”) application for approval to construct and operate...
AER Bulletin 2018-12: New Alberta Environment and Parks Groundwater Directive for Thermal In Situ Projects
Download ReportAER Bulletin – New Alberta Environment and Parks Directive On May 29, 2018, Alberta Environment and Parks (“AEP”) issued the Directive for the Assessment of Thermally-Mobilized...
Requests for Review under Section 64 of the Responsible Energy Development Act by Mike Richard – Grizzly Resources Limited Private Surface Agreement (AER Decision)
Download ReportRequest for Order to Comply – Private Surface Agreement – REDA Section 64 – Request Denied In this decision, the AER considered Mr. Richard’s requests under section 64 of the...