Joining the Energy Market

This section is for generating units connected directly to the transmission grid.

How do I apply to connect a transmission-connected generator?

Step 1

Generating units connecting directly to the transmission system should submit a system access service request and follow the connection process as facilitated by AESO project managers.

Follow the AESO's standard connection process.

Step 2

Near the end of the connection process, about 60 days prior to energization, follow these steps to get set up in the market.

Download and/or submit the following:

• Metered Asset Addition Request Form
• Single Line Diagram of the site
• Approval from the AUC
• Automated dispatch and messaging system request form (if an account does not exist already)

If you are a new participant, submit requirements under New Participant at the top of this page.

Email the completed information to info@aeso.ca. Once the above is submitted, we will review your application. We’ll contact you to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation.

Recommended resources

• Current ISO rules
• Manuals
• Current ISO tariff
• Settlement guides

This section is for load sites connected directly to the transmission grid.

How do I apply to connect a transmission-connected load?

Step 1

Load sites connecting directly to the transmission system (direct connects) should submit a system access service request and follow the connection process as facilitated by AESO project managers.

Follow the AESO's connection process.

Step 2

Near the end of the connection process, about 60 days prior to energization, follow the below steps to get set up in the market.

If you are a new participant, submit requirements under New Participant at the top of this page.

To purchase electricity from the wholesale market, submit a transmission connected load asset request form.

Email the completed form to info@aeso.ca.

Once the above is submitted, we’ll review your application. You’ll be contacted to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation.

Recommended resources

• Current ISO rules
• Customer connections
• Manuals
• Current ISO tariff
• Settlement guides

Under the Micro-generation Regulation, Albertans can produce electricity to meet their own needs and receive credit on their electricity bill for excess power sent to the grid. Micro-generators are environmentally-friendly, small-scale generators that produce less than five megawatts (MW) and are connected to the electric distribution system.

Micro-generators use renewable or alternative energy technologies such as solar panels, small-scale hydro, wind, biomass, and geothermal. The Micro-generation Regulation classifies generators into two categories based on their capacity:

Small micro-generators: less than 150 kilowatts (kW)

Large micro-generators: at least 150 kW, but less than 5 MW

Read this guide for further details on micro-generation including eligibility and compensation: Connecting micro-generation

How do I apply to connect a micro-generator?

Using the micro-generation application information available on the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) website, micro-generator owners must apply to the distribution company, also known as the wire service provider (WSP), which owns the local distribution system in the applicant’s area. Once the application is approved, the WSP is responsible for defining the metering and connection requirements for the owner’s micro-generator.

Micro-generator owners must also contact their electricity retailer to discuss the information required by the retailer for compensation and billing. The AUC is responsible for settling any disputes that may arise between micro-generation owners and distribution companies.

If you are a retailer looking to connect a micro-generation customer, contact us at microgen@aeso.ca.

To learn more about this program, visit Small-Scale Generation Program.

Small distribution-connected generators are connected to local electric distribution systems. These generators export less than five megawatts of electricity to the distribution lines in distribution service areas. You must register these types of generators with us to participate in the wholesale market.

Generating Unit Owner’s Contribution (GUOC)

Under the ISO Tariff effective January 1, 2021, the owner of a proposed generating unit or aggregated generating facility with a maximum capability greater than 1 MW is required by the ISO tariff to make a Generating Unit Owner’s Contribution (GUOC). Generator owners may visit the AESO’s GUOC Estimate Calculator to estimate the amount of GUOC that may be required.

How do I apply to connect a small distribution generator?

Step 1

Alberta has several wire service providers (WSP). Generator owners must determine which WSP is operating in their area and contact them to discuss connecting. The WSP is responsible for taking the necessary steps, including administering contracts, to connect the generator to the grid.

Wire service providers in Alberta (for distribution-connected generators)

Step 2

The generator owner contacts us to register as a pool participant if they wish to sell electricity to the power pool. We recommend submitting these documents 60 days ahead of the preferred in-service date.

If you are a new participant, submit requirements under New Participant at the top of this page.

