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.
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...
Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Trans Mountain Expansion Project Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity OC-065 Application for Variance and Condition Relief under the Certificate Mountain 3 Horizontal Directional Drill, CER Reasons for Decision (C28265-3; A8W1D0)
Link to Decision Summarized Gas - Facilities Application Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (“Trans Mountain”), pursuant to s 190 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act , submitted an application to vary (“Application”) Schedule A of Certificate of Public Convenience and...
Direct Energy Regulated Services 2012-2016 Default Rate Tariff and Regulated Rate Tariff Compliance Filing (AUC Decision 20785-D01-2016)
Download ReportRegulated Rate Option – Rates – Compliance Filing Direct Energy Regulated Services (“DERS”) submitted its compliance filing pursuant to the AUC’s directions made in Decision...
ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. Z Factor Application for Recovery of 2013 Southern Alberta Flood Costs (AUC Decision 2738-D01-2016)
Download ReportRates – Z Factor – Performance Based Regulation ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. (“ATCO”) applied to the AUC to recover $5.662 million through a Z factor rate adjustment to compensate ATCO...
ENMAX Generation Portfolio Inc. ENMAX Downtown District Energy Centre 3.3-Megawatt Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant (AUC Decision 21247-D01-2016)
Download ReportPower Plant - Facilities ENMAX Generation Portfolio Inc. (“EGPI”) applied to the AUC for approval to construct and operate a power plant located at the existing ENMAX Downtown...
EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. 2013-2014 AESO Deferral Account Reconciliation True-Up Rider (AUC Decision 21290-D01-2016)
Download ReportRates – True-Up – Deferral Account EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc (“EDTI”) applied to the AUC requesting approval of its 2013-2014 Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”)...
EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. 2013-2014 AESO Deferral Account Reconciliation True-Up Rider (AUC Decision 21290-D01-2016)
Download ReportRates – True-Up – Deferral Account EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc (“EDTI”) applied to the AUC requesting approval of its 2013-2014 Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”)...
Request for Review and Variance of Decision 20598-D10-2016 AltaLink Management Ltd. and TransAlta Corporation Time Extension Request for Transmission Lines 909L and 1043L (AUC Decision 21291-D01-2016)
Download ReportReview and Variance – Time Extension – Transmission Line The AUC previously approved an application by TransAlta Corporation (“TransAlta”) to extend its existing approvals to...
Hamlet of Clyde River Inc., et al. v. Petroleum Geo-Services Inc., et al. (2016 CanLII 12154)
Download ReportLeave to Appeal – Duty to Consult – National Energy Board The Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal without costs to the Hamlet of Clyde River, Nammautaq Hunters &...
Chippewas of the Thames First Nation v Enbridge Pipelines Inc. et al. (2016 CanLII 12151)
Download ReportLeave to Appeal – Duty to Consult – National Energy Board The Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal with costs to the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in respect of the...
Recommendation to Reject for Adoption of NERC Reliability Standards: New Versions of NERC Reliability Standards and Intra-Balancing Authority Transaction Identification (AUC Decision 21075-D02-2016)
Download ReportAlberta Reliability Standards – AESO Process – Consultation The Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”) applied to the AUC to reject eight reliability standards pertaining to...
Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate Review of Decision 20271-D01-2015: FortisAlberta Inc. Disposition of Land in High River (AUC Decision 20990-D01-2016)
Download ReportReview and Variance –Disposition – Rates The Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate (“UCA”) applied for a review of the AUC’s Decision 20271-D01-2015, which granted approval for...
ATCO Utilities Evergreen II Application – Compliance Filing to Decision 2014-169 (Errata) (AUC Decision 3378-D01-2016)
Download ReportCompliance Filing – Rates ATCO Gas, ATCO Pipelines and ATCO Electric Ltd. (collectively, “ATCO”) submitted a compliance filing based on the direction in Decision 2014-169 respecting...
