Process for implementing the Rate of Last Resort

The Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 received royal assent on May 16, 2024. The legislation replaces the term “Regulated Rate Option” with “Rate of Last Resort.”

Amendments to the associated regulations, including the Regulated Rate Option Regulation, are expected in September 2024.

More information can be found in Bulletin 2024-14.

Workshops on Rule 012 changes

The AUC recently issued a revised Rule 012 with an effective date of September 30, 2024. The AUC is hosting two information workshops to provide a forum for interested parties to understand the rule changes.

There will be one virtual workshop and one in-person workshop, with the same material presented at both.

Interested parties may register to attend by August 21, 2024.

Please refer to the announcement issued today for information on how to register and for the workshop agenda.

Written consultation established on draft amendments to Rule 029

The AUC has prepared draft amendments to Rule 029: Applications for Municipal Franchise Agreements and Associated Franchise Fee Rate Riders and has established a written consultation process for public comment on these draft amendments.

The draft amendments to Rule 029 are intended to enable the legislative changes driven by the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, modernize the notice requirements and clarify language.

Feedback on the draft amendments may be submitted to engage@auc.ab.ca on or before August 12, 2024.

AUC releases Module B report to conclude renewables inquiry

The AUC has issued its report for Module B of the inquiry into the ongoing economic, orderly and efficient development of electricity generation in Alberta.

The report, delivered to Minister of Affordability and Utilities Nathan Neudorf, provides summaries of submissions and observations on the impact of the increasing growth of renewables on both generation supply mix and electricity system reliability.

The AUC’s report provides several observations based on the AUC-commissioned expert reports and the submissions made by participants in Module B.

Process for franchise agreement and franchise fee approvals under new legislation

The AUC has outlined processes for approving municipal franchise agreements and franchise fees affected by the Alberta government’s Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (formerly referred to as Bill 19). The AUC has set out filing deadlines to ensure municipalities and utilities have sufficient time to prepare the relevant franchise agreements, and so the AUC has sufficient time to adequately review and approve subsequent applications.

Further information can be found in Bulletin 2024-12 released July 10, 2024.

Amendments to Rule 015

The AUC has amended Rule 015: Rules on Costs of Investigations, Hearings or Other Proceedings Relating to Contraventions.

The amendments to Rule 015 come into force on August 1, 2024, and will apply to costs of investigations, hearings or other proceedings incurred on or after that date.

The amended rule and blacklined version can be found on the Consultations page.