To connect your generator, download and/or submit the info below:

• Metered Asset Addition Request Form
• Single Line Diagram of the site
• Approval from the AUC

Submit your info to info@aeso.ca.

Step 3

Once the above is submitted, we’ll review your application. You’ll be contacted to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation.

Recommended resources

• Current ISO rules
• Settlement guides

Large distribution-connected generators are connected to local electric distribution systems. These generators export more than 5 MW of electricity to the distribution lines in distribution service areas. In Alberta, these generators are considered "dispatchable," meaning they must submit offers to the power pool and must comply with dispatch instructions issued by the system controller pursuant to those offers and within a specific dispatch tolerance.

There are specific data, reporting, and communication requirements for these types of generators in the current ISO rules.

Generating Unit Owner’s Contribution (GUOC)

Under the ISO Tariff effective January 1, 2021, the owner of a proposed generating unit or aggregated generating facility with a maximum capability greater than 1 MW is required by the ISO tariff to make a Generating Unit Owner’s Contribution (GUOC). Generator owners may visit the AESO’s GUOC Estimate Calculator to estimate the amount of GUOC that may be required.

How do I apply to connect a large distribution-connected generator?

Step 1

Alberta has several wire service providers (WSP). Generator owners must determine which WSP is operating in their area and contact them to discuss connection requirements. The WSP is responsible for taking the necessary steps, including administering contracts, to connect the generator to the grid and facilitate the exchange of energy.

Wire service providers in Alberta (for distribution-connected generators) 

Step 2

The WSP (also known as the distribution facility owner) will submit a system access service request to initiate a project with us. An AESO project manager will be assigned to facilitate the connection process.

Read more information about the connection process.

If you are a new participant, submit requirements under New Participant at the top of this page.

Step 3

Near the completion of the connection process, about 60 days prior to energization, follow the below steps to get set up in the market.

If you’re a new participant, submit requirements under New Participant at the top of this page.

Download and/or submit the following:

• Metered Asset Addition Request Form
• Single Line Diagram of the site
• Approval from the AUC
• Automated dispatch and messaging system request form  (if an account does not exist already)

Email the completed information to info@aeso.ca. Once the above is submitted, we will review your application. We’ll contact you to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation.

Recommended resources

• Current ISO rules
• Manuals
• Settlement guides

A retailer is a company that buys electricity from the wholesale market and sells it to their own customers.

Self-retailers buy their electricity directly from the wholesale market solely for their own load requirements. Self-retailers do not provide electricity services to customers.

The destination of the energy purchased from the wholesale energy market is a customer connected to the local electric distribution systems.

Read further details on becoming a retailer or self-retailer here:

• Becoming a retailer
• Becoming a self-retailer

How do I apply to become a retailer or a self-retailer?

Step 1

Ensure that all requirements with other entities are satisfied.

Step 2

Contact us to register as a pool participant in order to buy electricity from the wholesale electricity market. We recommend you start this process 60 days ahead of the preferred in-service date.

If you are a new participant, submit requirements under New Participant at the top of this page.

To purchase electricity from the wholesale electricity market, submit our retail/self-retail asset addition request form.

Email the completed form to info@aeso.ca. Once the above is submitted, we will review your application. You’ll be contacted to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation.

Recommended resources

• Current ISO rules
• AUC rule 021
• Current ISO tariff
• Settlement guides

Alberta has transmission interconnections with British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Montana. Transmission access is required for parties wishing to arrange for electricity imports or exports to or from adjacent jurisdictions. Typical interconnection transfer capabilities vary depending on system load and real-time operating conditions.

The most up-to-date intertie capability information can be found in our real-time available transfer capability allocation report.

To exchange energy over these three interties, you need a system access service agreement with us. These agreements are one year in length.

View details on Rate XOS, Rate XOM, and Rate IOS of the current tariff.

How do I apply to become an importer or exporter?

Step 1

To apply for import and/or export opportunity service, we recommend you start the below process 60 days prior to the date you plan to begin.