ATCO Electric Ltd. 2014 PBR Capital Tracker True-Up and 2016-2017 PBR Capital Tracker Forecast (AUC Decision 20555-D01-2016)
Download ReportRates – True-up – Capital Tracker ATCO Electric Ltd. (“ATCO”) applied for approval of its 2014 capital tracker true-up and 2016-2017 capital tracker forecast under performance based...
EDF EN Canada Development Inc. Blackspring Ridge Wind Power Plant Supplementary Post-Construction Comprehensive Noise Study for Receptor Location LM5 (AUC Decision 21203-D01-2016)
Download ReportWind – Noise Study EDF EN Canada Development Inc. (“ECDI”) asked the AUC to consider whether its post-construction comprehensive noise study complied with AUC Rule 012: Noise Control...
AER Bulletin 2016-03: Invitation for Feedback on Amendments to Directive 013: Suspension Requirements for Wells
Download ReportDirective 013 – Well Suspension – Well Integrity The AER announced that it was inviting stakeholder feedback on changes to Directive 013: Suspension Requirements for Wells (“Directive...
AER Bulletin 2016-02: Direction for Conservation and Reclamation Submissions Under an EPEA Approval for Enhanced Recovery In Situ Oil Sands and Heavy Oil Processing Plants and Oil Production Sites
Download ReportSpecified Enactment Direction – EPEA Approvals The AER announced that it had issued Specified Enactment Direction 001: Direction for Conservation and Reclamation Submissions Under an...
ATCO Pipelines 2015-2016 General Rate Application (AUC Decision 3577-D01-2016)
Download ReportTariff – Rates – Revenue Requirement ATCO Pipelines, a division of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. (“ATCO”) applied for approval for its forecast revenues of $214,728,000 for 2015 and...
Energy Safety and Security Act Entered Into Force
Legislation – AmendmentThe Energy Safety and Security Act (“ESSA”) came into force on February 26, 2016. The ESSA amends the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act (“COGOA”) to provide the NEB with new...
National Energy Board Pipeline Condition Compliance Tracker Released
Download ReportPipeline Conditions –Compliance The NEB, following up on the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development’s (“CESD”) recommendation that the NEB improve public access...
ATCO Gas 2016 Transmission Service Charge (Rider T) (AUC Decision 21248-D01-2016)
Download ReportRate Rider – Tariff ATCO Gas, a division of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. (“ATCO”) applied for approval of its 2016 transmission service charge (“Rider T”), to be effective on March 1,...
Enbridge Line 10 Westover Segment Replacement (NEB Hearing Order OH-001-2016)
Download ReportPipeline Replacement – Hearing Order The NEB released a hearing order for Enbridge’s application to replace the Westover Segment of its line 10 pipeline, which consists of replacing...
AltaGas Utilities Inc. Rule 004 Exemption Compliance Filing (AUC Decision 21211-D01-2016)
Download ReportCompliance Filing – Exemption – Tariff Billing – Rule 004 AltaGas Utilities Inc. (“AltaGas”) filed its compliance application with the AUC pursuant to the directions made by the AUC...
AltaGas Holdings Inc. Time Extension to Power Plant Approval 3547-D02-2015 (AUC Decision 21307-D01-2016)
Download ReportTime Extension – Facilities AltaGas Holdings Inc. (“AltaGas”) submitted an application to the AUC for a time extension to construct the AltaGas Kent Energy Plant, a 95-megawatt...
AER Bulletin 2016-01: Release of the Integrated Compliance Assurance Framework and Manual 013: Compliance and Enforcement Program; Rescission of Directive 019: Compliance Assurance
Download ReportCompliance Assurance – Enforcement – Bulletin The AER released Bulletin 2016-01 announcing the harmonization of the AER’s new compliance assurance requirements under “energy resource...
EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. 2014-2018 Energy Price Setting Plan Compliance Filing (Decision 20342-D02-2016)
Download ReportCompliance Filing – Energy Price Setting Plan EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. (“EEA”) filed a compliance filing for its energy price setting plan (“EPSP”) in response to directions made...