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    Connection Process

    Connection Process Overview

    The Connection Process applies to projects that require new or altered transmission facilities to expand or enhance the capability of the transmission system.

    Stage 3: Regulatory Preparation

    Target Timeline: 32 weeks

    In Stage 3, the AESO determines the filing strategy for the applications that will be filed with the AUC. The AESO directs the TFO to complete the Facility Application (FA). The market participant and the AESO sign the SAS Agreement.

    • Required Deliverables
      • Functional Specification
      • Direction Letters
      • Engineering Connection Assessment: Study Scope
      • Engineering Connection Assessment: Study Results
      • Engineering Connection Assessment
      • Service Proposal and Cost Estimate
      • Participant Involvement Program (PIP) Report
      • Environment Effects Screening Form
      • Stage 3 PDUP
      • Stage 3 CCD
      • Financial Security for SAS Agreement under Rate DTS 
      • SAS Agreement
      • GUOC Notice (generators only) 
      • Power Plant Application filed with the AUC (generators only)
      • NID Application or ANAP Approval Letter
      • Facility Application
    • Roles and Responsibilities

      AESO

      • Issues Functional Specification and Direction Letters
      • Completes Study Scope for the Engineering Connection Assessment
      • Uploads CEII to the Customer Connections SPO Site
      • Reviews Study Results for the Engineering Connection Assessment
      • Completes Engineering Connection Assessment
      • Reviews the Service Proposal, Cost Estimate, PIP Report, and Environmental Effects Screening Form
      • Reviews PDUP
      • Issues Stage 3 CCD
      • Issues GUOC Notice 
      • Executes the SAS Agreement
      • Prepares NID Application or considers the project for approval under the ANAP and, if approved, issues the ANAP Approval Letter
      • After completing all Gate 3 requirements, the AESO issues a letter acknowledging Gate 3 completion to the market participant

      TFO

      • Reviews Functional Specification
      • Submits Service Proposal, Cost Estimate, PIP Report, and Environmental Effects Screening Form
      • Submits Stage 3 PDUP
      • Prepares Facility Application

      MARKET PARTICIPANT

      • Reviews Functional Specification
      • Retrieves CEII from the Customer Connections SPO Site
      • Submits Study Results for the Engineering Connection Assessment
      • Confirms the Power Plant Application has been filed with the AUC
      • Provides Financial Security for the SAS Agreement under Rate DTS 
      • Executes the SAS Agreement

      INTEGRATED PM

      • Coordinates meetings and takes meeting minutes
      • Coordinates deliverables between the AESO, market participant, and TFO
    • Additional Information
      • Engineering Connection Assessment: Study Results account for current system conditions for NID filing
      • Contact customer.connections@aeso.ca if you would like an example of an Engineering Connection Assessment
      • A Project Schedule Alignment is completed and signed by all parties near the beginning of Stage 3 and after the Service Proposal is submitted
      • See Section 504.5 of the ISO rules, Service Proposals and Cost Estimating and the related ID #2015-002R for more information
      • Refer to the Project Data Update Package – Instruction Manual (PDUP-IM) for information about the content of the PDUP
      • The Functional Specification will include a requirement to follow the Connection Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs)
      • The Power Plant Application can be filed at any time prior to Stage 3
      • The market participant may be required to provide financial security to the AESO in this stage. See Section 103.3 of the ISO rules, Financial Security Requirements for additional information. 
      • For a Market Participant Choice (MPC) project, confirmation that the Asset Transfer Agreement has been signed off is a required deliverable in Stage 3
      • A project may be eligible for the Abbreviated Needs Approval Process (ANAP), in which case there is no NID Application and the AESO may approve the need for the transmission facilities. See Section 501.3 of the ISO rules, Abbreviated Needs Approval Process for more information.

    Stage 4: AUC Applications

    Target Timeline: Not Applicable

    In Stage 4, the AESO and the TFO file project applications with the AUC for review. If the applications are approved, the AUC issues a NID Approval and P&L for the project.

    • Required Deliverables
      • NID Application Filing
      • Facility Application Filing
      • AUC Information Requests (IRs), if required
      • AUC hearing, if required
      • NID Approval
      • P&L
      • Power Plant Approval (generators only)
      • GUOC payment (generators only)
    • Roles and Responsibilities

      AESO

      • Files NID Application with the AUC
      • Responds to IRs and participates in hearing, if required
      • After completing all Gate 4 requirements, the AESO issues a letter acknowledging Gate 4 completion to the market participant

      TFO

      • Files the Facility Application with the AUC
      • Responds to IRs and participates in hearing, if required

      MARKET PARTICIPANT

      • Submits GUOC payment

      AUC

      • Reviews NID Application and Facility Application and, if approved, provides NID Approval and P&L
      • Reviews Power Plant Application and, if approved, provides Power Plant Approval

      INTEGRATED PM

      • Coordinates meetings and takes meeting minutes
      • Coordinates deliverables between the AESO, market participant, and TFO
    • Additional Information
      • Sign up for the AUC updates on their website to monitor your project
      • Ensure project schedule is up to date prior to AUC approval

    Stage 5: Construction

    Target Timeline: Not applicable

    In Stage 5, the construction of the transmission facilities and preparation for energization occurs.

