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The AER announced that it had issued an environmental protection order (“EPO”) under section 113 of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and section 29 of the Pipeline Act to ConocoPhillips Canada Operations Ltd. (“Conoco”). The EPO was issued in response to a pipeline failure on one of Conoco’s condensate pipelines, located between 01-36-060-03-W6M and 14-07-060-02-W6M. The AER noted that the pipeline failure resulted in the release of approximately 380 cubic meters of condensate approximately 65 kilometers northwest of Grande Cache, Alberta.

Download ReportTransfer Applications – Integrated Decision Approach The AER issued Bulletin 2017-13, in which it announced changes to the decision process for transfer applications. The AER stated that applications to transfer AER approvals from one approval holder to...

Download ReportBulletin – Micro-Generation Rules The AUC invited stakeholders written comments regarding proposed changes to AUC Rule 024: Rules Respecting Micro-Generation.A draft of the proposed new Rule 024 is posted on the AUC website.

Download ReportBulletin – Enforcement Policy & Practices On November 1, 2016, the AUC issued Bulletin 2016-20, inviting stakeholder feedback regarding the AUC’s enforcement program.In this Bulletin, the AUC provided its responses to comments received from ENMAX...

084: Requirements for Hydrocarbon Emission Controls and Gas Conservation in the Peace River Area (“Directive 084”).The AER states that the new directive is intended to address odour and emissions concerns expressed by residents of the Peace River area.The new...

In this Bulletin, the AER announced that it is prescribing an orphan fund levy in the amount of $15 million.The Orphan Well Association (“OWA”), Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (“CAPP”), and Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (“EPAC”) approved a...

Link to decision summarizedCode of Conduct Regulation - Amendment In this bulletin, the AUC announced its approval of an amended Rule 030: Compliance with the Code of Conduct Regulation. The amended rule was effective on April 1, 2019.Section 40(4) of the Code of...

Download ReportIn Bulletin 2016-22, the AUC announced its approval of AUC Rule 031: Conditional Exemption from Specific Financing and Reporting Requirements (“Rule 31).Rule 31 was approved in Decision 21555-D01-2016 (the “Rule 31 Decision”), and is effective as of...

Download ReportIn AUC Bulletin 2016-21, the AUC set out a new process for proceeding participants to file revisions to previously filed documents on the AUC e-filing system.The new process is also reflected in a minor amendment to AUC Rule 001: Rules of Practice.The...

In January 2013, the AUC initiated a coordinated process to examine alternative approaches to mitigate or smooth the impact on consumers of rate increases, while still ensuring that regulated utilities have an opportunity to earn a fair return on invested capital (the “2013 Transmission Rates Initiative”).

On August 18, 2016, the AER announced the release of a new addition of the AER Manual 005: Pipeline Inspections (Manual 005).

In accordance with Part 11 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Act, the AER announced that it prescribed, by regulation, an orphan fund levy in the amount of $15 million.

The AER announced the release of Directive 085: Fluid Tailings Management for Oil Sands Mining Projects (“Directive 085”). Directive 085 sets out the requirements for managing fluid tailings for oil sands mining projects.

Download ReportBulletin – Liability Management Rating – Insolvency – Licensee Obligations In response to Redwater Energy Corporation (Re), 2016 ABQB 278 (the “Redwater Decision”) (discussed above), the AER issued a bulletin regarding interim measures to protect...

On July 7, 2016 the AER announced that it had transitioned back to normal regulatory operating procedures following a period of actively monitoring operations in Fort McMurray.

Download ReportBulletin – Facilities – Checklist In this bulletin, the AER announced, in an attempt to reduce the number of failures of high-level shutdown systems (“HLSS”) at oil and gas production facilities, that it would introduce a checklist of best practices...

The AER announced the release of Specified Enactment Direction 002: Application Submission Requirements and Guidance for Reclamation Certificates for Well Sites and Associated Facilities (“SED 002”), effective June 21, 2016.

Download ReportBulletin – Licensee Liability – Abandonment – Bankruptcy The AER made this announcement in response to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench decision in Redwater Energy Corporation (Re), 2016 ABQB 278. That decision involved a dispute between the receiver...

Download ReportLevy – Industry Fees – Bulletin The AER announced its industry levy in the amount of $238,403,000 for 2016-2017. The industry levy represents the revenue required to support AER operations, as approved by the Government of Alberta, and set out in the...

The AER announced that it had implemented a new process for accepting Subsoil Salinity Tool (“SST”) assessments for review, including the development of a new SST Assessment Checklist.

Download ReportEmergency Protocol – Bulletin The AER announced that it was advising operators planning to resume operations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo after unplanned shutdowns, that all notification requirements for unplanned shutdowns remain in...

The AER requested that operators contact the AER if they require information from the provincial operations centre (“POC”) regarding wildfires near Fort McMurray.

The NEB noted that the Whistleblower Procedure is an anonymous reporting tool for confidential communication with tipsters.

The AER announced changes relating to the operation of to the Cumulative Environmental Management Association (“CEMA”) as it relates to the obligations of approval holders under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (“EPEA”) and any terms and conditions granted under EPEA.

The AER released Bulletin 2016-10 to remind its licensees of statutory responsibilities when ceasing operations, whether due to insolvency or other reasons.

Download ReportReclamation Applications – Bulletin – Statement of Concern The AER announced that, effective immediately, it implemented changes to Section 8.0 (landowner contact requirements) of the 2010 Reclamation Criteria for Wellsites and Associated Facilities...

The AUC noted that the Code of Conduct Regulation came into effect on January 1, 2016, and as a result the AUC undertook a consultation with industry to develop a new code of conduct rule.

The AUC announced several proposed changes to AUC Rule 001: Rules of Practice (“Rule 1”), and a further outline related to enforcement proceedings commenced by the Market Surveillance Administrator (“MSA”).

The AUC announced that, effective March 24, 2016, it had amended certain provisions of AUC Rule 016: Review of Commission Decisions (“Rule 16”).

The AUC announced that it had completed a review of procedural requirements for Rule 009: Rules on Local Intervener Costs (“Rule 9”) and Rule 022: Rules on Costs in Utility Rate Proceedings (“Rule 22”), as well as the associated forms used to file cost claims.

The AUC released a bulletin advising of a procedural change concerning expert witnesses.

The AUC announced that it would make amendments to Section 13 of AUC Rule 001: Rules of Practice (“Rule 1”) to simplify and improve the processing of motions requesting confidential treatment of documents in AUC proceedings.

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 tools to regulate northern oil and gas activities. The NEB provided the...