Download and/or submit the following

• Application for Import or Export Opportunity Service
• Automated dispatch and messaging system request form (if an account does not exist already)

Email completed information to info@aeso.ca. Once the above is submitted, we will review your application. We’ll contact you to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation and will prepare the required system access service agreements for execution.

If you are a new participant, submit requirements under New Participant at the top of this page.

Recommended resources

• Current ISO rules
• Manuals
• Current ISO tariff
• Settlement guides

Unmetered assets are used for financial settlement purposes. Should you require unmetered assets, submit the unmetered asset addition request form 60 days prior to the date you plan to begin transacting. Once the above is submitted, we will review your application. We’ll contact you to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation.

Download the unmetered asset addition request form.

To participate in the operating reserve (OR) market, you must also be an energy market participant.

For further information on how the OR market works, please visit the ancillary services area.

To apply to become an OR provider, download/submit the ancillary services (operating reserve) asset request form and info 90 days prior to your planned start date.

Technical characteristics form(s) for the product(s) you wish to provide

• Supplemental Reserve
• Spinning Reserve
• Regulating Reserve
• Single Line Diagram of the site
• Automated dispatch and messaging system request form (if an account does not exist already)
• Additional requirements as requested by the AESO

Email the completed information to info@aeso.ca. Once the above is submitted, we will review your application. We’ll contact you to discuss timelines and requirements for market participation.

Recommended resources

• Current ISO rules
• Manuals
• Watt-Ex website

To inform the AESO of changes to an existing Asset or Participant information, please contact the AESO Market Support team at info@aeso.ca.

Participant Legal Name Change

To change the legal name of a Pool Participant profile, the AESO requires:

• A signed letter with the requested new legal name
• Request for banking form

Please note that there may be additional requirements or information needed to implement changes depending on the specific circumstance or change.

The AESO has developed optional templates to assist pool participants if they wish to utilize them. The template can be obtained by emailing us at info@aeso.ca.

Generating Asset Ownership Change

To transfer a generating asset to a new party, the AESO requires:

• A letter signed by both parties that specifies the Asset ID and the effective date of the transfer.
• If the former party holds any System Access Services Agreements (STS/DTS) associated with the asset, and the contract(s) will transfer to the new party, we require an additional letter signed by both parties that specifies the details of the contracts to be transferred, including the contact information of the Invoices and Notices contact for the agreement.
  *Note that if a DTS agreement is transferring to a new party, confirmation of approval from the applicable Distribution Facility Owner (DFO) may be required.
• Metered Asset Addition Request Form
• If the Asset being transferred is dispatchable, we require an Automated dispatch and messaging system request form 

Please note that there may be additional requirements or information needed to implement changes depending on the specific circumstance or change.

The AESO has developed optional templates to assist pool participants if they wish to utilize them. The template can be obtained by emailing us at info@aeso.ca.

Generating Asset Maximum Capability (MC) Change

To increase or decrease an existing generating asset’s MC, the AESO requires:

• Metered Asset Addition Request Form
• Detailed technical description of why the change is being requested
• Requested effective date
• If the asset is above 5MW in maximum capability, we require capability curves that prove the asset has the capability to provide the new declared MW.

Please note that there may be additional requirements or information needed to implement changes depending on the specific circumstance or change.

Asset Retirement and/or Participant Delisting

To retire an asset from the energy market and/or to delist as a pool participant from the AESO, the AESO requires:

• A signed letter requesting the retirement and/or delisting.

Please note that there may be additional requirements or information needed to implement changes depending on the specific circumstance or change.

The AESO has developed optional templates to assist pool participants if they wish to utilize them. The template can be obtained by emailing us at info@aeso.ca.

Agent Appointment Termination or Change

To terminate or to make changes to the appointment of an agent, the AESO requires:

• Termination – a signed letter requesting the termination
• Changes to an existing agent – An updated Agent appointment request form

Please note that there may be additional requirements or information needed to implement changes depending on the specific circumstance or change.

The AESO has developed optional templates to assist pool participants if they wish to utilize them. The template can be obtained by emailing us at info@aeso.ca.