Incumbent Transition Payments and GUOC Refunds

We are implementing direction from the Government of Alberta (see July 15 and October 6 letters) to allocate transition payments to Market Participants (MPs) if they are recognized as an incumbent generator or refund the paid Generating Unit Owners Contribution (GUOC) if they cancel.

Project proponents in later stages of the AESO Connection Process have an important declaration to make October 15 to December 1, 2025.

• MPs can declare that FID was met as of July 9, 2025, to be recognized as an incumbent in the allocation of transition payments; or
• MPs that paid GUOC can declare a decision to cancel or amend their request for system access service to be eligible for a GUOC refund in 2026.

More information on incumbency treatment and GUOC refunds is available on AESO Engage.

Statutory Declaration Submission Instructions

Statutory Declarations can be submitted to the AESO project manager between October 15 and December 1, 2025, via email or as an original hard copy.

In-Service assets (those that are commercially operational) are not required to submit a Statutory Declaration to be recognized as an incumbent in the allocation of transition payments and are not eligible for lump sum GUOC refunds. Per the ISO tariff, GUOC will be refunded to energized assets annually if performance criteria are met.

Statutory Declarations must:

• Be signed by authorized officer or authorized representative of the of the market participant that is or would be the legal owner of the generating unit(s)
• Be notarized by a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public
• Be submitted in original hard copy or scanned electronic copy
• Be submitted on or before 5:00 p.m. MST on December 1, 2025

Before making a declaration of FID, the authorized signatory should consider whether the Company completed the steps outlined below for the Project to proceed to energization, as applicable, on or before July 9, 2025:

A) Execute all major contracts contemplated for the Project including but not limited to all or any of the following as applicable:

• Contracts with distribution facility owners
• Contracts with transmission facility owners
• Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts
• Operating & Maintenance (O&M) contracts
• Equipment contracts for equipment valued at $5 million or greater

B) Obtain all permits and approvals from regulators, including but not limited to all or any of the following as applicable:

• AUC approval of connection need applications
• AUC approval of transmission facility applications
• AUC approval of power plant applications

C) Completion of the following, as applicable:

• Ownership or lease agreements in place for all of the lands required for the Project
• Board or executive approval of the Project budget and construction schedule
• Delivery of an irrevocable notice to proceed to EPC contractors
• Secured irrevocable Debt or Equity Financing

For more information, review the Frequently Asked Questions.