    • Required Deliverables
      • 100 Day Energization Package which includes the Stage 5 PDUP and Financial Security for SAS Agreements
      • 30 Day Energization Package
      • ETS setup (generators only)
    • Roles and Responsibilities

      AESO

      • Reviews items outlined in the Energization Package Requirements
      • Reviews application and sets up the market participant and the asset in ETS
      • After completing all Gate 5 requirements, the AESO issues a letter acknowledging Gate 5 completion to the market participant

      TFO

      • Completes construction of transmission facilities
      • Submits required items in the 100 Day Energization Package
      • Submits required items in the 30 Day Energization Package

      MARKET PARTICIPANT

      • Submits required items in the 100 Day Energization Package
      • Submits required items in the 30 Day Energization Package
      • Submits application to be set up in ETS

      INTEGRATED PM

      • Coordinates meetings and takes meeting minutes
      • Coordinates deliverables between the AESO, market participant, and TFO
    • Additional Information
      • The Energization Package Requirements provides a detailed list of deliverables and timelines required for energization of the project
      • A consolidated Stage 5 PDUP must be submitted by either the TFO or the market participant. Refer to the Project Data Update Package – Instruction Manual (PDUP-IM) for information about the content of the PDUP.
      • A Project Schedule Alignment is completed and signed by all parties near the beginning of Stage 5
      • See the Joining the energy market page for more information about how to apply to be set up in ETS
      • The market participant may be required to provide financial security to the AESO in this stage. See Section 103.3 of the ISO rules, Financial Security Requirements for additional information.

    Stage 6: Close Out

    Target Timeline: Not applicable 

    Stage 6 marks the ISD of the project and the final stage of the Connection Process. For generation projects, commissioning of the generator takes place prior to the commercial operation date of the facility. The TFO provides the final cost report and a true-up of costs occurs.

    • Required Deliverables
      • Energization Authorization Letter
      • Post-Energization Package
      • Commissioning Certificate (generators only)
      • Model Validation Report (generators only)
      • Stage 6 CCD
      • Final Cost Report
    • Roles and Responsibilities

      AESO

      • Issues Energization Authorization Letter
      • Reviews items outlined in the Energization Package Requirements
      • Issues Commissioning Certificate
      • Issues Stage 6 CCD
      • Reviews Final Cost Report
      • Reviews Model Validation Report
      • After completing all Gate 6 requirements, the AESO issues a letter acknowledging Gate 6 completion and closure of the project to the market participant

      TFO

      • Submits Final Cost Report
      • Submits required items in the Post-Energization Package

      MARKET PARTICIPANT

      • Submits required items in the Post-Energization Package
      • Requests Commissioning Certificate
      • Submits Model Validation Report

      INTEGRATED PM

      • Coordinates meetings and takes meeting minutes
      • Coordinates deliverables between the AESO, market participant, and TFO
    • Additional Information
      • The Energization Package Requirements provides a detailed list of deliverables and timelines required after energization of the project has occurred
      • To request the Commissioning Certificate, use the form here
      • See Section 504.5 of the ISO rules, Service Proposals and Cost Estimating and the related ID #2015-002R for more information about the Final Cost Report
      • For generators, refer to Section 503.19, 503.20  and  505.3 of the ISO rules, for details about commissioning, testing, and the model validation report
    • Acronym Reference
         

      AUC

      Alberta Utilities Commission

      CCD

      Construction Contribution Decision

      CEII

      Critical Energy Infrastructure Information

      DFO

      Distribution Facility Owner

      DTS

      Demand Transmission Service

      ETS

      Energy Trading System

      GFO

      Generation Facility Owner

      GUOC

      Generating Unit Owner’s Contribution

      ISD

      In-Service Date

      MC

      Maximum Capability

      MP

      Market Participant

      NID

      Needs Identification Document

      P&L

      Permit & License

      PDUP

      Project Data Update Package

      SAS

      System Access Service

      SASR

      System Access Service Request

      SLD

      Single Line Diagram

      STS

      Supply Transmission Service

      TFO

      Transmission Facility Owner

    Note: This page is intended to provide an overview of the key deliverables and activities for a typical project as it follows the Connection Process. The key deliverables and activities described above may be modified based on the scope and complexity of the project.

    Connection Process